Headline: Former Bay State Amateur Turned Professional Scott Hawley Captures Co-Medalist Honors at State Open Qualifying
For Immediate Release: May 27, 2009
Halifax, MA — Scott Hawley (Shrewsbury, MA) enjoyed his return to Massachusetts as the former amateur turned touring professional carded a 1-under par 71 at the Country Club of Halifax today at day four of Massachusetts Open Qualifying.
Hawley was one of 19 qualifiers to earn a spot at the 100th playing of the Massachusetts Open Championship which will be contested on June 22-24 at Belmont Country Club.
The Shrewsbury resident, who turned professional in 2001 after a successful career at Seton Hall University, posted three birdies and two bogies this afternoon to capture co-medalist honors with fellow professional David Schuster (Hawthorne, NJ). Hawley and Schuster were two of 72 players who battled cold, rainy and windy conditions in Halifax in hopes of earning a precious qualifying spot.
“I was really lucky because it stopped raining on my second hole,” said Hawley, who joked that he had not played in weather colder than 80 degrees in four months. “I have been playing well the past month so I was confident that I would have a good day but you never know in these qualifiers. You still have to play well no matter what is going on. A few bad shots can make a huge difference.”
Hawley made birdie on his first hole – he began his round on the 10th tee – and then proceeded to three-putt on the 11th hole for a disappointing par on the 485-yard, par 5 11th hole. Birdies on the 1st and 9th holes would help Hawley secure his co-medalist score, however.
For the past several seasons, Hawley has been competing on the Canadian Golf Tour during the summer months and practicing and serving as a caddy at Old Palm Golf Club in Florida in the winter. Career highlights on the Canadian Golf Tour have included making 11 out of 14 cuts with four top-10 finishes in 2007 and making an incredible three holes-in-one in an eight-tournament stretch in 2004 and 2005. Following a difficult end of the season in 2008, Hawley took off a few months before returning to Florida in January.
“I struggled during the last half of the year and delayed my return to Florida until January so that I could relax and figure some things out,” said Hawley. “So far the break has been great for me and I have been playing really well for the past two months.”
That two-month stretch has included two tournament victories in the Minor League Golf Tour during the month of May. He also finished as runner up in two other events this month, which bodes well for the challenging schedule that lies ahead for Hawley.
Following a series of Canadian Tour events in British Columbia in early June, Hawley will return to Massachusetts and take on a Belmont layout that he has never played before.
“It’s funny because I qualified for the State Amateur every year from 1996 through 2001 [when I was an amateur] except for the year when it was held at Belmont [in 1996],” said Hawley.
Joining Hawley in Belmont after impressive rounds today in Halifax will be Brendan Walsh (The Country Club), the long-time club professional at the Brookline club which will serve as host of the 2009 Massachusetts Amateur Championship in July, and amateur Herbie Aikens (Pinehills GC), who earlier this month captured a share of the Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship title with partner Ryan Riley (Norton CC).
Both Walsh and Aikens registered scores of even par 72 to finish in a four-way tie for third place with Denny Rasku (Deerfield Beach, FL) and Joseph Cordani (CC of New Bedford).
One former MGA champion in the field who advanced to Belmont after posting a score of 1-over par 73 was Anthony Dilisio (Salem CC), who partnered with his father Dana to capture the 2007 Massachusetts Father & Son Championship.
2009 Massachusetts Open Qualifying
Country Club of Halifax (Halifax, MA)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Par 72 (36-36)
Qualifiers
T1) Scott Hawley (Shrewsbury, MA) 35-36--71
T1) David Schuster (Hawthorne, NJ) 37-34--71
T3) Denny Rasku (Deerfield Beach, FL) 37-35--72
T3) Joseph Cordani (CC of New Bedford) 37-35--72
T3) Brendan Walsh (The Country Club) 35-37--72
T3) a-Herbert Aikens (Pinehills GC) 35-37--72
T7) a-Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich GC) 36-37--73
T7) Benjamin Day (Cheshire, CT) 35-38--73
T7) a- Christopher Tarallo (Thorny Lea GC) 38-35--73
T7) a-Nick Zolotas (Ferncroft CC) 36-37--73
T7) a-Anthony Dilisio (Salem CC) 37-36--73
T12) Justin May (Sarasota, FL) 35-39--74
T12) Mickey Folan (Ponkapoag GC) 37-37--74
T12) Jeffrey Friel (Rye, NH) 36-38--74
T12) Brendon Ray (Ledgemont CC) 37-37--74
T12) a-Guy Lansing (Fairway Club) 38-36--74
17) Brad Colt (Cohasset GC) 39-36--75
T18) a-David Pierce (CC of Halifax) 35-41--76
T18) a-Kevin Daly (Beverly G&TC) 39-37--76
Alternates
1st) Ryan Derosier (West Palm Beach, FL) 36-40--76
2nd)
a-Andrew Horvitz (Allendale CC) 37-39--76
