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SKANEATELES — Yaroslav Merkulov of Penfield defended his 2008 Junior title in record-breaking fashion by firing a 10-under-par 61 at Skaneateles C.C. on Wednesday, to finish at 8-under 134 in the New York State Boys and Girls Junior Amateur Golf Championship. The Penfield teenager entered the day one-stroke behind leaders Andrew Lane and Ben Kircher but tallied eight birdies and an eagle en route to a double-digit victory.

The 17-year-old Merkulov etched his name into the Skaneateles record book with his round of 61 which shattered the old mark of 67 in a competitive round from the back tees. According to the Director of Golf at Skaneateles Mike Doctor, the best recreational round was set by Tom Scherrer (62) but that no longer stands after today's top Junior mastered the 6,474-yard par-71 course.

Over the past month, Merkulov has won two state titles in the Men's Amateur and Junior Amateur Championships. He also competed in the U.S.

Junior's and fell to the eventual winner in the quarterfinal round.

Finally, Merkulov played in the Canon Cup which took place in Flagstaff, Ariz. with good friends Gavin Hall and Dominic Bozzelli.

The 2008 Boys champion Gavin Hall of Mendon also defended his title via a 13-stroke victory at the 53rd Boys Amateur Championship at Skaneateles C.C., firing a 65 to go with his opening 68 to finish 9 under at 133. In the Girls field, Bailey Cocca of Albany was awarded the coveted Betty Deeley Trophy following a 1-over-par performance and two-day total of 150.

"It's nice to play well at the Championship and contend," says Hall modestly. "To be the best in the state at 14-and-under is a great accomplishment and it's what I always strive for every year." Hall has done more than contend at the Boys State Championship over the past two years as he became just the third individual to repeat as champion and joins the company of Tommy Nixon (1984 & 1985) and Nick Park (2001 and 2002) who also accomplished the feat. Merkulov and Hall were the only golfers to post under par scores for either round.

Griffin leads
area juniors

Area golfers who competed in the 14 and under age group include Arthur Griffin of Lake Placid who shot 86-77 for a tie for 12th, Cody Compeau of Potsdam, with 85-97 for 30th, and Jonathan Dunlavey of Malone, with 97-92 for 32nd. In the Juniors, Zach Meade of Tupper Lake fired 85-82 for a tie at 54th place, and Ben Stone of Potsdam, with an 86-82 for a tie at 56th.