NENYPGA Stroke Play has potential Player of the Year showdown

In what could be a duel with Player of the Year implications, Scott Berliner and Justin Hearley are tied entering Tuesday's final round of the Northeastern New York PGA Stroke Play Championship at the Mohawk Golf Club in Niskayuna.

Berliner, an assistant pro at Saratoga Spa, is the nine-time defending champion, winning every year since he was first eligible in 2011. He also has won NENYPGA Player of the Year honors all nine of those years.

He shot 32 on the back nine Monday despite a double bogey on 10. On holes 14 through 17, Berliner carded an eagle (a 339-yard par 4) and three birdies to post a 2-under-par 69.

Hearley, an assistant at Normanside, used an eagle on the par-5 13 for a back-nine 31 to tie Berliner. Going into the tournament, Hearley trailed Berliner 1,066.67-1,000.00 on the points list, which determines Player of the Year. The Stroke Play winner gets 500, the runner-up 350.

Eric Mabee of Pittsfield also will be in the final group, starting the round two strokes back. Four are tied a 1-over 71.

Par 36-35—71

Justin Hearley (Normanside) 38-31—69 -2

Scott Berliner (Saratoga Spa) 37-32—69 -2

Eric Mabee (Pittsfield) 35-36—71 E

Keith Sprenger (Pioneer Hills) 37-35—72 +1

Daniel Kinn (Acushnet) 35-37—72 +1

Kyle Kressler (Cedar View) 39-33—72 +1

Dal Daily (Battenkill) 37-35—72 +1

Glenn Davis (Albany) 37-36—73 +2

Robert Cain (Saratoga National) 38-35—73 +2

Chris Sanger (Woodstock) 36-37—73 +2

Jesse Muller (Windham) 38-36—74 +3

Tom Oppedisano (Skidmore) 37-37—74 +3

Peter Gerard (Mill Road Acres) 37-37—74 +3

Jeremy Kerr (Mohawk) 37-37—74 +3

John Neet (Edison) 40-34—74 +3

Steven Vatter (Capital Hills) 39-36—75 +4

Terence Manziano...