NEWGA's Gail Sykes tournament has special meaning this year

The Gail Sykes tournament scheduled for Thursday at McGregor Golf Club will honor one of the Capital Region's most accomplished women golfers, who passed away in January.

The Northeastern Women's Golf Association's annual best ball of two tournament has been carrying the Sykes name since she won the 1965 U.S. Golf Association junior girls championship.

Gail Sykes Clayton, a native of Schenectady, also captured the 1968 national intercollegiate individual women's golf title, playing for Odessa (Texas) College.

Clayton graduated from East Carolina University, receiving bachelor's and master's degrees, and was selected to the school's athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.

Elaine Sauers also is an accomplished Capital Region golfer and NEWGA member from Albany who is married to longtime University at Albany men's basketball coach Richard "Doc" Sauers.

The Audrey Van Alstine Memorial Invitational Tournament at Pinehaven moves to the weekend this year, a match play better-ball event.

Jenny Buchanan of Schuyler Meadows in Loudonville led area golfers with a (227, plus-11) in the New York State Women's Amateur at Schuyler.

Madison Braman of Shaker Ridge also made the cut in the three-day stroke play event.