Colleen Cashman-McSween, the University of Albany women’s golf coach and 16-year-old Madison Braman, who plays on the Shaker High School boy’s golf team, earned sponsor exemptions to play this week.

“We are excited to have Colleen and Madison as our sponsor exemptions,” said tournament director Jimmy Miller. “For the first time in several years we will have players that have local connections and they will be great ambassadors for the City of Albany and the Capital Region. UAlbany has been a long time supporter of our tournament and having their women’s golf coach, who has previous tour experience, compete is a great fit for us.

“Madison Braman is a welcome addition to our tournament,” continued Miller. “She is home grown right from this region and shows tremendous potential as a player. Hopefully her participation can serve as motivation for other young female players from our area to improve their golf games so in future years we can continue to have exemptions come directly from our region.”

Cashman-McSween played full-time on the Epson Tour (then known as the FUTURES Tour) from 1999 through 2004. She won the 2003 Tampa Bay’s Next Generation FUTURES Golf Classic and posted nine total top 10 finishes on Tour.

The third year coach at Albany was named the 2015 MAAC Women’s Coach of the Year, leading the Great Danes to the program’s first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title.

“I’m super exited to be representing UAlbany in my first Epson Tour event since 2004,” said Cashman-McSween. “While it has been a very long time since I last competed professionally I love that I have the opportunity to work as a college head golf coach and impart my knowledge and love of the game on to my players. I’m looking forward to competing again against all the great young players that are competing on the tour. They represent a bright future for women’s golf and I hope to represent UAlbany and the local region well at Capital Hills. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Bill Fuccillo Sr. for keeping a great tradition going here in Albany. Without sponsors like him it would be impossible for many of the young players to pursue their dreams.”

Braman recently won the Northeastern New York PGA junior championship, qualifying for the Junior PGA Championship on Aug. 3-6 in Byron, Texas. She advanced to the final stage of the Section II state qualifier last fall, missing a spot on the boys’ state team by four shots.

Two Locals in the Field This Week

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