Kingston, N.Y.--St. Johns junior John Deforest (Cottekill, N.Y.) won the Ulster County Mens Amateur Championship held in Kingston, N.Y. this past weekend. Deforest carded a seven-over par 291 to earn a three shot victory.

DeForest jumped out to a quick lead, firing a first round seven-under par 65. He took a ten-stroke lead to the back nine of the final round when he ran into trouble on the par four tenth hole. Deforest would drive the ball into the trees and after a couple of poorly played iron shots, he would tap in for a quintuple bogie nine. His ten-stroke lead had disappeared in a matter of six holes. DeForest would fight back and a birdie on the par five 16th sealed the three stroke victory. Dave Natoli, who finished in second place, birdied the sixth, a seventh and 13th hole to pull even with DeForest but two double bogies and one triple bogie took him out of contention.

DeForest is one of the top returning players for the Red Storm and he looks to help lead the Red Storm to their third straight NCAA Regional Championship appearance in 2003.