Will an amateur golf tournament return to the Utica area?
Golfers from around the area likely wont have to opportunity to showcase who the best is at the Greater Utica City Amateur tournament again this year. Hank Furgol, the longtime golf pro at Utica's Valley View Golf Course who was also the lead organizer for the tournament, told the Observer-Dispatch this week the event is probably not going to happen.  He also acknowledged the tournament  which ran for more than 40 years and took place in July  is also not being advertised. The last Greater Utica City Amateur tournament took place at Valley View in 2017. Ryan Zogby won the Open Division title that year in a playoff with about 50 people crowded around the hole to witness the thrilling victory. Furgol cited declining entries for the tournament as well as the costs involved for not having the tournament at the city-owned municipal course designed by Robert Trent Jones. With dwindling entries, it was costing the golf course a lot of money for the three days we had the tournament here. We were taking in about half what we would take in on a normal day. Thats basically the reason: It was costing us money to run (the tournament), Furgol said. It is hard to get people to spend any money.  Over the years with dwindling entries and the fees, it made no sense to have it.  The Greater Utica City Amateur event spanned over a weekend and included a three-man scramble, the top Open Division, as well as a few senior divisions as part of the tournament. It is unclear if another event with a similar format will replace the Greater Utica City Amateur. In 2018, a similar tournament  known as the Greater Mohawk Valley Amateur  had been planned on short notice at Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club in New York Mills before it was canceled shortly afterward. A lack of entries for that event was cited at that time for the cancellation. Twin Ponds owner Dave Girmonde could not be reached Friday about possible plans. Furgol said he hasnt had contact with anybody about another possible tournament. "Unfortunate would be the word you could use. It is unfortunate, Furgol said. If someone wanted to take it over and pick it up, they could. They tried to take it over and I gave it my blessing. But, they had a low number of entries.  While there isnt an amateur golf tournament planned within Utica or the immediate area, Rome is planning to continuing its version of an amateur tournament. The 58th Rome City Mens Amateur Golf Championship is set for Saturday, Aug. 14 and Sunday, Aug. 15 at Rome Country Club and McConnellsville Golf Club. The tournament has eight divisions: Championship, A, B, C, D, Senior A, Senior B and Super Senior. The cost for entry will remain at $75 which includes 18 holes at each course, range balls, prizes and a championship dinner at Rome Country Club. The entry deadline is Sunday, Aug. 8. Applications are available at Rome Country Club, McConnellsville Golf Club, Rome City Hall lobby and can be downloaded at the City of Rome Parks & Recreation website. Ben Birnell is a sports reporter for the Observer-Dispatch. For unlimited access to his stories, please subscribe at the top of the uticaod.com homepage or activate your digital account today. Email Ben Birnell at bbirnell@gannett.com.