Francisco Cupp of Saratoga Spa hit out of a greenside bunker Sunday, May 17, 2026, during the final of the Tri-County Match Play golf championship at the Colonie Golf and Country Club. Cupp defeated Joe Fitzsimmons of Shaker Ridge in 19 holes to win the title.
Pete Dougherty/For the Times Union
Francisco Cupp of Saratoga Spa hits a drive Sunday, May 17, 2026, during the final of the Tri-County Match Play golf championship at the Colonie Golf and Country Club. Cupp defeated Joe Fitzsimmons of Shaker Ridge in 19 holes to win the title.
Pete Dougherty/For the Times Union
Francisco Cupp, left, of Saratoga Spa accepts the trophy Sunday, May 17, 2026, for winning the Tri-County Match Play golf championship from Colonie Golf and Country Club pro Frank Mellet.
Pete Dougherty/For the Times Union
Francisco Cupp of Saratoga Spa rolls in a birdie putt on the first playoff hole Sunday, May 17, 2026, to beat Joe Fitzsimmons of Shaker Ridge and win the Tri-County Match Play golf championship at the Colonie Golf and Country Club.
Pete Dougherty/For the Times Union
Joe Fitzsimmons, left, of Shaker Ridge offers congratulations to Francisco Cupp for winning the Tri-County Match Play golf championship Sunday, May 17, 2026, at the Colonie Golf and Country Club.
Pete Dougherty/For the Times Union
Joe Fitzsimmons of Shaker Ridge watches his tee shot Sunday, May 17, 2026, during the final of the Tri-County Match Play golf championship at the Colonie Golf and Country Club. Fitzsimmons lost to Francisco Cupp of Saratoga Spa in 19 holes in the title match.
Pete Dougherty/For the Times Union
Joe Fitzsimmons of Shaker Ridge chips out of the rough on the 18th hole Sunday, May 17, 2026, during the final of the Tri-County Match Play golf championship at the Colonie Golf and Country Club. Fitzsimmons won the hole to force a playoff but lost to Francisco Cupp of Saratoga Spa on the first extra hole.
Pete Dougherty/For the Times Union
VOORHEESVILLE — Francisco Cupp’s résumé is growing, and he’s only 15 years old.
A freshman at Saratoga Springs High School, Cupp won his first “adult” title Sunday, beating veteran Joe Fitzsimmons of Shaker Ridge on the first playoff hole to win the Tri-County Match Play Championship at the Colonie Golf and Country Club.
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Cupp, the reigning New York State Boys’ Junior (14-and-under) winner, rolled in a 3-foot birdie on the 19th hole to prevail in a final that saw four lead changes and two holes halved with birdies.
“This is my second match-play tournament,” Cupp said. “My other one, I had a lot of success in. It was the International Junior Masters (in East Aurora), and I came third in that.”
That was another résumé-builder for Cupp, 15, who was co-medalist at last fall’s Section 2 Class A tournament and second in the section’s state qualifier. He will compete in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships June 6 and 7 at Mill Creek in Churchville.
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En route to the title, Cupp was second in Friday’s qualifier and won four matches, including a 2-up victory over Fordham freshman Kieran Cummins of Wolferts Roost in the semifinals. Fitzsimmons eliminated Albany Academy junior Justin Carlson 1 up in the other semi.
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“It was me, a 42-year-old, and a college kid and two high schoolers,” said Fitzsimmons, the Capital Region Golf Association points leader the past two years. “They’re the future in the amateur ranks in the area. I’m still holding my own. I wish I could have closed it out.”
Fitzsimmons, the reigning Troy Invitational and Schenectady Classic winner, was playing in the Match Play for the first time in several years. He held a 2-up lead through 13, but Cupp chipped in for birdie on 14 and also won 15 when Fitzsimmons three-putted from off the green.
“That birdie on 14 he made, that was a nice one,” Fitzsimmons said. “I had opportunities. On 15, I messed up, I lipped out a par putt there. Then I got a little bad break. I hit a decent tee shot on 16, and it just clipped an overhanging branch and dropped it straight down.”
Cupp parred 16 to win his third consecutive hole but missed a birdie putt on 17 and a par putt on 18, either of which would have given him a victory in regulation.
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“The three-putt on the last (regulation) hole was really bad,” Cupp said. “The putting was not good the whole tournament. If I had putted well, it would have been a lot easier to get that done. The driver was really good, and the irons stayed really consistent the whole tournament.”
On the 398-yard playoff hole, Cupp split the fairway, then knocked his approach close.
“I had 105 yards,” he said, “and I had it cross wind a little. I hit it like 110. I had a 54-degree (wedge). I hit it pretty good.”
In the senior final, John Smith of Colonie defeated Clark Smith of Pinehaven, 3 and 2.
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Open Division
Qualifying
Chad Maurer (Colonie) 38-34—72, Francisco Cupp (Saratoga Polo) 36-37—73, Kieran Cummins (Wolferts Roost) 38-36—74, Tim Carlson (Colonie) 38-37—75, Joe Fitzsimmons (Shaker Ridge) 38-37—75, Louis Walsh (Ballston Spa) 39-36—76, Reid Prinzo (Colonie) 38-40—78, Justin Carlson (Colonie) 37-42—79, Bill Fitzgerald (Wolferts Roost) 38-41—79, Aaron Simone (Pinehaven) 40-41—81, Ryan Tatlock (eClub Capital Region) 40-41—81, Nick Brooks (Colonie) 40-42—82, John Andrews (eClub Capital Region) 40-42—82, Patrick Turley (eClub Capital Region) 41-41—82, Lance Hope (Pinehaven), 41-41—82, Jason Stone (USGA/NYSGA) 41-41—82.
Failed to qualify: Dave Pallas (Saratoga Spa) 82, Ryan Andrews (Colonie) 83, Ian Thombs (eClub Capital Region) 83, Michael Amadon (USGA/MGA) 84, Nicholas Park (Colonie) 88, Hunter Szymaszek (eClub Capital Region) 88, Jared Trudeau (Mohawk) 89, Nick Denicola (USGA/NYSGA) 89, Nathan Laughlin (McGregor) 90, Ryan Bradley (eClub Capital Region) 91, Chad Shippee (Glens Falls) 91, Mark Casolo (eClub Capital Region) 91, Zachary Kivitz (USGA/NYSGA) 92, Matt Normandin (eClub Capital Region) 94, Zane Coonrad (eClub Capital Region) 96, Taylor Spear (USGA/NYSGA) 96.
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First round
8-J. Carlson def. 9-Fitzgerald, 5 and 4
4-T. Carlson def. 13-Andrews, 5 and 4
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5-Fitzsimmons def. 12-Brooks, 3 and 2
3-Cummins def. 14-Turley, 1 up
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6-Walsh def. 11-Tatlock, 4 and 3
Quarterfinals
8-J. Carlson def. 16-Stone, 5 and 4
5-Fitzsimmons def. 4-T. Carlson, 2 and 1
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2-Cupp def. 7-Prinzo, 2 and 1
3-Cummins def. 6-Walsh, 4 and 3
Semifinals
5-Fitzsimmons def. 8-J. Carlson, 1 up
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2-Cupp def. 3-Cummins, 2 up
Final
2-Cupp def. 5-Fitzsimmons, 19 holes
Senior Division
Qualifying
John Smith (Colonie) 43-37—80, Clark Smith (Pinehaven) 41-42—83, Stan Moore (Pinehaven) 42-42—84, Tom Gladd (Frear Park) 42-42—84.
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Failed to qualify: Neil Chambers (Empire) 89.
Semifinals
1-J. Smith def. 4-Gladd, 3 and 2
2-C. Smith def. 3-Moore, 1 up
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Final
1-J. Smith def. 2. C. Smith, 3 and 2