Southern New England Golfer August-September 2012

VOL. 2 NO. 4 AUG-SEPT 2012

BEST COVERAGE OF GOLF IN RI, MASS & CONN

TEE TO GREEN 3 COVER STORY 4 EDITORIAL 6 GOLF INSTRUCTION 7 NORTHEAST AMATEUR 9 DEUTSCHE BANK 11 RI NOTEBOOK12 JUNIOR GOLF15 WESTERN MASS NOTES16 CT NOTEBOOK18 TRAVELERS PICTORIAL20 CVS CAREMARK CHARITY PICTORIAL 24 CENTRAL MASS NOTES26 EASTERN MASS NOTES28 PRODUCT REVIEWS31 PEOPLE IN GOLF32 GOLFING IN MAINE34 CAPE COD NOTES35 GOLFING IN FLORIDA36 SNE GOLF LOCATOR MAP & MUCH MORE!

COMPETITION ISSUECVS

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Connecticut’s Chris Swift

Captures N.E. Amateur in Maine

So. Hadley’s Richy Werenski

winsPorter Cup

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Aug-Sept 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com 2

TOURNAMENT GOLFBy BRUCE VITTNER

South Hadley, Mass. native Richy Werenski, a junior-to-be at Georgia Tech, captured the 54th Porter

Cup, considered to be the third best amateur tournament in the United States, last month at Niagara Falls C.C. in New York last month.

This was Werenski’s first Porter Cup appearance and he shot the second best score in tournament history with a four-round total of 263 including a second round of 62 and final round of 68. ‘The second round was great and I knew I had a four-stroke lead heading into the final round and just tried to play smart and keep it out of trouble,” said a joyful Werenski who added, “It’s hard to put in words but all the support that I’ve gotten over the last couple of years....it just feels really good.”

The 263 score included 16 birdies, one eagle and only one bogey. The bogey

didn’t come until the 15th hole of the last round when he missed the green on his second shot and failed to get up and down. “He was just so strong mentally and had a lot of control over his golf ball,” said defending champion Patrick Rodgers who finished third.

Werenski carried his own bag all week in the event. “We do it at college events and I feel like it makes me commit to my shot. I don’t have any doubts because there is no talking and second-guessing with my caddie,” he commented.

The second place finisher was Denny McCarthy who will be a sophomore at Virginia Tech. His 265 total was the third best score ever at the Porter Cup. Werenski’s score was behind only Brian Harman’s 258 in 2007. Harman is now on the PGA Tour.

Last year Werenski finished second in the Southern Amateur that is held the same

week as the Porter Cup. “I heard this tournament is absolutely awesome and it didn’t disappoint,” said a smiling Werenski.

He has qualified for the U.S. Amateur in Colorado in August and is now considered one of the favorites in that event with his great showing near the Falls. Werenski played in many U.S. Challenge Cup events as a youngster and attended high school in Hilton Head Island, S.C. at a golf academy where his game flourished. His golf team at Georgia Tech will be a contender for the NCAA championships in 2013.

Werenski Wins Porter Cup

3SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / Aug-Sept 2012 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

COVER STORY By TOM CHARD

The Falmouth (Me.) Country Club proved a worthy test over three days for the 83rd men’s New England

Championship. The 6,879-yard course with its large, undulating greens and fescue throughout yielded nine sub-par rounds in the first round when the greens were still soft. As the course dried out and the wind picked up slightly over the next two days, the scores started to climb.

Winner Chris Swift of New Canaan, Conn. was the only player to break par over 72 holes. Swift finished at 2-under 282 after rounds of 68-69-73-72 to win by five shots.

The cut fell at 148 with 42 players advancing to the 36-hole final. Swift led by one shot after 36 holes and by two after 54. His final 18 was sort of a roller coaster with only two pars on the front nine, four birdies and three bogeys.

“When you make more birdies than bogeys, it really doesn’t matter,” said Swift. He was aggressive with his driver to gain his first amateur win in his first appearance in the New England Amateur.

“I’m one for one,” he said. “I never won a junior tournament so this feels pretty good. I came in with a lot of confidence. I was seeded second for match play in the Connecticut Amateur after rounds of 69-69 and lost in the quarterfinals to a good golfer,” he said.

He will enter his sophomore year at Marquette University in Milwaukee. Swift started the day with a one-shot lead over Casey Komline of Dorset, Vt. Komline shot himself out of contention with a third round 77. Swift started the fourth round with a two-shot lead over Colin Brennan of Andover, Mass. who was in the twosome ahead. Brennan fell back with a final round 76.

The only other challenge came from Jake Nutter of Bedford, N.H. early in the final round. Nutter was in the first group off No. 1 in the afternoon. Nutter got within two shots after Swift bogeyed Nos. 5 and 6.

Swift sealed the tournament with his three straight birdies to close out the front nine. After three-putting No. 6 for

a bogey, Swift drove the downhill, par-4 seventh with a three-wood. His shot ended up on the back fringe where he two-putted for a birdie. The tees were moved up on the hole to give the players the option of going for the green. “It was 303 yards to the front edge. A driver would have been too much,” said Swift.

On the next hole, a par-five, measuring 510 yards, Swift pushed his drive in the right rough. “I didn’t have a very good lie so I chopped down on a three-iron,” he said. The ball flew out of the rough headed for the left side of the green where it ended up 15-feet from the cup. Another two-putt, another birdie.

On No.9, a par-4, Swift’s wedge shot stopped 10 feet above the cup. He knocked it in and gave a little fist pump. “Those birdies kept my spirits high,” he said.

Swift bogeyed three out of his first four holes on the back. The exception was a birdie on 11. Swift closed with five pars. “I drove the ball really well,” he said. “Most of the time I was only 60 yards away on the par fours. I play aggressively. That’s

my style.” Swift knew that if he avoided any stumbles on the back nine, the tournament was his. He didn’t ask anyone how he stood until he was walking to the 18th tee. Once he found out, Swift said: “The pressure was off.”

His final 18 was comprised of seven pars, six bogeys and five birdies. “I kind of coasted on the back nine and protected my lead. I knew if I made no double bogeys, no one would catch me,” he said.

Nutter tied for second with two others at 287. They were Herbie Aikens of Kingston, Mass. and Garren Poirier of Killington, Vt.

Nutter said he heard that Swift’s lead had shrunk. “I knew I was close,” he said. “I hit a lot of greens, but I didn’t make as many putts as I should have. I’m pleased with the way I played. I hit the ball well all week. I didn’t lose a ball and I didn’t make a double bogey.”

John Hayes IV of Cape Elizabeth, Me. and Newport. R.I. and Colin Brennan of

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Swift Breaks Par to Win Championship


From the EditorEditor/Publisher

BRUCE [email protected]

Associate EditorJAY NOMAKEO

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Design/ProductionDEB BASILE

Contributing WritersDAVE ADAMONIS, JR.

BRUCE BERLETTOM CHARD

GEOFF CONVERSESCOTT CORDISCHI

BOB DICESAREBOB DICK

BILL DOYLEKATHARINE DYSON

JOE GORDONTOM GORMAN

RUSS HELDDEREK HOOPER

BRUCE HUTCHINSONKEN JEREMIAH

Staff PhotographersJIM CALORIO

BOB LAVALLEE

Web DesignSHIRLEY NOMAKEO

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Account ExecutivesJIM GRAY

ROY WAGNER

Advertising Information/SalesBRUCE VITTNER

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TRIVIA

FROM THE EDITOR

This issue is called the Competition Issue for good reason. All three state golf associations have been

working overtime during the last month, and hopefully we have got some of the information that you won’t find in any other publication.

I noticed as I read through the stories that we have a little redundancy. We kept it there on purpose because we know that there are a couple of you who don’t read the issue from cover to cover. I can’t understand why — all of the stories are so good because we have writers who take pride in calling the players their own, whether it be because of geography or perhaps in the case of Dave Adamonis, Jr., they are playing in or have played in U.S. Challenge Cup events, they enjoy promoting their players’ successes.

Ricky Werenski winning the Porter Cup (considered the third most prestigious men’s amateur event in the U.S.) is an honor deserving of a story. Dave mentioned Ricky also in his Divine Nine because Werenski honed his skills by playing in many Challenge Cup events.

The same for the Mass., Conn. and R.I. Amateur Championships and the New England Amateur with our cover boy Chris Swift of Connecticut. They all are Challenge Cup grads. Quite an accomplishment.

I’ve become a strong advocate of TEE IT FORWARD. See page 29 for some interesting ideas about making the game more fun for all.

Scott Cordishi writes about the British Open and links courses in general and Joe Gordon has an excellent story about Seth Waugh and the success of the Deutsche Bank Championship. I was rooting for the first DBC winner, Adam Scott, to hold on at the British Open, but it was also great to see Ernie Els succeed. This reporter’s first major was covering the U.S. Open at Oakmont in 1994 when Els got his first major. Most thought that Ernie was near the end, but it was a great comeback win.

Our final issue of 2012 will be arriving at your favorite golf course, driving range or retail store on September 13. It will have a great review of the Deutsche Bank Championship and a big preview of

the Ryder Cup that will be in Illinois on September 28-30. Hope you get a chance to listen to us on WEEI weekends with the Golf Radio shows. We’ve had interesting guests, good conversation and other fun stuff.

Let’s watch and see how our locals do on the national golf stages in August and try to make it to the DBC over Labor Day weekend to see some great players.

Keep your head down and swing easy.

Bruce Vittner is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America, the Golf Travel Writers of America and can be reached at [email protected].

1. Who did not win a tournament in 1979 but won the U.S. Open and PGA Championship in 1980?2. Who is the only player to get a hole-in-one on a par 4 in a PGA event?3. What tournament was it?4. Who was the LPGA Rolex Player of the Year in 2009?5. How many years in a row had she won?6. Within $500,000 how much did Lorena Ochoa earn in 2007?7. In 1950 Babe Zaharias was the leading money winner. Within $500 what was her total for the year?8. Did Babe Zaharias ever play in a PGA event?9. How many?10. Did she ever make the cut?

1. Jack Nicklaus; 2. Andrew McGee3. 2001 Phoenix Open;4. Lorena Ochoa; 5. Four6. $4,364,994; 7. $14,8008. Yes; 9. Four; 10. Twice


AMATEUR GOLF By BRUCE VITTNER

Who says older guys can’t keep up with the younger players dominating golf tournaments

throughout the region lately? Not Charlie Blanchard who captured his second RIGA State Amateur at Wanumetonomy in Middletown in July.

Blanchard, 46, who had won medallist honors by shooting 2-under 138 in the qualifying rounds, defeated nineteen-year-old Jamison Randall of Cumberland, a sophomore-to-be at Old Dominion University 5 and 4 in the 36-hole final. Blanchard was five-under for the day against the long-hitting Randall who was often 50 yards ahead of him off the tee.

Blanchard, of North Providence, a former professional lacrosse player, is the head golf coach at Bryant University. His players would be wise to follow his persistence, determination and putting prowess. He continued to make clutch putts during the final match, especially

on the 305-yard 7th hole in the afternoon and on 18 where he made a 25-foot putt to halve the hole and remain 3-up after Randall had driven the green and put his first putt only a foot away from the hole.

Randall, who shot even par for the 32 holes in the finals had been 8-under in winning his quarterfinal and semifinal matches against Jason Barrow and Bobby Leopold respectively.

“I thought I played well in the finals, but Charlie played so great,” said Randall who took only positive thoughts away from the whole tournament. “This was my first time in a final match and it was a great experience. I don’t give up and I’m looking forward to doing well at Old Dominion this year,” said Randall who formerly won the Rhode Island Interscholastic title and the RIGA Junior Championship and played number 5 on his college team mostly all year as a freshman.

Blanchard won this event in 2002 along

with many other RIGA titles. The six-time RIGA player of the year said, “This feels good. I didn’t play particularly well in the matches leading up to this final. I just kind of grinded and played carefully to get to the finals, but played really well today.”

After making the putt on seven (25th hole), he lost the next hole to be only 2-up and hit his drive into a bunker left on number 9. Faced with a difficult shot and a lip close to his ball, he hit a nine-iron to within 20 feet of the hole to halve the hole with par. On 10 he hit his approach shot to four feet while Randall, who had out-driven him by 60 yards, left a pitch shot short of the elevated green and his ball rolled down a steep bank. His pitch was to six feet and he made his putt for par. Blanchard missed his birdie, but proceeded to make a 20-footer on 11 to go three up.

The match ended on the 32nd hole when Randall hit his drive into tall fescue

grass right of the fairway. After a four-minute search his ball was found, but he could only advance the ball about 50 feet. Blanchard made a routine par to win the hole and the match.

Blanchard Wins Second Rhode Island Amateur

CONTINUED ON PAGE 38

Charlie Blanchard (l) and Bob Ward of the RIGA


GOLF INSTRUCTIONBy DEREK HOOPER

Rising Star

Derek Hooper is the Director of Instruction at the Troon Golf Academy, Lake of Isles. Derek has a college degree in teaching and over 17 years experience conducting lesson programs in Australia, Japan and Taiwan. He specializes in personalized, improvement programs that cover the technical and physical components required to play your best golf. Derek can be contacted at 1.888.475.3746 or [email protected].

The majority of players I work with identify the bunker shot as one of the most difficult shots they face.

As a result they have developed a fear of bunkers and a belief that they are not good at this shot and will always struggle to get the ball out and onto the green with any

consistency. Quite often the root cause of the problem is misconceptions about how to play the shot and the resultant poor execution has manifested itself in the form of a fear of any and all sand shots.

Confidence with any shot is the result of multiple successful outcomes. Just because someone tells you to be confident over a shot doesn’t mean that you will feel any better as you attempt the shot. You need to have success and see that what you are doing will work.

Here is the bunker shot technique I use with all my players to produce consistently high, soft bunker shots that land consistently on the green.

Step 1 – Feet close together, alignment is square to slightly open to the target, weight more towards the lead foot with the ball position forward of center.

Step 2 – Rotate the grip in your hands so that the club face is more open. This adds loft and increases the bounce on the

club. The added bounce will help the club to skid through the sand rather than dig in. Hands are placed towards the bottom of the grip.

Step 3 – Keep the weight on the lead foot as you make your back swing. Hinge the wrists a little more than normal so as to increase the attack angle. The swing will probably feel a little steep compared to your normal golf swing.

Step 4 – This is the step that the majority of players struggle with. For too long players have been told to hit the sand 2 inches behind the ball, and that is simply not a great way to play a controlled bunker shot. Hitting 2 inches behind the ball digs the club into the sand, making you have to swing harder to get the ball out due to all the sand you have to move, and even if you do get the ball out it has no spin so it won’t stop on the green. Rather, focus on taking the sand from the target side of the ball and hitting that sand up onto the green. This will result in better contact, a higher flight, more spin on the ball and thus better control.

Try this four step process next time you are in a bunker and you will get the ball out of the bunker and onto the green first time every time.

Out of the Bunker First Time Every Time

Ted Potter, Jr.

Age: 32Birthplace: Ocala, Fla.Family: SingleCollege: NoneTurned Pro: 2002

Ted Potter, Jr. might have been the least likely candidate for Rising Star. He didn’t go to college and turned pro in 2002. He made it to the Web.com Tour (Nike, Nationwide) in 2004 but missed the cut in all 24 events that he entered.

This left-hander had a little more success on that tour in 2007, but again lost his card and didn’t make it back until he won a Web.com event last year (South Georgia Classic) as a Monday qualifier to allow him to keep playing. He won another event last year and finished 2nd in money winnings to earn his PGA Tour card for 2012.

He finished tied for 13th at the Sony Open in January, but then missed seven cuts before blasting through and winning the Greenbrier Classic in a playoff in July. This earned him a trip to the Master in 2013 (one of his dreams) and vaulted him to 43rd on the money list with earnings of $1,303,810 and guaranteed his card for the next two years.


CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF By BOB DICK

Another of the long-ball hitting young guns won this year’s Northeast Amateur Tournament

at the Wannamoisett C.C. And, yes, it was an exciting finish as Korean native, Justin Shinn, who now lives in Vancouver and attends New Mexico State rallied to tie Texas A & M leader Jordan Russell with a 12-foot birdie on the 72nd hole and then proceeded to skip past Russell for the title on the required three playoff holes, going birdie, par, par to win by three shots.

“I was behind all the way so I didn’t think about winning, I just tried to play my game,” said Shinn, who fired a closing 65, the lowest score on the final day to wind up at 7-under 269 with Russell.

But the real fun of this event is watching the so-called older guys compete against the kids. One of those is South Carolina’s Todd White, who won this tourney 22 years ago in 1990 with an even par 276. This year the 44-year-old high school history teacher competed well again and was close to the leaders through three rounds before finishing with a 71 and a one under 275.

“I’ll tell you, Wannamoisett is one of the few courses remaining where the mid-amateur golfer has a chance,” said White. “Sure, distance is a factor because young kids hit it so far. But, this course is a position golf course and a thinking man’s golf course. It has stood the test of time. Granted the scores are a little lower than in the past because of technology but this course holds its own. This is my favorite event of the year.”

And White has played pretty consistent golf here. After wining in 1990, he turned pro in 1991. He struggled somewhat as a pro and eventually got his amateur status back in 2001. In 2008, White tied for fourth with a one-under 275 and in 2010 he tied for 9th with a one over 277. He missed last year because of a hand injury.

“For me, playing here again is like icing on the cake and coming here and seeing a lot of good friends that I’ve made throughout the years has been a blessing for me,” White said.

When asked what the difference is in Todd White now and 22 years ago, he replied, “I’m just as competitive, trust me.”

White showed that competitive desire in the first two rounds when he battled an

eye problem (scratched cornea) that made seeing difficult. He went to an eye specialist, who helped alleviate the problem. Despite limited vision, White managed a pair of 68s in the first two rounds. Seeing better in round three he fired another 68 before ending up with a 71 on the final day.

“As long as I get invited back, I’ll play, provided my tee shot clears the pond on one,” said White.

Northeast Amateur NotesOne youngster who will be returning

next year says tourney director Denny Glass is Greenwich, Connecticut’s Danny Guise, who will be a senior this coming year at Greenwich High School. “He’ll be back because he’s good,” said Glass.

Young Guise made the cut for the final round and finished his 72 holes with a 283 total after rounds of 71,69,73 and 70.

“For a high school player to be invited to play in this event where so many good college players are entered is awesome for me,” said Guise who has already committed to attend Wake Forest University in September of 2013. “I played solid golf. I grinded a little but I thought I chipped good and I made some putts.”

Although golf is his main concern and his goal is eventually to become a PGA Tour player, Guise also is pretty good at shooting the basketball. A standout shooting guard on his high school team, Guise competed in late July at the AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fla. “That’s pretty cool, too. To be able to compete against some of the top young players in the country,” he said.

Another high school standout expected to be invited back next year is 16-year-old Jim Liu of Smithtown, New York. Liu tied for 30th at 4 over 280 with solid rounds of 72,68,69 and 71. Earlier this year Liu opened some eyes when he finished tied for second at the Terra Cotta Invitational in Florida and was second at the Azalea Open.

UCLA’s Anton Arboleda was making his first visit to the Wannamoisett course and he found it to his liking. Arboleda, who started learning all about golf at the age of 4 in California, before moving to the Philippines and living there for awhile, carded an even par 276 with rounds of 69, 72,67 and 68. The Bruins All American, who finished 12th at the NCAA Tournament in the spring, ended

his play here with a final 9 score of 33.“The toughest part of the golf course

were the greens, definitely,” he said. “Off the tees wasn’t too demanding but the little undulations in the greens made it tough. I’d love to come back.”

Arboleda says it looks like he’ll return to school for his final two years and wait a little before turning pro. “I want to finish school,” he said..

All four Rhode Island entries into this year’s tournament failed to make the final round cut. Charlie Blanchard tallied the lowest three-round total for the Rhode Islanders at 220 (74,76,70). Next came Brad Valois at 222 (78,76,68), Andrew Fioranzano at 229 (78,78,73) and finally Ben Tuthill at 235 (79,77,77).

Other New Englanders who finished the four rounds were Shrewsbury, Mass., veteran Frank Vana who posted a 72-hole total of 282 (74,68,69,71) and Georgia Tech standout Richy Werenski of South Hadley, Mass., who finished at 283

Shinn Captures Northeast Amateur

(68,74,71,70).One final note from this year’s tourney.

Wannamoisett’s toughness showed up this year. After being blistered by record scoring last year, only 11 players finished under par this year.


RI WOMEN’S GOLFBy BOB DICK

Ali Prazak has been living the kind of life that many of us would love to experience just

a little bit in our lifetime. She was born in the Virgin Islands, learned to play golf there, now attends Campbell University of the Big South Conference in North Carolina and is a member of the women’s golf team and for the past number of summers she visits with her grandparents in Middletown and plays out of Green Valley, C.C.

This summer has been her most productive in golf. She finished in the top 10 at the New England Women’s Championship in Maine, was the medallist in the Rhode Island Women’s Golf Association State Amateur and reached the quarterfinals and then, playing her best golf ever over a four day period, won the OSWGA R.I. Women’s State Amateur title at Cranston C.C. with an impressive 7 and 5 win over Montaup’s Nancy Diemoz in a match that ended on the par 5 13th hole.

Prazak was so dominating that the veteran Diemoz never really had a chance. Featuring tee shots that found the fairways, approach shots that found the greens and putts that found the bottom of the cup, Prazak owned a five-up lead after the first six holes.

“Yes it was a good day, I hit fairways, I hit greens and I made putts. I didn’t have stray shots or long putts. I was real consistent,” said Prazak who recorded her lowest round ever, a 69, in a quarterfinal match that was played out for 18 holes even though it had been decided much earlier.

In her championship match, Prazak was two under at the time her day ended on the 13th hole.

Prazak, who eliminated Kibbe Reilly on the 19th hole in a grinding semifinal match, admitted that playing with a big lead early does have its downside. “It does make it a little harder because you know you are a ahead and there is the concern

that you feel you can relax, but playing against Nancy, she can make putts from anywhere so you can’t really relax,”she said. “My dad (Kerry, her caddy and coach at home) tells me I’m three down no matter how many I’m up just to keep me focused.”

Right from the very first hole Diemoz knew it might be a long day for her when Prazak birdied that opening hole and she bogeyed. “Today, I couldn’t make a putt, my short game failed me. On most of the holes I was putting to halve the holes rather than win them and when I missed I lost the holes, said Diemoz who knocked off Sue Cavanagh one-up in the semifinals.

“Halves were going to be good for me until I could sink birdies on par threes but I couldn’t do that. I just never really gave Ali a match.”

Prazak talked about how her overall game has improved. “During the last semester in the spring my short game improved a lot and the last three weeks I worked on my iron play and that has improved, too,” Prazak noted.

Her putting also came around nicely for the OSWGA event. She did not have one 3-putt green in the championship final. “At the New Englands, my putter really hurt me. I think I had seven 3-putt greens there, so I spent some time trying to fix some things and in this match I really felt comfortable,” said Prazak.

One thing Prazak will need, however is a new 9-iron. She snapped the head off of her Callaway nine iron on her second shot to the green on the par 4, third hole. Prazak faced a bit of an up hill lie in a little gully and when she drove the club at the ball she seemed to jam it into the ground and the head broke off. The ball, however, flew toward the pin and landed about 12 feet from the cup. It was another par and Prazak kept her two-up lead at the time. She was fortunate because she could have suffered a jammed wrist. But that’s the way this tournament went for the 2012 OSWGA champ.

It wasn’t exactly spectacular golf in the RIWGA State Amateur championship final between Nicole Scola and

Amanda Sabitoni as 9 bogeys, one double bogey, 18 pars and only two birdies would attest. However, in any competition it’s all about winning and Scola, a 17 year-old senior to be at Prout Memorial High School, did just that.

Scola, the three-time Interscholastic League girls state golf champion, managed to defeat the veteran Sabitoni 3 and 2 to win the 2012 RIWGA title at rainy Metacomet C.C. It also was her very first RIWGA championship.

Scola, with her methodical approach to the game, moved into the lead on the third hole and never relinquished it before ending the match on the par 4 16th when Sabitoni, the 2008 RIWGA state champion, conceded the match after missing a birdie putt.

“I have a friend who works at this club who told me that the pin placements on the final day would be tough and so to play conservative,” Scola said. “Usually, on the final day of a tournament, I start firing away at them but I was lucky to have this information because the greens were tricky. I was able to stay below the hole and get pars; birdies were few and far between.”

Certainly, the wet weather played a role in how the two ladies played their game in this championship final. Sabitoni, who just recently regained her amateur status after not competing for a year, endured problems with her putter all day. “Maybe, it was the speed of the greens, which were wet. Nicole played steady. I felt like I had to throw birdies at her but when I did have birdie attempts, I missed them,” she said.

Prior to her appearance in the final, Scola, who reached the semis last year at Pawtucket C.C. got a major scare in her quarterfinal duel with 2010 champ Marissa White. She eventually won that match on the 18th hole to move into the semifinals.

“That was scary, I was down by four when we made the turn but I managed to get things even on the 17th and then win it with a par on 18,” Scola said. She then went on to defeat Warwick’s Sue Cavanaugh, 3 and 2, in the semis. Scola had beaten Cavanaugh by two strokes to win this year’s state schoolgirl championship at Point Judith C.C.

Sabitoni, who decided two years ago not to pursue a PGA Teaching Pro career, moved through the quarterfinals and semifinals rather easily, beating qualifying medallist Ali Prazak (73) 5 and 4, and then finishing off Lauren Collins, 4 and 3, in their semifinal match.

In both of those matches, Sabitoni’s putter was hot. Not so in the finals. The former La Salle standout, struggled from the get go and carded a 40 on the front nine that included three bogeys and a double on the par four 8th.

Meanwhile, Scola wasn’t exactly lighting things up, either. She recorded three bogeys also but came in with a 38 on the front nine for a two-hole lead.

Both ladies showed signs of improvement on the par 5 ninth when they both birdied the hole. First, Sabitoni rolled in a 50-footer from off the green.

“I felt I had some push and momentum behind me when I got that birdie,” Sabitoni said. But instead of cutting her deficit to one, Sabitoni watched Scola plop a 10-foot birdie putt to halve the hole.

“When I stood over that putt I could just see in my mind that it was going in and it did. I was lucky to half that hole,” Scola said.

Sabitoni could not keep her momentum flowing after her birdie on 9 as she bogeyed 10 and 12 to fall four holes down. By then her fate had been sealed.

“On the back nine, I just wanted to play fearless and go at the greens but I also wanted to play smart and make sure I could get pars,” Scola noted. “I thought my short game saved a lot of holes for me in this tournament. I think that was the best part of my game.”

In the other divisions, Christine Zanolli beat Lori DiPersio, 5 and 4, to win the President’s Bowl and Melissa Trapp edged Judy Horton, 2 and 1, to capture the Past President’s Bowl.

Prazak Wins OSWGAState Amateur

Scola Wins RIWGAState Amateur


DEUTSCHE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP By JOE GORDON

Seth Waugh, who is smart enough to have figured it out for himself, seemed fulfilled recently when he offered his

thoughts on the community growth of the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC of Boston in Norton.

You see, just beneath Waugh’s New York state of mind beats the heart of a native New Englander. A career globe trotter in pursuit of all that benefits Deutsche Bank Americas, where he is CEO, Waugh owns the perfectly proper wardrobe, the expensive designated sunglasses and an air of friendly elegance that you’d swear would make him the most important man in the room according to that beer commercial. Instead, for at least one week a year, his methods seem to be guided by a rustic acknowledgement that he is, indeed, one of us.

Waugh, who grew up in Ayer, Mass., didn’t need any blueprints from Madison Ave. to build an extraordinary relationship between his Deutsche Bank Championship and millions of New England golf fans who have revised their traditional Labor Day weekend plans to include the Deutsche Bank event, annually the second of four Fedex Cup playoff tournaments. Tiger Woods’ presence is virtually guaranteed annually because his Tiger Woods Foundation is the chief charitable beneficiary of the tournament, which, as usual, will be conducted with a Monday (Labor Day) finish.

This year’s event marks the 10th time the tournament has been staged, all at TPC of Boston in Norton. Waugh, who is overseeing what might be his last Deutsche Bank campaign, is proud of the charitable and social elements created in the last 10 years of the tournament, which has received a tremendous boost from the local community even as the tournament enables hundreds of kids through various programs.

The Hockomock Area YMCA is a perfect example of what can happen when both sides of the community realize the good that can be done.

“When we started doing the tournament I knew we had a great town (Boston). I thought they’d really embrace it,” said Waugh, who, surprisingly, is in the beginning phase of his recent decision to step away from much of the compelling duties of both his job as CEO and his function as czar of the tournament. Waugh wants to spend more time with his family. His son, Clancy, is a national caliber golfer. Waugh recently accompanied Clancy, who missed getting into match play, to

Vermont for the U.S. Junior. “As I got into it, I really realized how

much these (PGA Tour tournaments) do. They do two things. One is that they raise a certain amount of direct charitable funding. But more importantly they drive social and economic engines. Some studies have indicated there has been between 50-70 million dollars spent annually in revenue in Greater New England as a result of the tournament. Considering the economy of the last four or five years, that is a big deal. It’s about $600 million in the 10 years. I’m proud of that.”

Waugh said one of the things that gives him the biggest kick is seeing three generations of the same family walking around the course come tournament week. “The kids are wearing a Deutsche Bank Championship hat or a Red Sox hat. Then comes dad and his dad and mom. This is a big deal. I remember walking down the fairway in the playoff last year while (members of the gallery) were saying thanks to me. I’m not sure I totally understood it when we started, but it’s been really rewarding.”

Waugh will have a major say in choosing his successor at Deutsche Bank, for which he intends to act as a kind of advisor as he reduces his work load to fit in with his familial needs. He said how much he eventually undertakes involving the tournament will depend upon the golf interest of his successor.

As has been the case every time the title sponsorship contract has been about to expire, as it does after this tournament, there is some uncertainty as to whether or not the bank will continue its title sponsor role.

“It’s like I’ve always said, I like our chances. We love the event and we love the town,” said Waugh. “We’ve been talking a lot for a while.”

Eric Baldwin, tournament director, said every PGA Tour tournament is hosted by a non-profit organization. “Our’s is the Tiger Woods Foundation,” said Baldwin. “They knew it was very important for us to connect locally as well as the great work they do throughout the country and in this area for scholarship programs, learning centers etc. We’ve been able to forge some amazing relationships locally, in particular with the Hockomock area YMCA.

“The work they do over there is unbelievable. Since the day we arrived, their organization continues to grow and they’ve been instrumental for us in the growth of our event. We’ve been able to help them do some of the things they’ve been able

to do to expand and build programming. We brought in the nine core values First Tee program to the Y. It was the first Y in the United States to launch this program. It was an offshoot of the nine core values national school program that we launched in Mansfield.

“They have been instrumental to us as we developed our family and kids programming. Our chairman of our kids program is from the YMCA, Dan Brennock. They help us staff the Kids Village on site and the kids’ zones. It’s definitely a two-way street. My most rewarding moments are seeing the impact this event has on the community. We do a sponsorship every year for the Hockmock Area YMCA,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin also singled out Ed Hurley, president of the Hockomock area Y, for praise, explaining that Hurley manages the tournament’s volunteer programs.

Baldwin said Waugh and the bank drive the event’s community-oriented programs.

“It’s very rare and special to have the

CEO of the sponsoring organization be as involved as Seth has been. He’s here all week, he knows the programming we do. He challenges us to raise the bar on a daily basis. Seth embraced the (Labor Day) holiday. It’s a family type holiday,” said Baldwin.

Joe Gordon is the retired golf writer for the Boston Herald and a long-time member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America.

Seth Waugh

Deutsche Bank Instrumental to Family & Kids Programs


PEOPLE IN GOLFBy SCOTT CORDISCHI

Brent and Tiger were playing a match. Tiger was in one of those pot bunkers with the sod fronting and huge lip. Tiger’s ball was partially buried in the bunker. He said he could take an unplayable lie and go back to the spot where the last stroke was played with a penalty of one stroke. Can he do that?

Ruling: Yes. Under provision 27-1a, he has the option of going back to the spot last hit. Under provisions 27-1 b and c, he must drop in the bunker. In each case he incurs a penalty of one stroke. (The announcers were correct at the British Open, but did not explain returning to the point of the last shot).

Years from now, history will show that Ernie Els won the 2012 British Open Championship. But that really

won’t tell the true story of how he captured his second Claret Jug. You see, the South African Els did not win the 2012 Open Championship as much as Australian Adam Scott lost it.

You hate to use the “c” word in the world of sport, but it would appear that Adam Scott may have choked away his chance at winning his first major. How else do you explain what we all witnessed in Sunday’s final round?

After three fantastic rounds (64, 67, 68) under par, Scott entered the final round of the Open Championship with what seemed to be a very comfortable 4-shot lead. From tee to green, he was in complete control of his game and had little problem negotiating the challenges presented by Royal Lytham St. Anne.

And as if that weren’t enough, Scott also had that same 4-stroke lead with four holes to play in his final round. Four consecutive bogies later, he LOST by 1-stroke to Els.

To be fair, Els did have a sensational back nine which saw him card a 4-under par 32 on

the inward nine. But that great performance would not, and should not have meant anything had Scott been able to take care of business down the stretch.

What was surprising about Scott’s implosion was that, between himself and his arrogant caddy Steve Williams, they couldn’t come up with a game plan to manage a par or two in the tournament’s final four holes.

Following a bogey on 15, Scott three-putted the 16th hole for bogey by missing a very makeable 4-footer. On the 17th, he pulled a 6-iron into the junk left of the green which cost him a chance at par and then came his curious decision on the 18th tee.

Scott had hit iron off of that tee in the first three rounds and, because of that decision, managed to stay out of the pot bunkers in the fairway. Sunday, he decided to hit a 3-wood which was plenty of club for him to reach the bunkers. After chipping out sideways, Scott made a nice approach shot but missed his 8-foot putt for par on the amateur (or low) side of the cup.

Choke job complete!Nobody likes to see a professional athlete

choke the way that Scott did on Sunday at the Open Championship, particularly when

it is a person as classy and well-liked as Adam Scott. But, there are those who didn’t mind that it happened because of who Scott had on his bag.

Williams is the former long-time caddy of Tiger Woods and the two had a messier divorce than Tiger and Elin did. After a dozen years together, Woods decided to fire Williams as his caddy. In fact, 12 years is a long time for a professional golfer and caddy to remain together. Changes are made quite frequently by pro golfers.

Following his dismissal by Woods, Williams released the following statement. “Following the completion of the AT&T National I am no longer caddying for Tiger after he informed me that he needed to make a change. After 13 years of loyal service needless to say this came as a shock. Given the circumstances of the past 18 months working through Tiger’s scandal, a new coach and with it a major swing change and Tiger battling through injuries I am very disappointed to end our very successful partnership at this time. I have had the opportunity to work of late for Australian Adam Scott and will now caddy for him

on a permanent basis. Having started my caddying career with Australian great Peter Thompson and working for Greg Norman in the ‘80s I am excited about the future working for another Australian.”

Williams wasn’t done there. Caddying for Scott during his win at the 2011 Bridgestone Invitational, he couldn’t resist taking a shot at his former employer who had earned him both fame and fortune by saying the following, “I’ve caddied for 33 years — 145 wins now — and that’s the best win I’ve ever had.”

Williams later apologized for his off color remarks, an apology that Woods publicly accepted, but the damage was done. Not to Woods, mind you, but to Williams himself.

So while we feel for the classy Adam Scott for having blown a golden opportunity across the pond, you have to wonder why the egotistical Steve Williams couldn’t help his boss to that win.

Because of him, Scott will now be mentioned with the likes of fellow Australian Greg Norman, Phil Mickelson and even Jean van de Velde for having coughed up a fur ball in a major championship.

Where Was Williams When Scott Needed Him?


RI NOTEBOOK By BOB DICK

Morrell Falls to MacDonaldNorth Kingstown’s Samantha Morrell

came within one shot of winning her second New England Women’s Amateur Championship. Instead, Morrell, who won it two years ago, finished second to Kristen MacDonald of Massachusetts at the Natanis G.C. in Vassaboro, Maine. MacDonald posted rounds of 71,75 and 76 for a 222 total while Morrell finished with rounds of 74,75 and 74, one shot back at 223

Still, MacDonald almost gave it away. Morrell was five shots down after 12. But, then things began to unravel for MacDonald. She doubled the 13th while Morrell parred the hole. Then MacDonald did the unthinkable and doubled the 14th and watched Morrell birdie the hole. Suddenly, the five shot lead was gone and things were even. Both parred the 15th before Morrell bogeyed the 16th and fell behind by one. She never got any closer.

Morrell did not defend her 2011 titles in this year’s RIWGA and OSWGA State Amateur championships. Instead, she played in the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at the Letherbridge C.C. in Letherbridge, Alberta where she finished 17th with four rounds consistent rounds of 73.

Leopold Heading Back toU.S. Amateur

He’s headed to the U.S. Amateur Championship for the second year in a row and Potowomut’s Bobby Leopold can’t wait to get there.

It was a year ago when Leopold made some noise at the U.S. Am event at Erin Hills in Wisconsin when he earned the 64th seed and proceeded to knock off medallist Gregor Main and then upsetting Nationwide Tour winner Harris English before losing his next match in extra holes to Jordan Russell, that’s the same Jordan Russell who lost this year’s Northeast Amateur in extra holes to Justin Shinn.

And it is that loss to Russell that still nags at Leopold. “I was one hole away from reaching the quarterfinals and an exempt status for this year’s Amateur and the U.S. Mid Am,” he said a few hours after qualifying in the sectionals for this year’s Amateur at Cherry Hills C.C. in Cherry Hills Village in Colorardo (Aug 9-13) with a brilliant 10 under 132 at Crestwood. “Last year at Erin Hills I was one up going to the 18th. He birdied, I parred and then he won in extra holes.”

Ever since Leopold has been determined to make amends. For the past month he has been working on improving his swing. That work with his father-in law and caddie, Scott Cooke, along with noted Michigan swing coach Adam Schriber, paid off handsomely at the U.S. Am Sectional. There, he recorded 11 birdies and just one bogey through 36 holes with nifty scores of 66 and 66.

“Adam pointed out my problems when we went to Michigan and then Scott and I worked on them here,” Leopold said. “I wanted better balance, bigger shoulder turn and to be more consistent. I feel great, my game is coming along at the right time and I have a lot more confidence.”

Joining Leopold in Colorado from the Crestwood sectional are Australia’s Ryan McCarthy, who carded rounds of 69 and a brilliant 64 for a 133 total. McCarthy’s day featured a pair of eagles (4th and 18th holes) during his second round. Metacomet’s Brad Valois earned the third and final slot when he defeated Wannamoisett’s Charlie Blanchard in a playoff. Valois and Blanchard were tied at 5 under 137 after the two rounds.

Sabitoni Hopes to Competein Florida

By now former La Salle standout, Amanda Sabitoni should be back in West Palm Beach, Florida at her new job with investment firm Morgan Stanley. It has been quite a ride for Sabitoni who only four years ago seemed bent on becoming a PGA teaching pro and headed for a three-year program at the elite Trump International Club in West Palm.

Her amateur days ended after winning the 2008 RIWGA State Amateur crown with a one up win over Lis McGill at Kirbrae.

Funny how the best laid plans can change dramatically. “I worked at Trump for two years, then I came back here and worked at Point Judith C.C. for a year,” Sabitoni said

However, Sabitoni wasn’t really enjoying herself. “I began feeling that the golf industry wasn’t for me. I did play in the Mass Open and Connecticut Open two years ago but it didn’t work out. I didn’t like it. I found it to be too cutthroat,” she explained.

Still, she wanted to continue competing so she sat out a year, worked for Oppenheimer in Providence before

recently getting her job with Morgan Stanley and finally regaining her amateur status earlier this year.

After losing in the finals of this year’s RIWGA State Am, Sabitoni said she hopes to be competing in amateur events in Florida.

More NotesWest Warwick’s Jamie Lukowicz captured the 2012 R.I. Public Links title with a one under 142 at Triggs Golf Course in Providence. Lukowicz carded rounds of 70 and 72 to finish two shots ahead of West Warwick’s Rob Grossguth, New England Country Club’s Steve Royer and Newport National’s Robert Goldman.Lukowicz pulled away for the victory when he birdied the par three 12th and then followed that with an eagle at the par five 13th.Luann Dias won the women’s division by seven strokes over Linda Meldonian.The Metacomet Country Club twosome of George Cidade and Dave Nuttall Jr. won the 63rd RIGA Four-Ball title with an 8 under 36-hole score of 133 (63 and

70) played at North Kingstown Golf Course and the Potowomut Golf Course.. Deadlocked in a tie for second at 134 were Peter Leach and Brad Valois from Metacomet and the team of Paul Quigley (Swansea) and Mike Soucy (Valley C.C.). Leach and Valois shot rounds of 66 and 68 while Quigley and Soucy posted scores of 63 and 71.

Samantha Morrell


JUNIOR GOLFBy DAVE ADAMONIS, JR

It has been become an annual July tradition that Challenge Cup Nation (past and present) raises quite a bit of

hardware. Each year the Nation’s presence becomes more prevalent, as evidenced at the New England Amateur. 101 players in the 156 player field are from the Nation....and yes a Challenge Cup alum Christopher Swift was your champion. Here are the Top 9 moments in July or the “Fine Nine” in no particular order (I honestly could have posted 18).

Williamson En Fuego Dartmouth graduate Peter Williamson

won two of the most prestigious amateur championships in amateur golf and qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship in a span of three weeks. Williamson teed off the month by defeating Clemson’s Thomas Bradshaw 4 & 3 to capture the 112th North & South Men’s Amateur Championship. Two weeks later the Hanover, N.H, resident canned a 25-foot birdie putt on the third hole of a sudden death play-off to defeat Alabama’s Bobby Wyatt (the #1 ranked amateur player) for top honors at the Southern Amateur Championship. The duo had finished 72 holes of regulation at 12-under par 276.

The victory has created somewhat of a dilemma for Williamson. With the victory Williamson has earned an invitation to the PGA Tour’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill next March provided he maintains his amateur status.

“My plan was to go to PGA Tour Q-School this fall,” Williamson said. “Obviously, I would be honored to play in Mr. Palmer’s event. It is a tough decision, but I will probably enter Q-School as an amateur and see what happens.”

Just three days after winning the Southern Williamson earned a spot in golf ’s most prestigious championship (the U.S. Am) by posting a 7-under par 36-hole total of 135 at Charter Oaks G.C. in Hudson, Mass. to take medalist honors.

The way Williamson is playing he has to be considered one of the favorites to win the U.S. Amateur Championship (August 13-19) at Cherry Hills C.C. in Cherry Hills, Colorado.

Werenski Double DipsWhile Williamson was hoisting the

hardware at the Southern Amateur South Hadley’s (MA) Richy Werenski was carving out his own page in history at the prestigious Porter Cup. Sadly, the two tournaments, which are among the tops in amateur golf, are run concurrently. It didn’t matter to Weresnki as he scorched Niagara Falls C.C. with a second round of 8-under par 62 en route to winning the 54th edition of the Porter Cup. Werenski fired rounds of 66-62-67-68 to post a 17-under par total 2-strokes better than Virginia’s Denny McCarthy and 3-strokes clear of Stanford’s Patrick Rodgers (the #3 ranked player in amateur golf ).

Like Williamson, Werenski was back at it three days later punching his ticket to the U.S. Amateur Championship. Playing in his backyard at the Orchards G.C., Werenski carded a 4-under par 136 36-hole total to finish 1-stroke back of Matt Bianchini earning one of three qualifying spots.

Cherry Hills BoundChallenge Cup Nation and New

England will be well represented at the 112th edition of the U.S. Amateur Championship (August 13-19). A total of 12 Challenge Cuppers and 14 players overall from New England will attempt to bring home amateur golf ’s most coveted hardware a la Peter Uihlein. Reigning Challenge Cup Player of the Year and 2011 USGA Junior Runner-up Chelso Barrett was one of five current Challenge players to punch their U.S. Am ticket. Seven Challenge Cup alum will join the fray in Colorado, while Cranston, R.I.’s Bobby Leopold leads a group of another three New England players. Leopold will try to duplicate his amazing Sweet 16 run at last year’s national championship. He certainly looks to be rounding into form, as he torched Crestwood C.C. to the tune of 10-under in sectional qualifying.

Record BreakerOver the past eight months Ben Balter

has posted three ridiculously low single round scores in competition. In December

at the Orange Bowl International Junior Championship, the Wake Forest commit (2013) carded a 6-under par 65 in the third round of the 72-hole event. A few months later the Wellesley resident fired an 8-under par 63 at Roanoke C.C. in the second round of the Scott Robertson Memorial, The number tied the course record, plus matched the lowest round in the event’s 29-year history set by current PGA Tour competitor Brendon Todd in 2001. More recently Balter torched the Golf Club at Turner Hill with a 7-under par 65 for the course record during the second round of play at the Francis Ouimet Memorial.

Whelan, Khang Tops at OuimetFormer Challenge Cup ace Jack

Whelan and reigning Challenge Cup Girls Player of the Year Megan Khang posted hard fought victories at the Francis Ouimet Memorial. Khang won the one-day women’s title for the second year in a row by carding a 3-under par 69 to best yet another Challenge Cupper Julia Ford by 2-strokes. Whelan led from start to finish, but had to hold off the likes of Colin Brennan, Jamison Randall and Ben Balter en route to his first major amateur crown. The sophomore at St. Lawrence was a model of consistency firing rounds of 72-68-71 for a 5-under par total and 1-stroke victory over Brennan, who closed with a 5-under par 67 at Ouimet’s home course (Woodland G.C.).

Guise Surges to Player of the Year Lead at World Series

Danny Guise made a routine par on the second hole of a sudden-death play-off to win the Challenge Cup’s most coveted crown the World Series of Junior Golf. Guise birdied three of the last four holes at Triggs Memorial G.C. to force a play-off with Nicholas Pandelana and Connor Greenleaf at 5-under par 139. In the Boys 14-15 Division Westport, Conn.’s Peter Richards fired a pair of 1-under par rounds of 71 to post a 3-stroke victory over Steven Dilisio. Meanwhile, Marissa Grillo staged a brilliant comeback to edge Julia Ford by 1-stroke for the Girls Division title. Grillo

carded rounds of 82-75 to eke out a 1-stroke victory. Not to be outdone RIGA Junior champion Will Dickson smoked the field in the Boys 13 & Under Division posting rounds of 73-72 for a 1-over par total and 10-storke victory. The World Series, which is the arguably the most prestigious competition on the calendar, produced a field of 172 players from nine states and three countries.

Nation Shines at State Amateur Championships

Six state amateur championships were contested over the past month and Challenge Cup Nation produced four champions and two runner-ups. The champions included Matt Smith (Connecticut), Joe Leavitt (New Hampshire), Mike Calef (Massachusetts) and Seth Sweet (Maine).Connecticut Amateur ChampionshipMatt Smith def. Ben Conroy 7 & 6Maine Amateur ChampionshipSeth Sweet 70-70-79-219,JJ Harris 76-70-76-223Massachusetts Amateur ChampionshipMike Calef def. Mark Souliotis 3 & 1NH Amateur ChampionshipJoe Leavitt def. DJ Lantz 8 & 7Rhode Island Amateur ChampionshipCharlie Blanchard def.Jamison Randall 5 & 4Vermont Amateur ChampionshipMike Stackus 70-69-65-68-27,Garren Poirier 73-68-68-72-281

Killing it at KillingtonFor the second consecutive year a pair

of Challenge Cup players earned their first AJGA titles at the AJGA’s Killington Junior Championship at Green Mountain National G.C. Madison Conn.’s Brian Carlson rolled to a 9-stroke victory in the Boys Division by posting three consecutive under par rounds of 68-69-68 for a 5-under par 205 total. In the Girls Division, Mia Landegren, of Bridgewater, Ct. overcame a 5-stroke final round deficit by firing a course record 6-under par 64 to claim an amazing 7-stroke victory. Landegren carded rounds of 73-76-64 to post a 3-over par 213 total.

Nation Domination in July

LISTEN TO THE GOLF RADIO SHOW ON WEEKEND MORNINGS FOR MORE JUNIOR GOLF!


JUNIOR GOLF By DAVE ADAMONIS, JR

Khang, Greenleaf & Shuman Enjoy Runs at US Junior

Megan Khang, Connor Greenleaf and Jake Shuman enjoyed nice runs at the recent U.S. Boys & Girls Junior Championships, but came up short of their ultimate goal of winning junior golf ’s most coveted crown.

At the Girls Junior in Daly City, California Khang was steamrolled in the Round of 32 by Osceola, Wisconsin’s Casey Danielson 3 & 2. After falling behind to Khang 1 down through three holes, Danielson countered with a brilliant performance playing the next 13 holes at 6-under par. The loss was the third consecutive defeat in the Round of 32 for the 15-year old Khang.

In the Boys Championship at the Golf Club of New England in Stratham, New Hampshire 2011 Boys Runner-up Chelso Barrett missed qualifying for match play by a single stroke. Two of his

US Amateur QualifiersPlayer City/State Qualifying Site To Par / TotalBlake Morris Waterbury, CT CT National G.C. – CT -4 138John Jackopsic West Hartford, CT CT National G.C. – CT -1 141Danny Guise Greenwich, CT Hollow Brook G.C. – NY -5 139Nick McLaughlin New Castle, NH TPC River Highlands – CT +4 144James Pleat Nashua, NH TPC River Highlands – CT +5 145Christopher Swift New Canaan, CT TPC River Highlands – CT +5 145Matt Bianchini West Boylston, MA The Orchards G.C. – MA -5 135Richy Werenski South Hadley, MA The Orchards G.C. – MA -4 136Chelso Barrett Keene, NH The Orchards G.C. – MA -2 138Bobby Leopold Cranston, RI Crestwood C.C. – MA -10 132Brad Valois Warwick, RI Crestwood C.C. – MA -5 137Peter Williamson Hanover, NH Charter Oak G.C. – MA -7 135Ricky Stimets Paxton, MA Charter Oaks G.C. – MA -5 137Ben Balter Wellesley, MA Charter Oaks G.C. – MA -3 139

Date Tournament Site 8/2 FCWT New England Qualifier Crystal Lake G.C.8/7 – 8/9 MGA Junior Championship Oakley C.C.8/10 Foon’s Battle of the Classes Crystal Lake G.C. 8/12 – 8/14 New England Junior Amateur Taconic G.C. 8/14 – 8/15 Providence Open (pro/am event) Triggs G.C.8/16 – 8/17 The Qualifier (pro event) Crestwood C.C.8/21 – 8/22 The Gately Cup Connecticut National G.C.8/25 – 8/26 FCWT Preseason Qualifier Bay Pointe G.C.8/30 – 9/1 John D. Mineck DBC Junior Cup Boston Golf Club

contemporaries, Connor Greenleaf and Jake Shuman qualified for match play. Greenleaf, of Windham, N.H. was ousted in the opening round 2 & 1 by Gastonia, N.C.’s Victor Wiggins 2 & 1. Shuman, of Needham, Mass. made a dramatic 25-foot birdie putt on the 19th hole to defeat Justin Suh, of San Jose, California in the opening round. Shuman’s dream ended in the Round of 32 as he was ousted by two-time U.S. Junior semi-finalist Nicolas Echavarria 4 & 3.

Gately Cup, Foon’s Battle Headline Schedule

Foon’s Battle of the Classes and the Gately Cup, two tournaments created to honor the tireless contributions of Challenge Cup president Steve Feinstein and the late Barry Gately, headline the junior golf docket in the month of August.

World Series winners Amy Ding, Marissa Grillo andJulia Ford

World Series winners Connor Greenleaf, Danny Guise and Nicholas Pandelena

The way Peter Williamson is

playing he has to be considered one

of the favorites to win the

U.S. Amateur Championship.

Insurance Youth Qualifiers Cameron Andrade, McKinley Slade, Nicole Scola, John Aitkon, Jake Bauer andKyle Buschmann


PEOPLE IN GOLFBy BRUCE BERLET

In late 2011, Jeff Curl was told his golf career might be over. It was mid-June and the former resident of Ellington,

Conn., was playing in his first major championship, the U.S. Open. It was also the 46th anniversary of his father, former PGA and Champions Tour player Rod Curl, making his debut in the national championship at the same Olympic Club in San Francisco, not far from where Jeff was born on a Wintu Indian reservation in Redding, Calif.

But after battling hard to make the cut, the 2007 Connecticut Open champion almost didn’t make it to the first tee for the third round. The 33-year-old Curl nearly had to withdraw because of a hairline fracture in his right index finger he sustained when he hit his tee shot on the 15th hole the previous day. He re-injured the finger on No. 17 while finishing off a 5-over-par 75, and when he woke up the next morning, his hand was badly swollen. He called the tournament’s orthopedic specialist, who rushed him to an emergency room. A hand specialist

diagnosed the hairline fracture, so Curl took some Advil and got a steroid rubbed on the hand.

“They told me to stop, so I called my orthopedic specialist in Binghamton (Ala., where he lives),” Curl said. “He said if it gets worse, I’ll probably be out four-to-six weeks but that it shouldn’t completely fracture, that if I could withstand the pain, I could keep playing. After all I’ve been through with all the injuries, I said I can’t stay out because I’m playing so good.”

Curl’s previous major injury occurred last Nov. 5 when he sustained five fractured vertebrae in his back in an accident and was told he might never play professional golf again. That capped three years in which he also had two shoulder surgeries, five cortisone shots in his left knee, one cortisone shot in his wrist and a torn ligament in his left ankle that sidelined him most of 2011.

Though Curl wanted badly to finish his first major start, as of 9:15 a.m. Saturday, he was withdrawing. He didn’t get to the Olympic Club until 9:35 for a

10:15 starting time. He usually arrives 90 minutes early, but this time, he didn’t have time to stretch and go through his normal routine. It was hit a few shots and go.

“They say Saturday is moving day (on the PGA Tour), and I probably played the best round of my life,” Curl said. “I had one three-putt and missed six birdie putts inside six feet, and (playing partner) Simon Dyson told me it was one of the best ball-striking rounds he’d ever seen.”

Curl was 1 under through 17 holes before his approach on No. 18 clipped a tree and fell into deep rough. He hit his third shot over the green, chipped on and two-putted for a double-bogey 6 and 71.

On the final day, Curl opened with a 340-yard drive and wedge to 12 feet on the 520-yard first hole and then three-putted for a bogey, the first of five in six holes. A bogey at No. 9 gave him an outward 40, but he shot 35 on the back nine to close with 75 for a 72-hole total of 14-over 294 and a tie for 56th. Curl finished 13 strokes behind winner Webb Simpson but beat players such as four-time

major winner Phil Mickelson, 2011 PGA Championship titleist Keegan Bradley of Vermont and players who missed the cut like Masters champion Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Dustin Johnson, Hall-of-Famer Vijay Singh and the world’s top two ranked players, Luke Donald and defending champion Rory McIlroy.

“It was gratifying to finish the way I did,” Curl said. “I made the cut, beat a lot of good players and tied for 56th despite 13 three-putts and missing six birdie putts inside eight feet. It’s hard to get frustrated with the way I hit the ball, but it also was a week that could have been a really breakout week.”

Curl then returned to the Web.com Tour in Wichita, Kan., where he missed the cut by two shots. He then tied for 31st in the Web.com event in Newburgh, Ind., before heading home for an MRI on his hand with his most confidence ever after the most satisfying week of his career.

“I told my dad I was so happy he was here on Father’s Day,” said Curl, whose gallery included ten friends and family, including his dad and mom, Cindy, who flew from Connecticut to California on Tuesday of tournament week. “Despite all the stuff and visits to the doctors that happened, it was really special. I had a memorable time, but it meant that much more having my family around.”

The results of the MRI put a bit of a damper on things, but it wasn’t about to dull his enthusiasm.

“The doctor said I can’t really hurt the hand any worse so I just have to play through the pain when it hits, usually once a week when I get in any thick rough,” Curl said. “But that’s nothing after what I’ve been through the past few years. I’m so excited because I honestly believe I can win out here if I can just stay healthy.”

Jeff Curl Follows in His Dad’s Footsteps 46 Years Later


WESTERN MASS NOTEBOOK By RUSS HELD

MAI BREAKS CLUB RECORDEleven years to the day of its opening,

The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick produced one of its most memorable moments. And a day later, the semiprivate club topped it.

Two course records were set on July 14, the day before the women’s club championship was won by an 11-year-old girl. “We had a little bit of fun going on out here,” The Ranch G.C. head golf professional Hope Kelley said. “It was a great weekend for The Ranch.”

The men’s course record was fired by Andy Mai, a 19-year-old resident of Suffield, Conn. The sophomore at Boston College posted a 10-under-par 62, setting the tone for his victory in the 36-hole men’s club championship.

Mai made 11 birdies to break the old record of 64, turning with a 32 and firing a 6-under 30 coming in. “The 62 was surreal,” Mai said. “It was one of those days where the hole looked like a basketball hoop.” Mai birdied Nos. 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 18.

“Once I got to 7 under after the 14th hole, I was a little nervous . . . I knew that all I would need were two more birdies,” Mai said. He drained a 25-foot, downhill putt at 17 to get to 9 under. Needing only a par at 18 to protect the record, he finished with a birdie.

Mai had opened the round with a bogey 6 at the first hole. He had 171 yards into the green for his second shot, but found the right front bunker. He skulled it long, then three-putted.

“I thought ‘Oh no, it’s going to be one of those days’” Mai said. And it was. Mai followed the 62 with a 74 on Sunday, a round that “felt like 94.” He won the club championship by 13 strokes.

Kim Nastri of Southwick set the women’s course record (gold tees) of 1-over 73, during the first round of the women’s club championship.

“I had no idea what the course record was, I was only honestly thinking that if I parred 18 I’d finish at even par,” said Nastri, who plays to a handicap of 9. “I had shot 76 there last summer, but had only been in the 70s six or seven times.” The eighth-year member made her second birdie at the par-5 13th hole, before parring the next four.

Nastri’s bid for a third women’s club championship fell short on Sunday, when 11-year-old Angela Garvin rallied to beat

her by two strokes. “She’s phenomenal,” said Nastri, who graduated college in 1979. “A great kid, great player, very nice manners.”

Garvin, a home-schooled student entering sixth grade, closed with a 74 to erase a six-stroke deficit entering the final round. She had opened with a 79. Garvin turned with a 35 on Sunday, a score two strokes lower than her previous best on the front nine.

“I didn’t know where I stood (in relation to the lead) but, on one hole – the par 4 sixth – I made a birdie and I picked up five strokes on her,” Garvin said. “So I knew it was close.” The 8-handicapper made an 8-footer for par at the 17th hole to bring a one-stroke edge to 18. For good measure, she drained a birdie putt from 15 feet to post a two-stroke win.

“I think everyone knew but me,” Garvin said. “I played the same, no matter how old anyone else is. I just think it’s pretty impressive because my name gets engraved forever.” The women played from the gold tees, set at approximately 5,100 yards.

SO LUCKY, UNLUCKY? Tom Stewart was so lucky, he was

unlucky. Or was it the other way around?The athletic director at Holyoke

Community College made his first hole-in-one, as part of a Mutt & Jeff tournament at Springfield Country Club in West Springfield. He aced the 174-yard 14th hole, using a 4-iron on July 9.

“There were $1,000 prizes for closest-to-the-pin on 9 and 18, and what was on 14? Ten free car washes,” said Stewart,

who plays out of The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick. But . . .

“But with the tradition of having to buy a round of drinks for everyone and there were 135 golfers . . . the first 45 minutes of the tournament was open bar,” Stewart said. “So if you figure that an average drink is $7, that’s $945 I saved. So I think I actually made out in the end.”

Stewart and former HCC president Dr. David Bartley teamed to win low net honors in the tournament.

And the car wash coupons? “I gave those to my wife, I never saw them,” said Stewart, who lives in Manchester, Conn.

IMPRESSIVE ACETed Stusick, Sr. of Wilbraham didn’t let

age or health limitations get in the way of making a hole-in-one. Stusick, 84, made the second ace of his career when he holed out with a 3-wood, at the 180-yard 11th hole at Elmcrest Country Club in East Longmeadow on July 2.

Oh, and he’s legally blind. His first hole-in-one came on the 16th hole at Chicopee

C.C., “sometime in the 1980s,’’ according to son Ted Stusick, Jr.

BUCKY OUTThink the golf world misses Bucky

O’Brien? Imagine how he feels.The 44th-year head golf professional at

Country Club of Greenfield is currently undergoing radiation treatments for prostate cancer. He expects treatments, at Cooley-Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, to last a minimum of at least two more weeks.

“They really haven’t given me a timetable,” O’Brien said of returning to work. “But they’ve said that this is very treatable.”

O’Brien has missed a couple of weeks, in part to emergency surgery for a hernia. “I had never missed a day of work for being sick in 44 years,” O’Brien said. “I am disappointed I can’t be out there. I’d much rather be on the golf course. “I’ve been better, but I am doing pretty good.”

O’Brien was inducted into the Western Mass. Golf Hall of Fame last year.

Andy Mai


CT NOTEBOOKBy BRUCE BERLET

An unfulfilled goal stuck in Matt Smith’s craw for a year. But the recent University of Hartford grad

from Quinnatissett C.C. in Thompson reached his objective when he beat Ben Conroy 7 and 6 in the final of the Connecticut State Golf Association Amateur Championship at Race Brook Country Club in Orange.

The decisive win enabled Smith to atone for losing a 3-up lead with 11 holes to play in a 3-and-2 loss in the 2011 final to Tommy McDonagh, who did not defend because he chose to play in the Ike Championship, which he won in 2011. He finished 10th at Atlantic G.C. in Bridgehampton, N.Y., where Cameron Wilson of Shorehaven G.C. in Norwalk shot 8-under 208 to win by nine strokes after failing to make the cut in the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. Sam Bernstein of Yale, winner of the CSGA’s Russell C. Palmer Cup, was fifth.

“Definitely, I blew a pretty good size lead last year,” said Smith, the first to reach back-to-back finals in the State Amateur since Will Strickler won in 2007 and 2008. “It was definitely on my mind at least to get back to the final, and then I’d have a good chance of redeeming myself.”

Smith, 22, never trailed in the scheduled 36-hole match after winning the first two holes and four of the first five. Conroy (Country Club of River Valley), who will be a senior at the University of Delaware and also had his father caddying for him, righted himself with a win at No. 8, but Smith won the 10th hole, was 5 up after the morning round and cruised to victory. He plans to turn pro in November and play on the Florida mini-tours in the winter. ... Dave Szewczul, the runaway winner of the CSGA Senior Player of the Year Award in 2010 and 2011, started toward a trifecta by becoming the first two-time titlist of the CSGA Senior Match Play Championship in only the sixth year of the event. And the latest win started when he earned the 16th and final spot on the eighth hole of a playoff at Silver Spring C.C. in Ridgefield.

“My swing wasn’t quite where I wanted it to be,” Szewczul said after a 6-and-5 victory over Larry Bolduc in the final. “I had a great feel for the greens so my

short game was able to get me out of some trouble.”

After beating qualifying medalist Roger Everin in the first round, Szewczul was in trouble in the semifinals after losing two of the first three holes to Ray Underwood. But a birdie at No. 4 was the first of four wins in six holes, and the Tunxis Plantation C.C. in Farmington standout went on to a 5-and-3 victory.

In the other semifinal, Bolduc, the 15th seed after he birdied the first playoff hole, took a 4-up lead after nine holes and cruised to a 6-and-5 win. But Bolduc had little chance in the final as Szewczul birdied two of the first four holes, was 5-up at the turn and cruised to the title. ... Bruce Dietz (Cedar Knob G.C.-Somers) shot a 3-under 69 to win the CSGA Tournament of Champions at Bull’s Bridge in South Kent. Reigning club champions and titleholders of 10 CSGA championships were eligible, and Dietz, a former CSGA Mid-Amateur winner, edged Conroy by a stroke. Conroy shot 4 under the last 11 holes to beat Aaron Gross (New Haven C.C.) by one. In the Dick Siderowf Division of senior champions, defender Bob Spaniotis (Glastonbury Hills C.C.) shot 71 for a three-stroke victory over Bill Torza (Timberlin G.C.-Berlin) and David Czaplicki (Hamden Marketing). ... Wayne Talmadge (Timberlin G.C.) shot a 4-under 68 to win the Senior New England Public Links legends division at Hunter G.C. in Meriden. Tom Scarrozzo (Blue Fox Run-Avon) and Roger Baral (Long Hill-East Hartford) shot 71 to win the senior division. Les Zimmerman (Hunter) led the super seniors at 73. Blue Fox Run, Tashua Knolls G.C.-Trumbull and Timberlin led the senior, super senior and legends team competitions.... Mike Johnson and Ashley Mayo combined to shoot a 3-over 75 and win the CSGA Mixed Team Championship at Suffield C.C. Johnson and Mayo scored a two-stroke victory over Alex Gross-Jenn Whaley, Kevin Josephson-Elisabeth Beloin and Bruce and Ellie Dutch.

BECKER WINS CONN. SENIOR OPEN

After several near misses, Jim Becker shot 4-under 138 for 36 holes to win the

Connecticut Senior Open at Shennecossett G.C. in Groton. Becker, 56, a two-time Connecticut Open champion who was sixth and third in the Senior Open the past two years, finished two strokes ahead of former Connecticut Section PGA Players of the Year Fran Marrello and Tony Kelley.

“It’s been five years of coming close, coming close, coming close, so I’m just so happy that it happened and I’m tickled to death of the accomplishment,” Becker said.

David Jones shot 141 to finish as low amateur and tied for fourth with Jerry Courville Jr. Champions Tour player Ken Green, a Danbury native playing with a prosthesis on his right leg after a horrific RV accident three years ago, competed for the first time and shot 151 to tie for 35th. He also was scheduled to play in the Connecticut Open, which he won twice.

Shennecossett G.C. superintendent Eric Morrison was awarded the newly coined Morrison Medal, given for his exceptional service to the tournament over the past 15 years at the Groton club. The Morrison Medal will be given each year to a person who truly emulates the spirit of the Connecticut Senior Open and works tirelessly to make it happen.

YATSNEICK REPEATS AS CWGA CHAMPIONSHIP

WINNERNicole Yatsenick had added incentive

during a topsy-turvy, 1-up victory over veteran Jean Sennett in becoming the first repeat winner of the Connecticut Women’s Golf Association Championship in 19 years.

“I was motivated because of my coach, Floyd Gensler,” Yatsenick said after the 36-hole final at Rolling Hills C.C. in Wilton. “He has lymphoma, but he was out there rooting me on.”

Despite his disease, Gensler, whose most prized pupil has been former LPGA Tour player and Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame member Caroline Keggi, watched from behind the 18th green in a wheelchair as Yatsenick became the first back-to-back champion since former LPGA and Futures Tour player Heather Daly-Donofrio in 1992-93.

“My coach and I had worked on putting and chipping a lot before this tournament,” said Yatsenick, who co-captained Taft School in Watertown to a second consecutive Founders League and New England Championship before heading to Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla.

“I’m real proud of her,” said Gensler, the longtime pro at the Country Club of Waterbury where Yatsenick plays. “She’s a fighter and has a big heart.”

Yatsenick, 18, who finished fifth in qualifying, dominated her first four matches before having to go the distance against Sennett, now a four-time runner-up without a title from Wampanoag C.C. in West Hartford who also cruised into the final.

Yatsenick took a 3-up lead after nine holes but was 2-down after the morning round in which she had four three-putts. So during the lunch break, she went to the practice green and then had six one-putts in the last 18 holes. Yatsenick took a 3-up lead after 28 holes after Sennett bogeyed Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6 and 10 in the afternoon. But Sennett, who shared medalist honors in qualifying, got even when she won the 13th, 14th and 16th holes with two birdies and a par.

“I remember what happened last year in the final (against Myra MacMillan),” Yatsenick said. “I was 5-down after 14 (holes), so I was OK when Jean came back on me. She’s a great competitor.”

But an errant drive on the 35th hole ended up in a fairway bunker and an awkward stance for Sennett, who left a 10-foot par putt inches short. Yatsenich’s deft chip led to a saving par at the 36th hole, and when Sennett narrowly missed a birdie chip, she conceded to the youngster.

“It’s disappointing,” Sennett said after her latest loss in a title match. “Nicole was steady and didn’t miss anything inside 10 feet those last nine holes.”

The 18-hole Founders Cup final was just as close as Priscilla Wargo (Heritage Village C.C.-Southbury) defeated Janet Karabin (Silvermine C.C.-Norwalk), 1 up. ... Charlotte Ackerman and Liz Wilson of Simsbury Farms G.C. beat Leslie Harrison and Brooke Samuelsson of Blackledge C.C. in Hebron 2 up to win

Smith Gets Redemption, Wins State Amateur


CT NOTEBOOK By BRUCE BERLET

the Southern New England Women’s Golf Association Spring Cup.

WALTHOUSE, WHALEY WIN JUNIOR TITLES

Billy Walthouse of Longmeadow, Mass., and defending champion Kelly Whaley of Farmington continued their winning ways together when they captured the boys and girls titles in the Junior Connecticut PGA Championship at Watertown G.C. The duo also won the 2011 season-ending Jack Kelly Junior Tournament of Champions in September. Now they will travel to Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Ind., to compete in the PGA of America’s flagship junior event, the Junior PGA Championship on July 31-Aug. 2.

Walthouse shot 5-over 145 and earned his trip after a five-way playoff with 2011 Player of Year Patrick Albanesi of Avon, Jason Liu of Windsor, Evan Grenus of Glastonbury and Eddie Hill of the host club. Walthouse and Lui continued when they parred the first extra hole. Walthouse won with a par on the third hole.

Whaley shared the first-round lead with older sister Jennifer Whaley and then bettered her by six strokes in the final 18 holes to win 157-163. Elizabeth DiVincentis of Durham finished third at 166. This victory came a month after Kelly won and Jennifer finished third in the New England High School Girls Championship in Keene, N.H. That came after the sisters played together for one year and led Farmington High to second place in the State Girls Championship. Kelly, 15, won’t be able to defend in the Connecticut State Women’s Amateur Golf Championship at Ridgewood C.C. in Danbury on Aug. 14-16 because she starts her first year at the IMG International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head, S.C., on the 13th. And Jennifer, 17, will be in Spain before heading to Quinnipiac University on a golf scholarship.... Co-medalist and No. 1 seed John VanDerLaan (Heritage Village C.C.-Southbury) lost the first two holes but rallied to beat 15th seed Patrick Hallisey (Shuttle Meadow C.C.-Kensington) 3 and 1 to win the

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CSGA Junior Amateur Championship at Watertown G.C. VanDerLaan is only the fifth medalist in the 71-year history of the event to win the title. VanDerLaan shot even-par 71 to share medalist honors with Eric Austin (Lyman Orchards G.C.-Middlefield).

FIRST TEE OF CONNECTICUT LEARNING CENTER TO OPEN IN FALLDavid Polk, executive director of The

First Tee of Connecticut, said a learning center for the organization’s membership adjacent the TPC River Highlands driving range in Cromwell “is coming along great.” The outside of the 7,600-square foot facility was completed before the Travelers Championship in June, and the target date for the building being ready for occupancy is Labor Day weekend.

Polk and predecessor Bruce Wilson raised more than $2 million for the four-hole Karl Krapek Family Learning Links and the David & Geri Epstein Learning

Center, which includes two classrooms, a practice green and hitting bays, course simulator and artificial grass tee on the patio to hit balls toward the short course. Hard-hat tours of the facility were available during the tournament, and Polk is still looking for donations to run programs for the more than 50,000 youngsters in the state involved in the program that teaches golf and life skills. Contact Polk at 860-882-1660 or [email protected].

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TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Keegan Bradley was a crowd favorite.

Charley Hoffman let the championship slip away on 17 and 18.

Bubba Watson came within one stroke of defending his title.

Marc Leishman likes to surf and watch Australian Rules Football but says his favorite

sport is cricket. The Aussie also says it’s difficult explaining cricket to Americans, but it’s a lot like golf because it lasts a long time.

Those are ironic backdrops to Leishman’s first PGA Tour victory in the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. He was nearly in disbelief after a plethora of challengers failed to match his 14-under-par 266 total during a two-hour wait of eating, chatting and text messaging on his cell phone, watching some Euro 2012 soccer and then hitting a few balls and putts when Charley Hoffman flared his drive on the 17th hole into a pond and made a double-bogey 6 to lose a two-stroke lead.

When Hoffman bogeyed the 18th to fall one back, Leishman sensed an 8-under-par 62 that tied his career low might have earned him that elusive first win on the U.S. tour. And when Roland

Thatcher failed to hole a bunker shot for birdie at No. 18, Leishman received congratulatory handshakes from fellow Aussie Stuart Appleby and several caddies on the practice green.

Leishman finished one stroke ahead of Hoffman and 2010 Travelers Championship winner and 2012 Masters titlist Bubba Watson, who failed to make a birdie in the final five holes, though he salvaged a par 4 at the short 15th after slicing his drive into the water. Leishman was the fifth first-time winner in the last seven Travelers Championships thanks to the best finish by a champion on the PGA Tour this year.

“It’s pretty ridiculous,” a sheepish but smiling Leishman said after rallying from six shots back in a tie for 20th. “Mom and dad probably woke up this morning (in Australia, 14 hours ahead of Eastern time) and got a real shock when they didn’t have to scroll down too far to find my name on pgatour.com. They’d probably gone to bed not expecting a whole lot.

“Waking up this morning, I definitely didn’t think I was going to be in this situation, but I’ll gladly take it. It’s an unbelievable feeling. It’s probably not the way I would have expected to get my first win, but you take them when you get them, any way you can.”

Leishman woke up thinking he needed 61 to win or get into a playoff and “definitely never thought” he’d be a winner when he finished a shot shy of his goal. But unexpected help left the personable Aussie feeling “cool.”

“You never want to see anyone go through what Charley went through,” Leishman said. “You take any tournament that you win because they’re so hard to win. But you’d almost rather make a few birdies coming in, like myself, than someone hand it to you. It’s an unbelievable feeling that I didn’t expect to have, but I’m not going to give this (championship) trophy back on anything.”

Hoffman, whose two tour wins include the 2010 Deutsche Bank Championship at

TPC Boston in Norton, Mass., appeared to have at least one hand on the trophy with two holes to go. But his exploits on the end of the always-intriguing final four holes at TPC River Highlands epitomized a series of calamites that beset the challengers, especially the shaggy-haired Hoffman.

First, Hoffman sliced his 2-hybird into the water off the 17th tee, took a drop and rifled a 205-yard third shot out of the rough that flew the green and rolled into thick rough. He chipped to 16 feet short and two-putted for 6, losing his lead on a hole on which Leishman hit his approach to 17 feet and made curling putt for his eighth birdie and what proved to be the decisive stroke.

“Just got a little quick,” Hoffman said of his ill-fated tee shot after hitting the 17th fairway the first three rounds. “It’s a tough tee shot for me. I wanted to hit a draw, but the hole really doesn’t set up for a draw, and (I) fanned it off to the right. If I would have had it halfway decent, I would have got up there where I could have had some

By BRUCE BERLET

Leishman Gets First Win at Travelers


TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP

sort of iron shot into (the green).“I had (190) yards to the front, and I

was just trying to get something on the green. Where the pin was (in the front) was a tough chip from the back. I made double (bogey). I can live with it.”

But Hoffman couldn’t live with the 18th hole, where he sliced his drive onto a hill. He tried to hit his approach into the middle of the tree but it found a bunker. He blasted to 15 and then left his par bid to get in a playoff short and to the right.

“What I did on 18 was pretty pathetic,” Hoffman honestly assessed. “Pretty easy drive for me, sets up pretty good and fanned it out to the right. Pretty poor second shot, pretty poor bunker shot and even worst putt, so when it’s said and done, obviously a bad finish and bad taste in the mouth, but you learn from it.”

A lot of players learned a lot about adversity as the tournament transformed from a birdiefest into the U.S. Open as Hoffman, Thatcher, third-round leader Brian Davis and defending champion Fredrik Jacobson all hit balls in the water on the back nine. Tim Clark knocked a 30-foot eagle putt at No. 13 off the green

and then saved a par, while Taft School-Watertown grad James Driscoll, a native of Boston, hit drives out of bounds on the 10th and 14th holes and made a double bogey and quadruple bogey. Thatcher, Davis, Clark and John Rollins, who tied for second last year, shared fourth, two strokes behind Leishman.

All the catastrophies came in the wake of a career-low 61 by 2007 champion Hunter Mahan, who played in the first group. Mahan’s score, which tied the final-round tournament record shot by Scott Verplank in 2001 and Rhode Island native Brad Faxon in his playoff victory in 2005. Mahan’s round included the inspirational moment of the week as his caddie, Matt Kelly, pushed David Finn up the 18th fairway in a wheelchair. Finn, a 19-year-old from River Edge, N.J., suffers from Leigh’s Disease, a neurological disorder similar to multiple sclerosis. He got a high-five from Mahan after Hunter made a 21-foot birdie putt on the 18th to shoot his career best and complete a vault into a tie for 11th.

Leishman recorded his second tour runner-up finish in the 2010 Farmers

Insurance Open and finished inside the top 100 on the money list that year and in 2011. The Travelers Championship title was Leishman’s first since the WNB Golf Classic, where an 11-stroke romp tied the Nationwide Tour largest winning-margin record set by Chris Smith in the 1997 Omaha Classic. The Travelers win also

dramatically changed Leishman’s schedule as he qualified for the next three majors – the British Open, PGA Championship and Masters – and World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational.

Leishman’s win earned him a spot in the British Open after initially not trying to qualify because he hadn’t got his green card updated. He was planning to spend time at home with this family rather than head to England for the July 19-22 event, but the Travelers Championship win led to him finishing first on the money list in which the top two players who aren’t already in the British Open, from The Players Championship through the Greenbrier Classic, qualify for the third major. A chat with his immigration lawyers led to the quick approval of his green card, so when it arrived on July 12, Leishman headed across the Atlantic. But after opening with a 1-under 69, Leishman made six bogeys, including at the 18th hole, in a second-round 75 and missed the cut. Still, he was still eligible for the PGA Championship and FedEx Cup playoffs.

Leishman was the

fifth first-time

winner in the last

seven Travelers

Championships thanks

to the best finish by a

champion on the

PGA Tour this year.

A happy Leishman hoists the trophy after receiving a congratulatory handshake from fellow Aussie Stuart Appleby.


CHARITY CLASSIC

With nine co-ed teams in the ten-team field and a new format of playing a scramble

the last day, it figured that one of the coed teams would finally win a CVS Caremark Charity Classic.

The team of Morgan Pressel and Jay Haas won the 15th annual Classic. This was the second win for Haas who won

the event in 2004 with his son, Bill, as his partner. That was Bill’s first professional check cashing and this year was the first time that a coed team (they’ve had some for the last few years) has won.

Haas and Pressel were tied for the lead after the first round of this 36-hole event. Also shooting 62 the first day were Juli Inkster and Dana Quigley, and the hosts

Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade. Highlighting the Inkster/Quigley round was an eagle by Quigley at the par 4 fourth hole when he made a 100-yard pitch shot.

The second day was all Pressel and Haas as they birdied 10 of the first 11 holes and eagled the par 4 12th. They only made one birdie after that, but it was enough for a score of 59 and a

By BRUCE VITTNER

Pressel and Haas WinCVS Caremark Charity Classic

THANK YOU!CVS Caremark Charity Classic Volunteers

CVS Caremark Classic Results1. Pressel/Haas 62-59 -21 $300,0002. Pettersen/Funk 64-59 -19 185,0002. Thompson/Pavin 63-60 -19 185,0004. Lincicome/ B. Quigley 65-60 -17 150,0005. Tseng/Sluman 64-62 -16 121,6675. Ochoa/Calcavecchia 64-62 -16 121,6675. Andrade/Faxon 62-64 -16 121,6678. Kerr/Cook 64-63 -15 110,0009. Inkster/D. Quigley 62-66 -14 105,00010 Sorenstam/Jacobsen 73-64 -5 100,000

two-stroke victory over Suzann Pettersen and Fred Funk who also had a 59 on the closing round and long-hitting Lexi Thompson and Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin who had rounds of 63-60, The four players who finished second each received $92,500 for the two-day event.

“This is my favorite event of the year and it is an honor to win,” said Pressel who said she can’t wait to come back next year to defend the title.

As part of the tournament there is a closest to the pin contest at the 17th hole. On Monday Billy Andrade hit it 2 feet, eight inches from the flag and won $25,000

for Special Olympics Rhode Island. “We are beyond thrilled,” said Dennis DeJesus, CEO of the organization.

Larry Merlo, CEO of CVS Caremark, thanked the fans at the awards presentation and made everyone happy when he said, “See you next year.”


CHARITY CLASSIC

See you next year.— Larry Merlo, CEO ofCVS Caremark, while

thanking the fans at the awards presentation.

Three Bridge — It was a ‘Three Bridge Day’ as Annika

lined up her putt.

Annika Sorenstam and Lorena Ochoa

— two of the greatest LPGA players ever.

Morgan Pressel — “This is my favorite tournament.”

It helps that she won$150,000.

Yani Tseng — The new number one. She has

more wins than Tiger at the same age.

2012 Champions

Jay HaasMorgan Pressel

CVSCAREMARKCHARITYCLASSICJune 17-19, 2012

Celebrating another successful year...

Rhode Island Country Club, Barrington, RI

We’d like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all of our valued sponsors, volunteers, individual donors, supportive fans and nonprofit partners who helped to make the 14th Annual CVS Caremark Charity Classic a continued success. Because of your time, talent and generosity, this year’s event will once again support hundreds of families and children throughout Southeastern New England.

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WOMEN’S GOLFBy KATHARINE DYSON

For the past five years, not surprisingly about the time the economy started turning into mush, the golf industry

followed suit. Rounds plummeted and clubs were sold where the land proved to be more valuable than golf revenues. In 2005 there were 30 million players, while today there about 26 million (2011).

To compound the damage, changing lifestyles of families with more demands on their time like chauffeuring kids to soccer and baseball and two jobs, whacked big chunks of time away from golf. Playing 18 holes simply took way too much time. And don’t even think about practice.

Time constraints, says, Annika Sorenstam, play a big role in why women in particular do not play. There is just no way most women can afford to spend five hours hitting the ball around the course when they have meals to shop for and prepare, careers to manage, kids to raise, gyms to visit. These things keep men from playing too as they pitch in to help their wives. Expense of country clubs factor in as well. Across the country memberships

have been slashed and private clubs like Palmira in Bonita Springs, Florida, have been taken over by members and fees reduced to create a viable operation. Others like the iconic Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, after filing for Chapter 11 reorganization was sold to Donald Trump at a fire-sale price.

So what can be done to grow the game of golf? If indeed time is the major factor, it would seem pretty simple: make golf accessible in a shorter time frame at less expense. The golf gurus of PGA of America, who sat on the stage at this year’s PGA Merchandise Show to expound on their new 2.0 initiative, thought they had the answer.

To bump up the golf industry, their initiative 2.0 (that sounds more like a software upgrade) is designed to make the game more fun, user-friendlier. Although 2.0 seems to play out, the same old, same old — tap kids, tap women, be friendlier, initiate events, adapt courses — it’s the call to action and follow-up that is in question.

This program has promised to send about 25 people into the field to help course operators with things like marketing, customer service and programs to attract new golfers including lapsed golfers, women and children. So far however, in my travels, I have yet to talk to a pro who has seen a 2.0 disciple. Maybe though, I’m not talking to the right people. That’s perfectly possible. This is after all a huge country with 20,000 golf courses from Alaska to Florida.

Still there are things courses and you, the golfers, can do right now to carve out some time to learn and play this game we love.• Play Short: Seek out short executive-style courses, par 3s and nine-hole layouts as well as 18 hole courses with nines that return to the clubhouse and a nine-hole rate. You’ll not only save time but money as well. Some suggestions in Rhode Island.Fairlawn Golf Course, Lincoln, RI, 9-hole par 3 course ($13-$15) 401-334-3937; Goddard State Memorial Park, Warwick,

RI, 9-hole course ($12-$14; Srs. $6-$7) 401-884-9834; Lindhbrook Country Club, Hope Valley, RI, Executive par-3 18-hole course ($23-$47) 401-539-8700;Jamestown Golf Course, Jamestown, RI, 9-hole regulation course ($18-$19) 401-423-9930; Midville Country Club, West Warwick, RI, 9-hole regulation ($24-$26) 401-828-9215; Pinecrest Golf Course, Carolina, RI, Regulation 9-hole course designed by Beckman Weremay and set in scenic South County Pines ($20-$22) 401-364-8600; Rose Hill Golf Club, Wakefield, RI, 9-hole par-3 ($22-$36) 401-788-1088; Windmill Hill Golf Course, Warren, RI, 9-hole par 3 course ($12) 401-245-1463; Woodland Greens Golf Club, North Kingstown, RI, An historic (1901) 9-hole links-style regulation course ($28-$39) 401-294-2872.• Junior Memberships: Enroll your juniors in a private club junior membership like the one currently being offered by Ledgemont Country Club in Seekonk, Massachusetts, close to Providence. A member of state golf associations in both Rhode Island Massachusetts, Ledgemont, one of the few Alfred Tull Designs, hosts the Rhode Island Open.Ledgemont’s Unaffiliated Junior Golf

Membership priced at $700 is for young golfers between 14 and 23 years of age whose families are not club members. Junior members get unlimited access to the golf facilities during non-peak times. Ledgemont goes a step further and offers an active junior tournament program that prepares talented players for state and national competitions.Ledgemontcc.com. • Pitch & Putt: Kimball Farm Driving Range & Pitch & Putt in Westford, MA has a par-3, 9-hole pitch and putt golf course with full-sized greens ranging from 40 to 100 yards per hole. Also find miniature golf, country store, bumper boats and batting cages. 978-486-4944.• Ask if an18 hole course near you offers 9-hole rates. Some do like Crystal Lake Golf Club, Mapleville, RI (401-567-4500); Winnapaug Country Club, Westerly, RI, a Donald Ross design (401-596-1237); and Foster Country Club, Foster, RI (401-397-7750.

Katharine Dyson is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America, the Golf Travel Writers of America and writes a feature women’s column in each issue of Southern New England Golfer.

When Time & Money Keep You from Golf, It’s Time to Change


GOLF INSTRUCTIONBy KEN JEREMIAH

There are two aspects of aiming. There is the physical side, which is often dealt with in golf articles

and books, but there is also the mental side, that is neglected by many players. Physically, we want the clubface aligned to the target, and the shoulders, forearms, hips, knees and feet aligned parallel left of the target (for a right-handed player). However, the mind should also be properly situated and focused on the target in order to have the best results.

In Japanese archery, an art heavily influenced by Zen, the target utilized is much smaller than the one used in western archery. According to practitioners, when they miss, the arrows typically sail just outside of the target. In other words, their misses are close to the edge of the target. In special ceremonies, a very small target is used that is approximately the size of the center of a normal target. In such ceremonies, misses still tend to sail just

outside the edge of the target, misses that would have been considered great shots on a normal sized target. This occurs because practitioners do not properly utilize the eyes.

When a person focuses on a target, the eyes are drawn to the periphery of that target. Therefore, that is where they tend to miss. On a golf course, many people just barely miss greens, and when putting, there are some days in which every putt seems to lip out. It is likely that this is occurring for the same reason: a golfer might be focused on the edges of the target rather than the center of it.

Solving this problem is simple. If you believe that a putt will break from right to left and you aim at the right edge of the hole, do not focus on that spot. Physically aim it there, but mentally aim at the center of the hole. In other words, align your clubface and body to the right edge of the cup, but see the ball curving

Alignment of the Mind and Bodyinto the center of the hole along the break line. Do not visualize the edge of the cup when executing the stroke, but see the ball rolling into the center of it. Likewise, when hitting shots into greens, do not aim for the entire green. Instead, aim for a small, specific spot.

Keep in mind, however, that this does not have to be the flagstick. It may be a noticeable place on the green to the right or left of the hole, such as a grass discoloration, a wayward leaf, or a hill. The point is, aim at the most specific target as possible. This will invariably result in more greens hit in regulation and more successfully holed putts.

Ken Jeremiah, PGA, has been studying Zen and Japanese martial arts for more than thirteen years, and he has written extensively about Japanese spiritual practices.He can be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].

The New England Division I Golf Coaches Assn. recently named their award winners for 2012. Winners were: Team of the Year: Dartmouth College; Player of the Year: Peter Williamson, Dartmouth; Rookie of the Year: Andy Mai, Boston College; and Coach of the Year: Richard Parker, Dartmouth College

The All-New England Team was Sam Bernstein, Yale University; Jeb Buchannan, University of Connecticut; Branden Chicorka, University of Rhode Island; Leo Garcia, Sacred Heart University; Tony Grillo, Harvard University; Kevin Josephson, Central Connecticut State University; James Pleat, Dartmouth College; Josh Salah, Sacred Heart University; Matt Smith, Hartford University and Peter Williamson, Dartmouth College.

The All-Rookie Team was comprised of Jared Adams, University of Rhode Island; Will Davenport, Yale University; Wally Gonzalez, Hartford University; Andy Mai, Boston College and Justin Miller, Brown University.

New England Divison IGolf Awards Announced


CENTRAL MASS NOTEBOOKBy BILL DOYLE

MOTHER-SON CHAMPSMary and Dan Gale of Bedrock Golf

Club in Rutland combined to win the 54th annual Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts Mother-Son Championship July 17 at Haverhill Country Club.

That should not have been a surprise. It was the sixth time the Gales won the Division 1 Mother-Son title for sons ages 19 and older. They also combined to win a Division 2 title in 1994 for sons aged 14-18. Mary has also won eight Mother-Son championships with her son Mike.

Dan sank a 15-foot par putt on 18 to enable his team to finish with an even-par 72 and a one-shot victory in the alternate shot competition. Mary, the 1996 WGAM Amateur champion, runs Bedrock with her brother Joe Carr, a New England PGA Hall of Famer. Mary’s husband Jack is the head pro at Dublin Lakes Club in New Hampshire and a teaching pro at Cyprian Keyes G.C. in Boylston.

STIMETS FALLS TO TEAMMATEDefending champion Ricky Stimets

of Paxton provided his own stiffest competition in the Worcester County Amateur.

Stimets invited Jake Greer, his teammate at North Alabama, to play in the event with him and Greer won it. Greer shot an even-par 72 at Kettle Brook Golf Club on June 30 and a 3-under 69 at Wachusett Country Club on July 1 to win the WCA by a shot over first-round leader Devin Bibeau of Upton. Stimets, seeking his third WCA victory in four years, finished fourth at 3-over 147.

Bibeau birdied the par-5 15th at Wachusett to take a one-shot lead, but bogeyed the par-4 16th to drop back into a tie atop the leaderboard. Greer sank a 10-foot birdie putt on 17 to grab the lead for good. The heat bothered many of the golfers, but not the 22-year-old Greer, who has grown used to it by living in Birmingham, Ala. Stimets will return to North Alabama this fall for his senior year.

Stimets enjoyed the longest run of any Central Mass. golfer in the Massachusetts Amateur Championship at Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead, reaching the quarterfinals before falling to Jack Whelan of Myopia Hunt Club, 1 up. Stimets lipped out a 5-foot par putt on 17 that would have squared the match.

Stimets beat Andrew Dame of Cyprian Keyes, 3 and 2, in the first round of match play, then birdied eight holes, including each of his last six, to eliminate two-time Mass. Amateur champion John Hadges of Thorny Lea, 6 and 4, in the second round.

GRIFFITH HONOREDBlissful Meadows G.C. head pro Matt

Griffith was awarded the 2012 President’s Plaque Award for Player Development by the New England PGA. Griffith earned the honor by helping other golf professionals, teaching the game to young golfers and giving back to the community in ways that help grow the game.

HENDERSON QUALIFIESThomas Henderson of Sterling shot two

rounds of 72 for an even-par total of 144 to win the Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agents Junior Classic state championship at Crumpin Fox Club in Bernardston by two shots.

Henderson qualified for the Big I Trusted Choice Junior Classic National Tournament Aug. 5 -10 at the University of Texas Golf Club in Austin, Texas.

Nicholas DiReda of North Oxford won the boys long drive contest.

Henderson will be a senior at St. John’s High this fall. Last fall, he earned medalist honors at the Central Mass. Division 1 Golf Tournament to the Pioneers to their sixth team title in the past seven years. He then placed fifth in the state to help St. John’s win the state title.

RECORD HOLIDAYA.J. Siekierski had different reasons to

celebrate the Fourth of July. He shot a 10-under 62 on July 4 to set the course record at Dudley Hill Golf Club where he learned the game and where his father, Jim, is the general manager. July 4 was also

his third anniversary with his girlfriend, Jenna Jezierski.

Siekierski, 26, two-putted from 10 feet on 18 for birdie to break Ray Androlewicz’s record by a shot. Siekierski said he had been trying to break the record since he was 15 and he shot a 65 to tie what was then the course record.

Last summer, Siekierski fired an 8-under 63 to set the course record at Connecticut National Golf Club in his hometown of Putnam. He drained a 30-foot eagle putt on 18 to eclipse the record by a stroke.

Siekierski’s course records are even more remarkable considering that his right hand has been numb since he cut it on a wine glass four years ago. “I’m used to it,” the right-handed Siekierski said, “but the right hand is not as important as the left in a golf swing.”

Siekierski called setting the course record at Dudley Hill more gratifying than winning the club championship for the third time this year. He also captured the Massachusetts Junior Amateur in 2003 and the Connecticut Division 4 high school title in 2004.

HOLE-IN-ONEPaul Gully isn’t complaining that he

has carded four holes-in-one at Mount Pleasant C.C. in Boylston over the past three golf seasons, but he wishes he could have seen more of them. Three of the four, including his most recent on July 15, came on the 150-yard, par-3 17th hole. The 17th green sits atop a steep hill and the cup cannot be seen from the tee. He did, however, get to see the ball roll into the cup when he aced the 142-yard, par-3 13th in June. Gully shot a 23-over 95 when he aced 17 on July 15.

“You don’t have to be a good golfer to get a hole in one,” the 65-year-old Gully said. “It’s pure luck.”


By TOM GORMANMASS STATE AMATEUR

At the 104th edition of the prestigious Massachusetts Amateur Championship at challenging

Tedesco Country Club July 9 - 13, Mike Calef came, he saw and he conquered!

Traveling 1,800 miles from his new home in the Dallas, Texas area, the Brockton-native arrived back in the Bay State to “play golf with a few buddies” around a tee time in the state’s single most prodigious title. Calef found the rolling, sloping Tedesco fairways and lightning-fast greens to his liking. After grinding through 36 holes of stroke play as co-medalist, Calef took less than 100 holes to win five straight matches, including the 36-hole final match against Haverhill Country Club’s Mark Souliotis, (3 & 1) claiming victory as the best amateur golfer in Massachusetts.

“This is huge,” said the 33-year old Calef, who was swarmed by family members and friends after receiving the historic Massachusetts Cup. “My real reason for coming back was to see a bunch of old friends and play in one of my most favorite tournaments of the year. I really didn’t see myself making it this far.”

The path to the winner’s circle in the Mass Amateur, conducted by the Massachusetts Golf Association, is paved with the best amateurs the Bay State has to offer. Tedesco Country Club’s greens proved a stern test for the 150 players who qualified, from some 700-plus entries at nine qualifying sites. Leading the way as medallists into the match play portion of top 32, with scores of even par 140, were Colin Brennan (Indian Ridge C.C.),

Dan Falcucci (Cyprian Keyes G.C.), Jack Whelan (Myopia Hunt Club) and Mike Calef (Brockton C.C.).

Calef started strong and allowed only one match to reach the 18th hole. He defeated John Hogan (Ferncroft C.C.) 4 & 2; Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich) 1 up; Josh Salah (Bass Rocks C.C.) 4 & 3; Jack Whelan (Myopia Hunt Club) 5 & 4 before meeting Souliotis in the finals. Souliotis, seeded No 20 and reigning club champ at Haverhill C.C. beat back Steven Burak (Thorny Lea G.C.) 4 & 3: Mike Pochily (Federal Street) 7 & 5: Mark Purrington ((Allendale C.C.) 2 & 1; and Ben Spitz (George Wright G.C.) 1 up.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever played more than four rounds in a row before, because my golf is pretty much limited to the weekends,” said Souliotis, an employee of Raytheon, whose son, Michael, caddied for him all week. “I was one up for a good portion of the match but the shot that won the tournament for him (Calef ) was the chip shot on No. 16. Anything can happen with only one hole separating, but he got up and own on 16, kudos to him. That was the tournament.”

Walking up the sixth fairway at Tedesco – hole No. 24 in his 36-hole final with Souliotis, Calef was one down. He turned to his father, Phil, and said, “I need to play these next four or five holes in 2 under and then I’ll be in good shape.” Indeed he did, turning the match around when Souliotis missed a five-foot par putt on the 32nd hole to go one up.

“I’ve always geared myself to play in the Mass Amateur even when I moved to

Texas,” Calef told reporters in his post-tournament comments. “I would have never thought I would have a trophy at the end of the week. It was fantastic, and much of it was completely unexpected.”

The state’s most prestigious trophy is headed to Texas, since Caleb moved there late last year after his wife, Alicia, took a job transfer. According to a controversial ruling by the Massachusetts Golf Association, Calef was exempt into the Mass Amateur as a non-state resident because he still maintains his handicap at Brockton Country Club, where he was formerly employed as Director of Golf. He sat out a year of competition while he went through the process of returning to amateur status as granted by the USGA.

Last September Calef won his first MGA championship by winning the Mass Mid-Amateur crown, thus making him an MGA titleholder with two titles with a Texas address. He came from Texas, he saw and he conquered.

Mike Calef Captures Mass Amateur Title

Tom Gorman, a Boston-based freelance golf writer, is a member of Golf Writers Association of America, Golf Travel Writers Association and International Network of Golf. He can be reached at [email protected].

Mike Calef


EASTERN MASS NOTEBOOKBy BOB DICESARE

BEACH WINS AWARDBob Beach, head professional at

Braintree Municipal Golf Course, will receive the first Patriot Golf Award from the New England PGA, which is bestowed upon a PGA professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and who demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have served and protected the United States.

Beach has worked tirelessly with veterans through the many programs that he has created for them and their families within the VA hospital network. In 2011, he was one of the founders of the Northeast Accessible Golf Association, now known as Golf For All, which specializes in helping military personnel returning from active duty with the opportunity to experience the game of golf.

Beach also utilizes an adaptive golf cart for instruction that was procured when he received a PGA Growth of the Game Foundation Grant in 2005. It allows him and other NEPGA professional volunteers to help disabled veterans with golf instruction and on-course playing opportunities. Beach’s goal is to hold 30 or more golf clinics for veterans this year.

“I feel it is a privilege to be able to help veterans and disabled veterans with their golf games,” said Beach. “I make it a point to thank them for their service. Fred Corcoran (executive director of Golf For All) has been a very positive influence in my involvement with veterans with

helping me show people with disabilities that they can play golf.”

“Bob Beach selflessly and constantly gives his time and considerable talent to veterans without regard for recognition or compensation,” said Corcoran. “Bob’s inexhaustible enthusiasm for teaching golf and spreading the gospel of inclusion are nothing short of inspirational.”

In addition to working with veterans, Beach continues to conduct his weekly clinics every Monday night for Special Olympians and individuals with autism. He will receive the Patriot Golf Award at the NEPGA annual awards dinner on Oct. 26 at Kernwood C.C. in Salem.

DREAM WEEK FOR KHANGThe traveling road show continues for

14-year-old Megan Khang of Rockland. Last month, Khang made her debut in the U.S. Women’s Open at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wisc. and shot 75-80-155 to miss the cut by six strokes.

However, Khang enjoyed a dream week with the professionals by playing practice rounds with Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie, Sandra Gal, and Suzann Pettersen, and she even learned a valuable lesson while having lunch with Yani Tseng. “Yani told me she missed the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open her first two times, so that kind of put things in perspective for me,” said Khang.

Khang arrived home from the event on a late Sunday night, then teed it up on Monday morning at The Country Club in Brookline in a USGA qualifier and shot 74 to earn a spot in this month’s U.S. Women’s Amateur. It is the fourth USGA event that Khang has qualified for this year.

Khang also competed in her fourth consecutive U.S. Girls Junior Championship in Daly City, Calif. and shot 81-75-156 to make it to the match-play portion of the tournament. She won her Round of 64 match over Kathleen Gallagher of Mississippi, 5 and 3, before losing in the Round of 32 to Casey Danielson of Wisconsin, 3 and 2.

Most recently, Khang won the women’s division of the Francis Ouimet Memorial Invitational with a 3-under 69, which bettered last year’s 1-under 71 when she became the first female to break par in the women’s division.

It’s back on the road again for Khang in early August as she competes in the PGA

Junior Championship in Fort Wayne, Ind., followed immediately by the U.S. Women’s Amateur in Cleveland.

WINNING TEAMIt doesn’t matter what division John

and Mary Mulcahy of Hatherly C.C. in Scituate compete in at the MGA Father-Daughter tournament because they just keep on winning. The Mulcahy team posted a 71 to capture the senior division of the 2012 Father-Daughter event at Bass Rocks G.C. in Gloucester. It was the third straight year that they could call themselves MGA champions after winning the junior division the previous two years.

“We are a good team and it’s fun to play with him (John),” said Mary Mulcahy, who will play golf at the University of Central Florida.

Winning the junior division with a 76 for their first MGA title held special meaning for both Tom and Cora Bernier of Taunton.

THE FIRST TEECora Bernier is a product of The First

Tee of Massachusetts program and has earned national recognition for her work both on and off the course as a volunteer. Tom Bernier has also been a volunteer and became a certified instructor with the First Tee program at MGA Links in Norton.

“This means a lot to me,” said Tom Bernier. “I never thought that I would see myself playing this sport with my kids and enjoying it as much as I do. She (Cora) has come a long way.”

“The best decision I ever made was quitting softball for golf because it has taken me so far,” said Cora Bernier, who will be a senior at Bristol-Plymouth Regional High. “I know that I went to the clinics when I was little and never thought that it would bring me around the country, but it does and it’s awesome.”

TOP FINISHERHerbie Aikens of Pinehills G.C. in

Plymouth had to miss the recent Mass. Amateur because he qualified for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in Utah. However, the Kingston resident more than made up for his absence at the recent 83rd New England Amateur in Falmouth, Maine.

Aikens was the top Massachusetts finisher and tied for second place overall with a 3-over-par 287 (68-73-72-74)

Bob Beach


EASTERN MASS NOTEBOOKagainst some of the leading amateurs from the six New England states. Other local golfers who finished in the top 10 included Colin Brennan of Indian Ridge C.C. (T-5), who was the Hornblower champion at Plymouth C.C. in June, and Jack Whelan of Myopia Hunt Club and Brian Higgins of Franklin C.C, who each tied for 7th.

Whelan and Brennan would also share space at the top of the leaderboard just a week later as Whelan (72-68-71-211) captured the championship division of the Ouimet Invitational by one stroke over Brennan (74-71-67-212). Jamison Randall of Alpine C.C. was third (76-66-71-213).

FOUR BALL WINNERSAnother golfer who shook off a tough

week in one tournament and rebounded well in his next one was Ryan Riley of Easton. The reigning MGA Player of the Year entered the Mass Amateur as the defending champion and didn’t advance into the match-play portion of the

tournament. Later that same week, Riley and Brockton C.C. head professional Rob Bradley made their debut in the Brockton City Four-Ball, one of the oldest four-ball tournaments in the country, and recorded a remarkable victory.

The duo entered the final round of the three-day event five strokes behind the leaders, three-time defending champions Steve Tasho and Matt Parziale, and fired an amazing, final-day 9-under-par 61 on a tough Thorny Lea G.C. layout. They finished at 17-under 195 (66-68-61) which gave them a one-stroke victory over Thorny Lea’s George and Nick Zolotas (67-66-63-196), who also shot an impressive final-round score.

Tasho and Parziale finished tied for third with LeBaron Hills head professional Tom Rooney and Ponkapoag assistant pro Mickey Folan. In the field division, Rich Manning of Whitman and Sean Flynn of Hanson posted a 10-under 202 (67-66-69) to capture top honors and move into the seeded division next year.

“This summer has been humbling,” said

Riley. “My game hasn’t been that sharp, so this was encouraging. This was the kind of round I had more than once last year.”

JUNIOR SHOOTOUTSeveral area golfers made strong

showings at last month’s Deutsche Bank Partners for Charity Junior Shootout at the Golf Club of Cape Cod in East Falmouth.

In the boys division, Jonathan Woods of Duxbury tied for fourth (222), Peter French of Bellingham was seventh (225), and John Beadle of North Attleboro tied for ninth (227).

In the girls division, Mary Mulcahy of Scituate was fourth (229), Vinh-Hoa Ngo of Newton was fifth (233), Katherine Fortin of Wellesley was eighth (243), and Jacquelyn Eleey of Quincy tied for 14th (253).

Todd Cook of the Milton Hoosic Club and his playing partner, host pro Matt Walsh, combined to shoot a 12-under 132 (69-63) and capture second place in the recent NEPGA Pro-Pro Stroke Play

By BOB DICESARE

Championship at Mount Pleasant C.C.Chip Johnson of Hatherly C.C. and

T.J. Valentine of the Harmon Club each fired a 3-under 67 to finish as part of a four-way tie for first place in an NEPGA Stroke Play Series #2 event at Metacomet C.C. in East Providence.

Bob Giusti and Kevin McKee of the Country Club of Halifax shot a 2-under 70 to win the NEPGA Pro-Officer tournament at Vineyard G.C.

Jared Sullivan and Jack Griffin, both 15-year-olds from Duxbury, shot 73 to win the junior division of the 57th Braintree Junior Four-Ball. Because their score was lower than the 74 from the senior division champs, Jon Spitz and John Ducharme, Sullivan and Griffin were also declared the overall winners.

Bob DiCesare is the golf writer for The Brockton Enterprise and The Patriot Ledger of Quincy, and he’s also a member of the International Network of Golf and the Golf Travel Writers of America.


PRODUCT REVIEWSBy BRUCE HUTCHINSON By BRUCE VITTNER

Pro Advanced Ready NetWe’ve found the best golf hitting net. Imagine setting up your net in just

a few seconds and then taking it down and putting it away in its carrier in under 30 seconds. Even this non-mechanic could figure it out.

The net is made of high quality polyester netting with steel framing that springs open when taken out of the case and rolls back down when putting it away. It measures 9 feet wide by six feet high. The Ready Net also has a patent-pending ball return netting system that gives instant feedback from your shot by the way that it rolls back to you. You have to watch their video at www.pro-advanced.com. It sells for $199 and can be purchased online. Our net came in less than a week. My grandson also uses it as a pitching net.

GoBe Rebel GoBe Golf is a new footwear company with the entire line featuring a TalonTM Treadwear design outsole. The Grade A TPU outsole has a 5-point star molded traction system with vertical and horizontal bars strategically placed for additional traction and support in all weather conditions. The PU midsole is made of soft sports performance breathable material that has the same look and feel as leather but performs superior to leather. Built on a European last

the shoe has a deep heel cup preventing slipping and a wide toe box for a roomy fit up top. The dual density EVA, GoBe DryTM sock liner is designed to keep the foot, cool, dry and odor free. It features three notches at the toe and aeration holes at the flex points to drain moisture away from the foot and the moisture wicking mesh material has anti-microbial and anti-odor properties to keep the foot cool, dry and odor free. The outsole has a two-year warranty. The Rebel is a classic saddle design with complementary highlights on the eyelet and heel of the toe. Available in two colors — black w/ taupe or brown w/ taupe. Suggested retail is $159.

3Bays Golf Swing AnalyzerPenny Pulz, former LPGA

star and renowned teacher is introducing the small but mighty 3BaysGolf Swing Analyzer. It is inserted into the top of the grip. After five swings, depending on what App is chosen, such as tempo, club head speed, face angle, swing path, impact force, or attainable ball speed (ABS), a comparison can be made.

Using the consistency graphs of the App the golfer can see instantly whether the fix is working. This is done by viewing the results on your IPad, IPhone, or IPod touch. On August 15 it will also be available for use with Android. This lightweight battery-operated product captures more than 10,000 data points for each of the users’ golf club swing. The data is transferred to one’s mobile device for an instant animated review of the swing. This information could also be sent to remote coaches for online coaching. To learn more and to purchase visit the website at www.PennyPulz.com. The item retails for $199.99 plus $10.00 for shipping.


GOLF COMMENTARY By BRUCE VITTNER

What a great concept TEE IT FORWARD is for the game of golf. Below is the press release

put out by the PGA recently when they were promoting this program in July. Why limit it to July? This is something that all golfers should embrace.

The PGA of America and USGA have been promoting TEE IT FORWARD, a program where golfers can speed up play and have more fun by using tees that provide the greatest playability and enjoyment.

Simply put, TEE IT FORWARD can make golf much more fun for millions of people,” said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski. “We believe that by moving up to another set of tees, golfers will experience an exciting, new approach to the game that will produce more enjoyment and elevate their desire to come back and play even more golf.”

Barney Adams, the founder of Adams Golf, provided the concept that led to

TEE IT FORWARD is a Great IdeaTEE IT FORWARD. By playing from forward tees, amateur golfers have the chance to play the course at the same relative distance as a touring professional would over 18 holes. The playing field is leveled by giving golfers the opportunity to play from distances that are properly aligned with their abilities.

With many more golfers hitting approach shots with 6- and 7-irons instead of hybrids and long irons, their chances for enjoyment increase. Also, playing from forward tees should result in fewer overall shots, shorter distance traveled on each hole, and potentially, fewer lost balls.

“The passion that golfers have for our game has the potential to be enhanced by the TEE IT FORWARD initiative,” said Jim Hyler, president of the United States Golf Association. “This is an innovation that we think will appeal to golfers of all skill levels because it gives them a new challenge that better aligns

with their abilities. We hope that TEE IT FORWARD will be embraced by players and golf facilities across the country.”

TEE IT FORWARD is not necessarily about creating a new set of tees — many facilities already have multiple tees in use every day. It is about changing the mindset of golfers in a positive way — encouraging people to consider setting aside playing from 6,500-6,700 yards and moving up to a length of 6,000-6,200 yards or moving from 6,000-6,200 yards to 5,700-5,800 yards.

The 6,700-yard course that many amateur golfers play today is proportionally equivalent to a PGA Tour player competing on a course measuring 8,100 yards — 700 yards or more longer than a typical PGA Tour layout.

Jack Nicklaus, who shares the record with Walter Hagen for most PGA Championship titles with five and also shares the U.S. Open record with four

victories, is a proponent of TEE IT FORWARD.

“I love the game of golf but I will be the first to tell you that there are things about our game we need to improve,” Nicklaus said. “Now The PGA of America and the USGA have come together to develop ways to that can make the game more attractive and more enjoyable. TEE IT FORWARD is the first of many initiatives we have discussed together, and I think families around the country will enjoy alternate formats like this to make the game more fun.

All of us deeply involved in the game constantly encourage golfers of all skill levels to play the proper tees, but too often golfers want to bite off as much of the golf course as they can. What ends up suffering is their scorecard and their overall enjoyment. This program should help stimulate people to play the proper tees and maximize the golf experience.”

Many of the older courses that have only three sets of tees (back, middle front, blue, white, red, etc) feel that they are limited in the TEE IT FORWARD movement. We disagree!

Many of the par 4’s have become too long for golfers to reach in regulation. Many of us wear out our three-wood playing golf while trying to get to those long par 4’s. Move up to the forward tees? Not probably happening.

Here is an easy and inexpensive solution. All you need is a little paint and some new scorecards (print some temporary ones if you have a stack of 10,000 already in stock).

If any par 4 is over 400 yards (maybe 380?) from the white tees, paint the forward tees half white and half red. Make the scorecard have a fourth distance that is a combination of the red and white tees. This reduces the total yardage a few hundred yards for this new tee—not tee box.

Conversely this can be done as blue/white for courses with four sets of tees. Also you will find women who would like to play from the white/blue tees, and that gives them another option.

We’ve done this at many courses already and it makes the game much more fun. There are many different variables available to change the distances of holes without creating new tee boxes at great expense. Just a little paint and a new mindset will make this wonderful game even more fun. Hopefully state golf organizations will get behind this movement and rate the courses from the different tees so that golfers could still post scores for their GHIN handicap.

How to Make New Tees Without Spending Money

Driver Distance Recommended 18-Hole Yardages

275 6,700-6,900

250 6,200-6,400

225 5,800-6,000

200 5,200-5,400

175 4,400-4,600

150 3,500-3,700

125 2,800-3,000

100 2,100-2,300


SNE GOLFER

Andover, Mass. were next at 288. Hayes went 76-68-76-68 to lead the four other Maine players who made the cut.

“I played well today,” said Hayes. “I made eagle on the par-5 eighth in the afternoon which was a huge momentum boost. I played well last week at the Maine Amateur (tied for fifth) and it carried over,” he said. Hayes made par on 18 from the front bunker. He sunk a 12-footer. “I was scrambling on the last two holes. It felt good to get up and down on 18 ,” he said.

Hayes, whose family are members of Newport Country Club, plans to play in the Rhode Island Stroke Play Championship July 31-Aug. 1 and the Rhode Island Open, Aug. 7-8-9. Shortly after, he will leave for the University of Colorado where he hopes to walk on to the golf team. Hayes played his first two years at Towson State in Maryland before transferring.

The tournament once again proved a showcase for college golfers. Playing 72 holes in three days is just as much an endurance test as it is skill. Fifty-three

year old Craig Steckowych of Greenland, N.H. was the first round leader with a 65. As easy as his first round was, his second round was the opposite for the 2001 New England champion who shot 79. Steckowych kept it together on the final 36, shooting 76-73 to finish at 293.

Brian Higgins, 37, of Bellingham, Mass. opened with a 66, but like Steckowych, had problems in the second round as he shot 77. Higgins, the 2010 champion, went 72-75 over the final 36.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Partial Results

1 Christopher Swift (CT) Great River G.C. 68 69 73 72 282T2 Garren Poirier (VT) Green Mt. National G.C. 75 73 69 70 287T2 Jake Nutter (NH) Manchester C.C. 72 73 70 72 287T2 Herbie Aikens (MA) Pinehills G.C. 68 73 72 74 287T5 John Hayes IV (ME) Prouts Neck C.C. 76 68 76 68 288T5 Colin Brennan (MA) Indian Ridge C.C. 71 69 72 76 288T7 Jack Whelan (MA) Myopia Hunt Club 70 75 77 68 290T7 Brian Higgins (MA) Franklin C.C. 66 77 72 75 2909 Branden Chicorka (CT) E-Club of River Valley 75 72 74 70 291T10 Charlie Blanchard (RI) Wannamoisett C.C. 75 72 72 73 292T10 Judd Parsons (ME) York G&TC 73 74 71 74 29212 Craig Steckowych (NH) Portsmouth C.C. 65 79 76 73 29313 Nick Torrance (CT) Lake of Isles G.C. 73 71 76 74 294T14 Seth Sweet (ME) Lakewood G.A. 72 73 77 73 295T14 John Curley (MA) Hyannis G.C. 72 70 74 79 295T16 Jamison Randall (RI) Alpine C.C. 73 73 75 75 296T16 Jeffrey Hatten (CT) C.C. of Farmington 76 70 74 76 296T16 Jason Steele (MA) Ferncroft C.C. 74 70 74 78 296T19 Chad Stumpo (MA) Blue Hill C.C. 73 75 73 76 297T19 Brendan Lemp (RI) Misquamicut Club 72 75 74 76 297T19 Brad Valois (RI) Metacomet C.C. 72 72 76 77 297

Target Your Audience in SNE Golfer!Call Bruce Vittner at 401-464-8445 or email [email protected].


PEOPLE IN GOLF By BRUCE VITTNER

For 16 years Brad Faxon has hosted a day to teach young people about golf. This year’s event, called Brad

Faxon Junior Golf Day, was held at Button Hole Short Course and Learning Center in Providence on July 16.

Just over 100 boys and girls aged 6 to 16 were present to learn about golf from one of Rhode Island’s best ambassadors of golf. “Our goal is to introduce you to the game of golf,” said Faxon to the assembled would-be golfers on a warm, sultry day in Providence.

“We’ve been doing this for sixteen years. We started it at the old Fiddlesticks in No. Kingstown and have been here at Button Hole for the last 12 years,” said Faxon who had just returned from a late-night flight from the U.S. Senior Open in Michigan.

At registration each student received a shirt and hat donated by Titleist. The

students received a short greeting from Faxon who did conditioning work with the children, guided by trainers from Barrington Fitness.

The golfers were then broken down into groups that rotated between the driving range, golf course and more conditioning. After that they received a short presentation about nutrition and were given a goodie bag of nutritious snacks. The afternoon concluded with a meet-and-greet with Faxon who signed autographs for the boys and girls.

“This is our biggest day of the summer,” said Dan Gaughan, director at Button Hole. “We get so much help from the RIPGA (about 15 instructors), Titleist, TPI and all our volunteers.”

Said Jacob and Alana Resendes, Button Hole Kids from Warwick, “This is always a great time and we look forward to seeing Mr. Faxon every year.”

Brad Faxon Introduces Kids to Golf

Brad Faxon leads over 100 boys and girls through golf exercises. The young golfers also view a short

presentation about nutrition and are given a goodie bag of nutritious

snacks.

“Lessons in Life through Lessons in Golf”Button Hole Golf Course & Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Button Hole’s mission is to enhance the lives of young people by providing facilities and instruction programs that develop strong character, teach life values, and champion success through the game of golf. For more information, visit Button Hole online at www.buttonhole.org.


GOLF TRAVELBy BRUCE VITTNER

Last issue we did a travel story about Maine. We focused on courses near Portland. In July we were fortunate

to get back to Maine and we concentrated on the courses in the southern part of Maine except for one that has golf holes in both Maine and New Hampshire.

Our first stop was at the Links at Outlook in South Berwick. A mere two hours and fifteen minutes from Providence and an hour less from the Boston area, this is a course that you could drive up and play and return home easily the same day. But if you are traveling to such a pretty state as Maine, why just go for the day?

“We are truly two courses in one. Our front nine gives you a true links course feel with its openness while the back offers you a New England style with many elevation changes that golfers enjoy,” said general manager Jeff Maldonis.

The course, designed by Brian Silva, opened in 2000. “My family bought the Outlook Farm in the 1980’s and in 1994 we opened a driving range,” said John Flynn. “There were no courses around in the area and because of the boom in golf in the 1990s, and our feelings that more people would move into the area, we decided to build a course,” he added. A family friend, Ken Wood, was doing a project with Silva, and he recommended him to do the design.

The beautiful Red Barn clubhouse sits on a rise with the pro shop and restaurant next door. The first ten holes, and the 18th hole sit below the buildings and golfers and spectators can see most all these 11 holes.

The first hole is a testing downhill par 5. There is water down the right hand side and a carry across a creek on your second shot. The third hole is a downhill par 3 to a very sloping green. It is not often that a par 3 is the third handicap hole, but the eighth hole deserves its status. It is a long hole across a pond to an elevated green with a huge bunker front right and a sloping green.

After you play the first ten holes, you go through a tunnel below Route 4 and that is when the course completely changes. Eleven is a pretty par 3 with mounding along the right and a pond on the left. This is the start of the course getting more visually intimidating. You then travel up

a huge hill and play holes 12-17. Thank goodness for carts.

“The back side used to be a vineyard, and some vines are still there. The vistas from the 12th hole, named ‘The View’ are spectacular as you get a panoramic view of Mt. Agamenticus,” said Maldonis. Our favorite holes on the back were the straight downhill par 3 14th (take less club) and the reachable par 5 17th (because the second shot is straight downhill).

You will enjoy your round at The Links at Outlook, and you will really enjoy the great food and camaraderie at this very friendly course. You can visit their website at www.outlookgolf.com or call 207-384-4653.

Our next stop was The Ledges Golf Club in York and just six miles from Outlook. Doesn’t that make for perfect stay and play at both courses packages? The Ledges opened their first nine in 1998 and the second nine the next year. “I had purchased the property in 1993 because I thought that there was a need for a good public course in the area,” said co-owner Pat Rocheleau who was a custom-home builder by trade and an avid public golfer.

“The land was tough ground, but very dramatic with its elevation changes and huge rock outcroppings,” added Rocheleau who enlisted a couple of partners before making the final commitment to build a course. Ogunquit resident Brad Booth (who has since partnered with Brad Faxon on some course designs) was asked if he could design a course on the property.

“Brad was so excited to design his first 18-hole course and I had never owned a course, so us two rookies needed some help,” said a smiling Rocheleau. Famed architect Geoffrey Cornish (who recently passed away and was featured in our May issue) was Booth’s mentor and he agreed to oversee Booth’s work. “It really was like Mr. Cornish was grading Brad’s work and he trudged around the property with us every week as we tried to lay out the holes,” remember Rocheleau.

“I also had an engineer who did blasting work come up from Connecticut to look at the property, and he said it was too hard for him and thought the project was too difficult to complete. We decided to proceed anyway and we are so happy we did as the course is great and has gotten

wonderful reviews, said Rocheleau.

The name of the course is appropriate. There is granite ledge just about everywhere. “We built a pond on the eighth hole and used all of that fill to cover rock up to 18 inches where needed,” added Rocheleau who wanted to make sure that superintendent Joseph Grady, who had spent two years at Pine Valley, but was there from the start in 1998 received special recognition. “We could not have done this project and had a course as nice as this without Joe Grady,” was his comment.

The course measures 6,981 from the tips, but most should not play from there. The blues (6,357) and the whites (5,960) are perfect for most golfers because of the sloping fairways and greens. There are two sets of ladies tees with slope and rating for each. We saw many couples playing the day we were there.

The signature hole is the eighth. A downhill par 3 over the pond to a long sliver of a green makes you do some thinking. There is a lay-up area front right. The first hole goes downhill, the second up and continues in an up and down pattern pretty much through the whole course. It’s a very interesting layout with a good mixture of short and long par 4’s and many holes will get your attention.

The last hole is a very demanding par 5. The tee shot is downhill over a marshy area, to a second shot that leaves you about 350 yards to the green. Your second shot needs to carry about 180 yards over a large marsh area. Lay-up before the marsh and you are left with over two hundred yards uphill to a sloping green with a bunker on the left. Make par and your trip back to southern New England will be much shorter.

Head professional Matt Blasik has a big junior program and there is a large

practice area for lessons. “Some people seem intimidated when they see the course, but the fairways are really very generous and we are known for our big undulating greens, commented Blasik. “People either play our course coming or going when they visit Maine,” said Rocheleau. Not a bad idea. You can get more information about the Ledges at www.ledgesgolf.com or calling 207-351-3000.

Both the Links at Outlook and The Ledges use Cliff House in Ogunquit (www.cliffhousemaine.com or 207-361-1000) and Wentworth by the Sea in New Castle, N.H. (www.wentworth.com or 888-252-6888) for stay and play packages and the course websites offer other packages as well.

Our third stop was Nonesuch River Golf Club in Scarborough, Maine. Formerly a nine-holer called Spring Valley, Dan Hourihan, a transplanted Bay Stater from the north shore, opened Nonesuch River in 1997.

Golfing in Maine — Part II

Downhill Par 38th at The Ledges


GOLF TRAVEL By BRUCE VITTNER

“I saw the Maine Turnpike frontage and a great piece of property that I could turn into an excellent public golf facility,” said Hourihan when we spoke. Tom Walker, who had worked for Gary Player Design, did the architecture on the course and it is playable for all levels of golfers. “Many people consider our course their ‘ego course’ because they usually score very well,” said a smiling Hourihan who explained how all the greens were designed to USGA specifications.

“We are known for our good greens, large practice facility and being fun, friendly and affordable,” added Hourihan. There are two practice greens available for golfers.

The 13th is the signature hole and is a very pretty setting. You must carry a stream on your second shot on this 400-yard par 4. Number 8 has ponds on both sides of the green, as does number 6, so accuracy is a key. Holes 1-5 are cut into the woods, holes 6-10 are open and part of the old layout and then 11-17 are cut into the woods.

Nonesuch River is always in excellent condition, has four sets of tees and is considered an excellent couples course. There are many places to stay near the course that is only a few miles from downtown Portland. You can get more information at www.nonesuchgolf.com or call 207-883-0007.

Hourihan recently took out a long-term lease on Dunegrass Golf Club in Old Orchard, Maine. “We are in the process of bringing it back to its former excellent

course,” said Hourihan of the Dan Maples-designed course that is only a mile from the ocean.

Dunegrass is a premier resort property with a large clubhouse that can host both large and small groups. There are four sets of tees and the tips measure 6,684 yards with a rating of 137.

“Dunegrass is really a unique piece of land that has scrub pines, many terrain changes and lots of waste bunkers,” commented Hourihan who spoke of how visual the course is and how sloping the greens are. “We are bringing it back to its glory,” said a proud Hourihan.

Bob LaVallee, our photographer and part-time designer played the course recently and raved about the conditioning and pretty layout. “It is a very nice layout and a fun place to play,” he said. You can get more information about Dunegrass at www.dunegrass.com or call 207-934-4513.

Our last stop was at Province Lake Golf Course in Parsonfield, Maine. The course is an hour west of Nonesuch River off Route 25 near the New Hampshire border. In fact the fourth hole has a welcome to New Hampshire sign on the way to the green.

Opened in 1918 with nine holes and designed by famous architect Lawrence Van Etten, it has evolved into a charming course that has been rated Number 1 for women in New England and Number 24 nationally by Golf Digest.

In 1988 Brian Silva came up and designed the back nine out of the woods. Arthur

Little and Jan Leeming, who owned the property at the time, wanted to make the course one of the fanciest in the area and the picturesque layout alongside Province Lake gave them the opportunity. Little and Leeming are known internationally for setting up tee placements, and you can see their work with the six sets of tees, The course has four tees rated for men and also four for women that is quite unusual. There are six tees ranging from 6,336 to 1,998.

As we drove up to the property we saw a building with the sign “Daycare.” “We want to give women a place to drop off their children and play golf,” said head professional Patrick DeAngelo.

Seven years ago a new owner (who preferred to talk about his staff instead of himself ) purchased the property. “I’ve got a wonderful staff and we keep making the property a little better each year,” he said over lunch. “We’ve expanded the restaurant, built a large outdoor patio for dining and are working hard on the course to bring it back to the gem that Arthur

Little envisioned.”There are two distinct nines. The front

nine, Lakeside, is quite open and goes along the lake on holes five and six. You can see the lake from 14 holes. The back is more difficult with an uphill par 5 15th, a tough downhill par 4 with water short left on 16 and a dogleg 17th with a big pond in front of the green. “We call 17 our “Tin Cup” hole, said the smiling owner who plays in a couple of the men’s leagues at the course.

Friendly, scenic, great for women and excellent bentgrass greens makes Province Lake a fun course to play. It is an hour from Portland, less than a half hour from Wolfboro and an hour from Portsmouth up Route 16. On their scorecard is a message—if you come, you will return. A true statement. You can get more information by visiting their website at www.provincelakegolf.com or by calling 207-793-4040.

To get more information about the Maine Golf Trail visit www.golfme.com or call Peter Webber at 877-553-4653.

Tough 10th hole at Links at Outlook


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CAPE COD NOTEBOOKBy GEOFF CONVERSE

SECIA LIVIN’ THE DREAM“Livin’ The Dream” is a phrase that gets

used a lot when someone is asks how things are going. For 54-year-old Nantucket resident and reigning Miacomet Golf Club champion Brian Secia, he truly did live the dream when he earned a berth in the recent U.S. Senior Open Championship in Lake Orion, Michigan.

In what he called “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” the island contractor had a chance to tee it up in an event with some of his heroes – Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Fred Couples, Fuzzy Zoeller and New England’s own Brad Faxon.

To earn that berth, Secia, the 2008 Cape Cod Amateur champion, topped a field of 74 players in the Senior Open qualifier at Vesper Country Club in Tyngsboro with only sub-par round of the day when temperatures topped 100 degrees. Secia went to the event, expecting his brother to caddy for him and also under the impression that, like the PGA Tour, all players had to wear long pants.

Neither was the case. Secia’s brother called him as he was driving to Tyngsboro to inform him he would not be able to “loop” for him, leaving Secia in a bit of fix. Add to the fact that he could have played in shorts and that he was lugging the bag himself, Secia found himself on his back in the clubhouse with an EMT hovering and not allowing him to move until he had replenished the fluids he had lost and

had regained a sense of what was going on.“They told me they almost took me to the

hospital,” Secia explained. “Fortunately, I came around pretty well and didn’t require that trip.” In the interim, he fired the lone sub-par round of the day, a 2-under-par 70, was the medalist and on his way to compete in the U.S Championship.

“My goal is to go out there and enjoy the entire experience,” Secia said prior to heading west. “I might not ever get this opportunity again, so I’m trying to take in everything.

“I’ve talked to other folks who have gotten this far,” he added. “The one thing they all advised me to do was not to be a range hound and pound balls all day long.”

Secia did have a goal in mind in Michigan – make the cut and play the entire four rounds.

“I have to be careful not to over think everything and just play golf,” he said. “It would be great to make the cut and play on the weekend. My dad is coming out from Mattapoisett. He has never seen me play competitively, so that would be a treat.”

All those hopes were for naught as he didn’t make the cut to play over the weekend. However, Secia could not have had a more enjoyable experience.

“It was everything I thought it would be and more,” Secia said. “It was unbelievable, it really was. They treated us like royalty the whole way through. I wanted to make sure I was going to

enjoy every single moment and I did. We had a blast.”

Secia was joined by his wife, his brother who bailed on him in the qualifier and father, as well as his friends Jay McConnell, who caddied for him, and Steve Visco.

JUNIOR SHOOTOUTOne of the keys to junior golf growing by

leaps and bounds and the quality of play and maturity the juniors exhibit on the golf courses has been the influence of the American Junior Golf Association and the quality events it oversees across the country.

In mid-July, the Deutsche Bank Partners for Charity Junior Shootout at the testing Golf Club of Cape Cod layout in East Falmouth was something to behold.

Being contested on the hottest days of the summer – three days of mid-90 degree temperatures and humidity to match, the field of 96 players competed on the Rees Jones-designed gem and, did so with panache and quality golf.

The 24 girl competitors played the course that many say is the best tournament layout on Cape Cod, at 6,300 yards. The 72 boys faced an even more daunting task, a 7,043-yard layout that demands perfection off the tee and the ability to put massive greens.

The end result was Irvine, Calif. Resident Robert Deng and Samantha Marks of Maitland,

Fla. winning their respective divisions – Deng with an eye-popping 3-under-par 213 score and Marks successfully defending the title she won in 2011 at Plymouth Country Club

Three Cape players made the grade with 15-year-old Hannah Ghelfi, the youngest player in the field, finishing in the middle of Girls field at 12th with a score of 250. Her older brother Durham was 55th in the Boys Division and Forestdale reside Dan Cowick came in at 62nd. Cowick entered the tournament after flying back from California after competing in the Callaway World Junior Tournament at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

SENIOR OPENThere is a busy fall on tap for Cape Cod with

the Cape Cod Senior Open headlining events. The CCSO picked up a sponsor this year with Humana, a leading health care company that provides a wide range of insurance products and health and wellness services.Humana has signed on to supply $3,000

toward the purse for the tournament, which i9s staging its 14th annual championship at Cape Cod Country Club and Hyannis Golf Club Oct. 2 and 3 respectively.

Geoff Converse writes a Cape Cod Notebook in each issue of Southern New England Golfer. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas or comments.


GOLF TRAVEL By BRUCE VITTNER

One of the true perks of this job is to visit some of the finest hotels and golf courses in the country,

and we found one this past January on Amelia Island, Florida.

The Ritz-Carlton of Amelia Island offers some of the best rooms, food, spa and activities in the country, is a few hundred feet from the Atlantic Ocean and has golfing privileges at The Golf Club of Amelia Island, a private course that is 200 feet from the front door. Doesn’t get much better than that.

The Ritz-Carlton had recently undergone a multi-million dollar renovation of the property and golf course and it is elegant. During our stay we watched the Patriots defeat the Ravens in their sports bar that had complementary pool tables and a great selection of food. Imagine playing pool during halftime and having wonderful food and libations? Doesn’t get much better than that.

Part of the renovation included development of a beautiful spa. They had scheduled us for spa treatments, but it was during the first half of the Pats game. “I’ll pass because I’d rather watch the game,” I told the spa director. No problem. They brought a large flat-screen television into my treatment room. It REALLY doesn’t get better than that.

This type of service is something we saw everywhere during our three day visit. The main dining room is called Salt. It is a unique name for a unique restaurant that uses over 60 varieties of salt in the preparation of their delightful menu.

This is a golf publication, so we should talk about the golf. What an excellent golf course they have attached to the property. Designed by Mark McCumber with help from Gene Littler, the Golf Club of Amelia Island is a picturesque walk through the lowlands of coastal Florida.

Opened in 1987, it was nominated for best new course in the country in 1988. The excellent use of water hazards, the large live oaks with moss hanging down and the marsh areas makes this a very visual and thinking-man’s (and woman’s—it receives high ratings each year as a course favorable for women) course that is fun to play and fair for all levels of play.

The par 5 15th hole was the most interesting. It is a dogleg left up a hill that

requires you to hit over water twice. The drive can reach the pond on the right and must carry the marsh on the left. Once you reach dry land, you need to carry your second shot over a stream and up a large hill with a huge, steep bunker in front and a very large sloping green. Make par and the day is fine.

The fifth is the signature hole. A par 3 over a large pond with a green built up with railroad ties and bunkers on both sides requires a very accurate shot.

Fairways are quite wide, the greens are undulating and you always have to be aware of the ocean breezes. Director of Golf John Price said, “We have a fun course to play and our guests always want to get back out and play it again.” When asked about other courses to play in the area he mentioned that TPC Sawgrass is only forty minutes away and at certain times of the year he can get guests a tee time. “Amelia National is just off the island and is a Fazio design as is Long Point, a marvelous layout that has two par 3’s right on the ocean, added Price who said that guests of the Ritz-Carlton can often get tee times.

If you are an antique car buff, the Concours d’ Elegance show is held on the 17th and 18th fairways the second Sunday in March each year. “We get 15,000 people who come to see the cars,” said Price.

Fernandina Beach is the town on Amelia Island and it is quaint place with a ton of history dating back to the 16 and 1700’s. Make sure that you take a tour.

The Ritz-Carlton really is a great destination. With the beautiful rooms, excellent food at fine restaurants, the ocean just outside your door, a fun golf course out the other door and many activities for all members of the family, you can’t go wrong.

The Jacksonville airport is 45 minutes away and if you are driving to Florida, take the first exit off of Route 95 when you get into Florida and it is a twenty-minute ride. You can get more information about the property at www.ritzcarlton.com/ameliaisland or call them at 904-277-1100 or 800-241-3333. It doesn’t get much better than this!

Bruce Vittner is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America and the Golf Travel Writers of America and can be reached at [email protected].

Ritz-Carlton Offers Elegance and Fine Golf on Amelia Island

The Ritz-Carlton had recently undergone a multi-million dollar renovation of the property and golf course and it is elegant.


SNE GOLF LOCATOR MAPRHODE ISLAND COURSES

1. BEAVER RIVER G.C. (18) P343 Kingstown Rd. Richmond, RI, 401-539-2100 www.beaverrivergolf.com, PS,CR,CH,SB,O 2. BUTTON HOLE SHORT COURSE (9) P, X Button Hole Dr. Providence, RI, 401-421-1664 www.buttonhole.org, CL,CH,DR,PS, Lessons 3. COUNTRY VIEW G.C. (18) P 49 Club Lane Burrillville, RI, 401-568-7157 www.countryviewgolf.net, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 4. COVENTRY PINES G.C. (9) P Harkney Hill Rd. Coventry, RI 401-397-9482, CR,CL,CH,SB, Senior Rates 5. CRANSTON C.C. (18) P 69 Burlingame Rd. Cranston, RI, 401-826-1683www.cranstoncc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 6. CRYSTAL LAKE G.C. (18) SP100 Broncos Hwy. Mapleville, RI, 401-567-4500 www.crystallakegolfclub.com, CL,CR,PS,CH,O,SB 7. EAST GREENWICH G.C. (9) SP1646 Division Rd. E. Greenwich, RI, 401-884-5656, www.eastgreenwichgc.com CR,CL,CH,O, Restaurant 8. EXETER COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP 320 Victory Hwy. (Rt. 102) Exeter, RI 401-295-8212, www.exetercc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 9. FAIRLAWN G.C. (9) P, X Sherman Ave. Lincoln, RI, 401-334-3937www.fairlawngolfcourse.com, CR,CL,CH,SB,O 10. FENNER HILL G.C. (18) P 33 Wheeler Ln. Hope Valley, RI, 401-539-8000, www.fennerhill.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 11. FOSTER COUNTRY CLUB (18) P67 Johnson Rd. Foster, RI, 401-397-7750www.fostercountryclub.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 12. HARBOR LIGHT MARINA & C.C. (9) P 200 Gray St. Warwick, RI, 401-737-6353 www.harborlightsri.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 13. JAMESTOWN G.C. (9) P245 Conanicus Ave. Jamestown, RI, 401-423-9930 www.jamestowngolf.com CR,CL,CH 14. LAUREL LANE C.C. (18) P Laurel Lane, off Rt.138, W. Kingston, RI 401-783-384, www.laurellanecountryclub.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 15. LINDBROOK G.C. (18) X CR, CH,O 299 Woodville Alton Rd. Hope Valley, RI401-539-870016. MEADOW BROOK G.C. (18) P163 Kingstown Rd.(Rt.138) Richmond, RI 401-539-8491, www.meadowbrookgolfri.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O, PGA pro 17. MELODY HILL C.C. (18) P 55 Melody Hill Ln. Harmony, RI, 401-949-9851CR,PS,CH 18. MIDVILLE COUNTRY CLUB (9) P 100 Lombardi Ln. W. Warwick, RI, 401-828-9215 www.midvillegolfclub.com, CR,CL,PS,CH 19. NEWPORT NATIONAL G.C. (18) SP 324 Mitchells Ln. Middletown, RI, 401-848-969 www.newportnational.com, CR,CL,PS,SB,O 20. NORTH KINGSTOWN G.C. (18) P615 Callahan Rd. No. Kingstown, RI, 401-294-0684, www.nkgc.com, DR,PS,CR,CL,CH,O 21. PINE CREST GOLF CLUB (9) P25 Pinehurst Dr. Richmond, RI, 401-364-8600 www.pinecrestri.com CR,CL,CH,SB,O, Leagues 22. RICHMOND C.C. (18) SPSandy Pond Rd. Richmond, RI, 401-364-9200 www.richmondcountryclub.net, CR,CL,PS,CH,O

23. ROSE HILL GOLF CLUB (9) P 222 Rose Hill Rd. So. Kingstown, RI, 401-788-1088, www.rosehillri.com CR,CL,CH,SB, Leagues 24. TIN CUP GOLF & DRIVING RANGE (6)P 2 Fairway Dr. Coventry, RI, 401-823-4653 www.tincupgc.com, CR,CL,CH,O,DR 25. TRIGGS MEMORIAL G.C. (18) PChalkstone Ave. Providence, RI 401-521-8460, www.triggs.us, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 26. WINDMILL HILL G.C. (9) X35 Schoolhouse Rd. (off Rt 136) Warren, RI401-245-1463, www.windmillgolfri.com CR,CL,CH,O, Restaurant 27. WOOD RIVER GOLF (18) P78 Woodville-Alton Rd. Hope Valley, RI, 401-364-0700, www.woodrivergolf.com, CR,CH,SB,O 28. WOODLAND GREENS G.C. (9) P655 Old Baptist Rd. N. Kingstown, RI, 401-294-2872, www.woodlandgc.com CR,PS,CH,O

RHODE ISLAND DRIVING RANGES A. BUTTON HOLE LEARNING CENTER (9) PAR 3, 1 Button Hole Dr. Providence, RI 401-421-1664, www.buttonhole.orgtarget greens, two putting greens, lessons B. IRON WOODS GOLF PRACTICE CENTER 1081 Iron Hill Mine Rd. (off Rt.146) N. Smithfield, RI, 401-766-1151, www.iwgolf.com, putting greens, grass tees, covered area, bunker, lessons, repairs C. MULLIGAN’S ISLAND GOLF & ENTERTAINMENT (9) X 1000 New London Ave. (Rt 2) Cranston, RI 401-464-8855, www.mulligansisland.com 60 stall driving range, covered area, batting cages, mini-golf, par 3 course, 18-hole pitch and putt, PGA Golf Academy, Spargo Golf on premises, club fitting and repairs D. PAVILION RESTAURANT & DRIVING RANGE15 Frontier Rd. Exit 1 off Rt. 95, Ashaway, RI 401-377-9900, www.thepavilionrestaurant.com grass tees, mini golf, Restaurant, Sports Bar

MASSACHUSETTS COURSES 29. AMHERST GC (9) P365 S. Pleasant St. Amherst, MA, 413-256-6894 www.amherstgolfclub.org, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 30. ATLANTIC C.C. (18) P450 Little Sandy Pond Rd. Plymouth, MA 508-759-6644, www.atlanticcountryclub.com CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O 31. BALLYMEADE C.C. (18) SP 125 Falmouth Woods Rd. N. Falmouth, MA508-540-4005, www.ballymeade.com CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O 32. BASS RIVER G.C. (18) P62 Highbank Rd. So. Yarmouth, MA508-398-9079, www.golfyarmouthcapecod.com CR,CL,PS,CHO 33. BAYBERRY HILLS (27) 18 FULL 9 X 631 W. Yarmouth Rd, So. Yarmouth, MA 508-394-5597, www.golfyarmouthcapecod.com CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O 34. BEAVER BROOK G.C. (9) P183 Main St. Haydenville, MA, 413-268-7229 35. BLACKSTONE NATIONAL G.C. (18) SP227 Putnam Hill Rd. Sutton, MA, 508-865-2111 www.bngc.net, CR,CL,CH,PS,O,DR 36. BLISSFUL MEADOWS G.C. (18) SP 801 Chocalog Rd. Uxbridge, MA, 508-278-6110 www.blissfulmeadows.com, CR,CL,CH,DR,PS,O

37. BRATTLEBORO C.C. (18) SP345 Upper Dummerston Rd., Brattleboro, VT www.brattleborocountryclub.com, 802-257-7380 38. BUNGAY BROOK G.C. (9) P30 Locust St. Bellingham, MA, 508-883-1600 www.bungaybrook.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 39. CAPTAINS COURSE (36) P 1000 Freemans Way, Brewster, MA, 508-896-1716 www.captainsgolfcourse.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 40. CHEMAWA GOLF COURSE (18) P350 Cushman Rd. N. Attleboro, MA, 508-399-7330, http://chemawagolf.com CR,CH,O,CL 41. COUNTRY CLUB OF GREENFIELD (18) SP224 Country Club Ln. Greenfield, MA 413-773-7530, www.countryclubofgreenfield.net 42. COUNTRY CLUB OF WILBRAHAM (18) SP859 Stony Hill Rd. Wilbraham, MA 413-596-8897, www.countryclubofwilbraham.com 43. CHICOPEE C.C. (18) P1290 Burnett Rd. Chicopee, MA, 413-594-9295 44. COLD SPRING C.C. (18) SP336 Chauncey Walker, Belchertown, MA 413-323-4888, www.coldspringcc.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 45. CRESTVIEW (18) SP 281 Shoemaker Ln. Agawam, MA 413-786-2593, www.crestviewcc.org 46. CROSSWINDS (27) P424 Long Pond Rd. Plymouth, MA 508-830-1199 www.golfcrosswinds.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O 47. CRUMPIN-FOX (18) P87 Parmenter Rd. Bernardston, MA 508-413-648-9101, www.golfthefox.com CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O 48. EASTON C.C. (18) SP265 Purchase St. Easton, MA 508-238-2500, www.eastoncountryclub.com CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O 49. ELLINWOOD C.C. (18) SP1928 Pleasant St. Athol, MA, 978-249-7460 www.ellinwoodcc.com, CR,CH,PS,O 50. ELMCREST C.C. (18) Private105 Somersville Rd. E. Longmeadow, MA 413-575-7477, www.golfelmcrest.cc.com 51. FENWAY GOLF RANGE & PITCH & PUTT (DR) 112 Allen St. E. Longmeadow, MA 413-525-4444, www.fenwaygolf.com 52. FOXBOROUGH C.C. (18) SP33 Walnut St. Foxborough, MA 508-543-4661x4, www.foxboroughcc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O 53. GARDNER MUNICIPAL (18) P 95 Pleasant St. Gardner, MA, 978-632-9703www.gardnergolfcourse.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O 54. HICKORY RIDGE C.C. (18) SP191 W. Pomeroy Ln. Amherst, MA, 413-253-9320 www.hickoryridgecc.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 55. HIGHFIELDS G & CC (18) P 42 Magill Dr. Grafton, MA, 508-839-1945www.highfieldsgolfcc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 56. HILLSIDE COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP 82 Hillside Ave. Rehoboth, MA, 508-252-9761 www.hillsidecountryclub.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 57. HOLDEN HILLS G.C. (18) P 1800 Main St. Jefferson (Holden), MA 508-829-3129, www.holdenhillssgolf.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O 58. INDIAN MEADOWS (9) P 275 Turnpike Rd. Westboro, MA, 508-836-5460 www.indianmeadowsgolf.com, CR,CL,PS,SB,O 59. JOHN E. PARKER MUNICIPAL G.C. (9) P 17 Fisher St. Taunton, MA, 508-822-1797 CR,DR,CH,SB, Skins Thurs. at 3:45

60. JUNIPER HILL G.C. (36) P 202 Brigham St. Northboro, MA, 508-393-2444 www.juniperhillgc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,SB,O 61. LAKEVILLE C.C. (18) P44 Clear Pond Rd. Lakeville, MA, 508-947-6630 www.lakevillecountryclub.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O 62. LEICESTER C.C. (18) P 1430 Main St. Leicester, MA, 508-892-1390 www.leicestercc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 63. LOCUST VALLEY G.C. (9) P106 Locust St. Attleboro, MA, 508-222-1500 CR,CH,SB,O, new low rates 64. MAPLEGATE COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP 160 Maple St. Bellingham, MA, 508-966-4040 www.maplegate.com, CR,CL,PS,CH 65. MGA LINKS AT MAMANTAPETT (18) P, X 300 W. Maine Rd. (Rt 123) Norton, MA508-222-0555, www.mamantapett.com CL,PS,CH,SB,O 66. MIDDLEBROOK C.C. (9) P149 Pleasant St. Rehoboth, MA508-252-9393, CR,PS,CH,SB 67. NEW ENGLAND C.C. (18) SP180 Paine St. Bellingham, MA, 508-883-2300, www.newenglandcountryclub.com CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 68. NORTON COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP 188 Oak St. Norton, MA, 508-285-2400www.nortoncountryclub.com, CR,CL,CH,SB,O 69. OAK RIDGE G.C. (18) P 850 S. Westfield St. Feeding Hills, MA 413-789-7307, www.oakridgegc.com 70. OLDE SCOTLAND LINKS (18) P695 Pine St. Bridgewater, MA, 508-279-3344 www.oldescotlandlinks.com, CR,CL,SB,DR,O 71. PETERSHAM C.C. (9) P 240 No. Main St. Petersham, MA, 978-724-3388 www.petershamcc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 72. PINE RIDGE G.C. (18) P28 Pleasant St. No. Oxford, MA, 508-892-9188 www.pineridgegolf.net, CR,CL,CH,PS,O 73. REHOBOTH C.C. (18) P 155 Perryville Rd Rehoboth, MA, 508-252-6259 www.rehobothcountryclub.com, CR,CH,PS,O 74. RIDDER G.C. (18) P 389 Oak St. E. Bridgewater, MA 781-447-9003, www.ridderfarm.com CR,CL,PS,SB 75. SHAKER FARMS C.C. (18) P866 Shaker Rd. Westfield, MA, 413-568-4087 www.shakerfarmscc.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O 76. SHINING ROCK G.C. (18) SP 91 Clubhouse Way, Northbridge, MA, 508-234-0400, www.shiningrock.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O 77. SOUTHAMPTON C.C. (18) P329 College Hwy. Southampton, MA 413-527-9815, www.partnersrestaurant.com CR,SB,CH,PS,O

Golf Course Driving RangeDR = Driving Range( ) = Holes PS = Pro ShopP = Public CH = ClubhouseSP = Semi Private O = OutingsX = Executive SB = Snack BarCR = Car Rental CL = Club Rental

KEY


78. ST. ANNE C.C. (18) P781 Shoemaker Ln. Feeding Hills, MA, 413-786-2088, www.stannecc.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 79. TEKOA C.C. (18) P459 Russell Rd. Westfield, MA, 413-568-1064 www.tekoacc.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O 80. TEMPLEWOOD G.C. (18) P 160 Brooks Rd. Templeton, MA, 978-939-5031 www.templewoodgolfcourse.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 81. THE BLANDFORD CLUB (9) P17 North St. Blandford, MA, 413-848-2443 www.massgolftennis.com, CR,SB,CH,PS,O 82. THE RANCH G.C. (18) P65 Sunnyside Rd. Southwick, MA, 413-569-9333 www.theranchgolfclub.com CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O 83. THOMAS MEMORIAL G.C. ( 9 ) P 29 Country Club Ln. Turners Falls, MA 413-863-8003 84. WAMPANOAG G.C. (9) P 168 Old Providence Rd. Swansea, MA, 508-379-9832, www.wampanoaggolf.com CR,CL,CH,PS 85. PINE GROVE G.C. (18 ) P 254 Old Wilson Rd. Northampton, MA,413-584-4570

86. WENTWORTH HILLS G.C. (18) SP 27 Bow St. Plainville, MA, 508-316-0240 www.wntworthhillsgc.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O 87. WIDOWS WALK G.C. (18) P 250 The Driftway Scituate, MA, 781-544-0032 www.widowswalkgolf.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O 88. WINCHENDON SCHOOL G.C. (18) P435 Spring St. Winchendon, MA, 978-297-9897 www.winchgolf.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O 89. WORTHINGTON G.C. (9) P113 Ridge Rd. Worthington, MA, 413-238-4464 www.worthingtongolfclub.net CR,CL,CH,PS,O MASSACHUSETTS DRIVING RANGES

E. ATLANTIC DRIVING RANGE/ SHADOWBROOK (9) X 754 Newport Ave. So. Attleboro, MA www.atlanticgolfcenter.com, heated tees, retail shop, mini golf, chip and putt F. GOLF LEARNING CENTER OF NEW ENGLAND 19 Leonard St. Norton, MA (Exit 10 off Rt.495), 508-285-4500, www.golflearningcenter.com1,000 ft. grass teeline, heated bays, putting, chipping, bunkers

G. SEEKONK DRIVING RANGE 1977 Fall River Ave. (Rt. 6) Seekonk, MA 508-336-8074, www.seekonkdrivingrange.com covered heated tees, batting cages, mini golf, lessons, available, grass hitting area

CONNECTICUT COURSES 90. CEDAR KNOB GC (18) P446 Billings Rd. Somers, CT, 860-749-3550www.cedarknobgolfcourse.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O91. CONNECTICUT NATIONAL (18) P136 Chase Rd. Putnam, CT, 860-928-7748www.ctnationalgolf.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,SB,O92. ELMRIDGE GOLF CLUB (27) P229 Elmridge Rd. Pawcatuck, CT, 860-599-2248 www.elmridgegolf.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O93. FOX HOPYARD (18) SP1 Hopyard Rd. East Haddam, CT 860-434-6644, www.golfthefox.com CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O94. LAKE OF ISLES C.C. (18) PFoxwoods Casino, Mashantucket, CT, 860-312-3636, www.lakeofisles.com CR,CL,PS,SB,Rest.,O, Golf School

95. MINNECHAUG G.C. (9) P16 Fairway Crossing Glastonbury, CT 860-643-9914, www.minnechauggolf.com CR,CL,CH,PS96. RACEWAY GOLF COURSE (18) SP205 E. Thompson Rd. Thompson, CT 860-923-9591, www.racewaygolf.com CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O97. RIVER RIDGE GOLF CLUB (18) P259 Preston Rd. Griswold, CT860-376-3268, www.riverridgegolf.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O98. ROLLING MEADOWS C.C. (18) P76 Sadds Mill Rd. Ellington, CT 860-870-5328, www.rollingmeadowsgolfcourse.comCR,CL,CH,PS,O99. SHENNECOSSETT G.C. (18) P93 Plant St. Groton, CT, 860-445-0262 (PS 448-1867), www.shennygolf.com CR,CL,CH,PS,Rest.,O100. TOWER RIDGE C.C. (18) SP140 Nod Rd. Simsbury, CT, 860-658-9767www.towerridgecc.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O


SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLF

answer on page 4

The Rhode Island Golf Course Superintendents Assn. lost a good one with the passing of Louis Lombardi, 69, in Arizona in June. Lou was the son of Louis Lombardi, who with his brothers Carmine and Anthony designed and built Midville G.C. and built Cranston C.C.

Lou graduated from Deering H.S. and went on to earn his B.S. in Agronomy and Turf Management at URI. He started his career at Midville and Ledgemont and then became the superintendent at Washington G.C.in Coventry when Jeff Hopkin’s father died.

He taught science in West Warwick schools before becoming a full-time superintendent at Cranston Country Club for his cousin Michael in the 1970’s. “Louie was like the older brother I never had. I was a young man when my father passed away. It was a very difficult time for our family. If Lou had not been around I’m not sure what would have happened. I think of him every day.”

He had an excellent work ethic and was an inspiration to all that worked with him. He leaves his wife of 49 years, Pat McCarthy Lombardi and a son Gregory who lives in Laguna Beach, Cal. and his brother, Ron who is the co-owner of Midville G.C. and his sister, Lorraine of Narragansett.

In Memoriam

Lou Lombardi

State Am Notes:Blanchard used a pull cart all week

and raked his own bunkers and replaced his own divots. “A lot of people offered to caddie in the finals, but I didn’t want to break the karma,” said Blanchard who admitted to getting tired near the end each day. Semifinalist Seamus Fennelly is going to be a sophomore at URI. The other semifinalist, Bobby Leopold, who defeated Blanchard to win this event a couple of years ago, turned 25 and his world amateur rankings will improve tremendously because now he is rated in the mid amateur category. While Randall was finishing second, his good friend and fellow Old Dominion student, Samantha Morrell was finishing second at the Women’s New England Amateur in Maine. Randall and Morrell first met

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5R.I. Senior Open Set

The eighth annual Rhode Island Senior Open will be

held on August 14-15 at Valley Country Club in Warwick, R.I.

The event is open to both professionals and amateurs with

an entry fee of $250 for pros and $200 for amateurs. For

more information contact Rick Holcomb at 401-862-4119 or

[email protected].

as youngsters at Button Hole. Cameron Andrade, the 18-year-old son of Billy Andrade, who lives in Atlanta but has a summer residence in Bristol made it to the quarterfinals where he lost to Blanchard 3 and 1. Andrade had beaten Paul Quigley, 67, in the first round of match play. Quigley had lost to Billy Andrade in the finals in 1983.Partial Results:

Quarterfinals—Blanchard def. Andrade 3 and 1, Fennelly def. Eddie Hjerpe 1-up, Randall def Barrow 7 and 5, Leopold def, Jonathan Drumm 1 up. Semifinals—Blanchard derf. Fennelly 19 holes, Randall def. Leopold 4 and 3. Finals Blanchard def. Randall 5 and 4.

Target Your Audience in SNE Golfer!Call Bruce Vittner at 401-464-8445 or email [email protected].

THE TOP 100.AT THE TOP OF THEIR GAME.

Player appearance subject to qualifi cation.

TIGER WOODS PHIL MICKELSON BUBBA WATSON WEBB SIMPSON

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!Go to dbchampionship.com, call 877.TIX.4DBC (877.849.4322),or visit any area Golf Town location.

FOLLOW US:

COME CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF A LABOR DAY WEEKEND TRADITION AUGUST 29 – SEPTEMBER 3.

RORY McILROY LUKE DONALD RICKIE FOWLER LEE WESTWOOD

Southern New England Golfer August-September 2012

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