FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Skidmore College assistant golf coach AJ Cavotta lost in a playoff in last week's New York State Open at Bethpage Black. Cavotta tied with Peicheng Cheng following the regulation 54 holes, but Chen came away with the title in the playoff.
 
Cavotta's three-round score of 211 (2-under) was highlighted by a second-round 65 that featured five birdies (including three in a row) on the front-9, and an eagle-3 on No. 13 in one of the world's most famous and most difficult courses.
 
"At the end of the day, I did everything I could've possibly done to win and it just didn't happen," Cavotta said to the Times Union's Joyce Bassett. "I've had a lot of people reach out and they have been nothing but supportive and I appreciate all of it."
 
Cavotta, a teaching professional at Anders Mattson Golf Studio in Saratoga Springs, has also been an assistant coach with Skidmore since November, 2024. The former Southern New Hampshire standout is a past Northeast New York PGA Assistant Professional of the Year and one of the area's top players.