Headline: Bill Drohen Provides One of Many Highlights From Day 1 of Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying
For Immediate Release: June 3, 2009
Norton, MA — Beginning in 1903 when Arthur Lockwood captured the inaugural title, the Massachusetts Amateur has served as the backdrop to countless exciting moments… some of which have been publicized and others that have remained precious memories in the minds of only a few.
This year’s playing of the historic MGA Championship will no doubt create even more memories as the 101-year-old event will make a triumphant return to The Country Club in Brookline on July 13-17. The field is limited to only 144 players, so more than 880 players will have to take to qualifying venues over the next nine days in hopes of capturing one of those all-important Championship Proper spots.
The first step was taken today as more than 350 players from across the state traveled to Bay State courses in hopes of securing a spot at Championship Proper. A total of 54 qualifying spots were up for grabs at the following courses – Andover CC, Hampden CC, Foxborough CC, Cranberry Valley GC and Wollaston GC.
One player who was quietly carving out a spot at The Country Club next month was Bill Drohen (Bradford CC). The 36 year old was one of 11 golfers who advanced in Foxboro. Drohen fired a 4-over par 76.
At first glance, many would recognize the name and think that it wasn’t so significant that he qualified. After all, he is a three-time Massachusetts Public Links Champion (only one other player has accomplished that same feat) and has advanced to the semifinals of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship on two occasions. He has – over the course of his career – captured the North Shore Amateur title and has competed on the USGA State Team, to mention just a few accolades.
The Bill Drohen who created that impressive resume was not the same player competing on the Foxboro layout today, however.
Following a challenging and oftentimes painful season in 2008, Drohen made the difficult decision to have reconstructive surgery on his shoulder. The procedure was completed on December 26, 2008. Since that day, Drohen has been focused on his long and arduous recovery.
“It has been a grind for sure,” said Drohen who was unable to tie his shoes for the first two months. “I first started hitting balls a month ago and my swing was completely different. It definitely made me think about my swing more than ever before.”
The complicated surgery involved repairing and tightening all of the ligaments in his shoulder. The doctors were hoping for an April return, but that was delayed despite hours of rehabilitation that Drohen has been committed to since January.
“Getting complete mobility back will take a year, but over the past three months I have been doing stretches and rehabilitation that will get me out on the golf course quicker. My golf swing is shorter now because they had to tighten the shoulder. I’m learning how to swing all over again. It’s a change so you’ll get your occasional ‘how did I hit that so far into the woods’ shot.”
There is no question that his game is returning as Drohen – a bad shoulder and all – bested the majority of the 67-player field today at Foxborough Country Club. During his round, the school teacher who now resides in Stoughton, made no birdies on the day but his score of 4-over par 76 was good enough to secure a tie for fourth place.
“I was more nervous today than I have been in five years,” said Drohen. “I had something to prove to myself after all of the hard work. The wheels started to come off at the end [he made four bogies on the back nine] and I made some horrible swings but I got through it.”
A return to The Country Club next month will be a special occasion for Drohen. Six years ago – the last time the Brookline club hosted the Massachusetts Amateur Championship – Drohen spent the entire first day of competition on the putting green waiting patiently as an alternate. As fate would have it, not one player missed his tee time that day and thus Drohen missed out on a chance to compete that week. However, Drohen played an important role in the event as he served as caddie for his older brother Andy who went on to capture the title in an exciting 36-hole finale.
This time around, Drohen is ready to take to the course and compete for his first Massachusetts State Amateur title. Making the experience even more momentous will be the fact that Drohen is expecting his first child in October.
“I have the green light to play all summer long,” said Drohen. “This is my last hurrah and then I’ll be “Mr. Daddy” next summer. I have been thinking about all of these things over the past few months.”
With all of the dramatic changes he has had to make in his game as a result of his surgery, Drohen is hoping that the end result will be a more complete game. He noted, for instance, that the tightness in the shoulder has made him become more adept at hitting low shots. Once he is fully healed, he is hoping that the best is yet to come.
“My life is very good right now,” said Drohen. “[The last six months] have been a little weird, but I am really on the right page and I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I will probably be better off than I was before.”
That is exciting news for Drohen… and a scary thought for his opponents.
Other Highlights from Day 1 of Qualifying…
John Gilmartin (Indian Ridge CC) is having a good week. One week after securing the final spot at Massachusetts Open qualifying held at his home course of Indian Ridge Country Club, Gilmartin fired an impressive 3-under par 69 today at Andover Country Club. During his State Open qualifying march, Gilmartin chipped in for eagle on his 18th hole to earn himself a spot in the playoff. This time around, Gilmartin – who advanced to Match Play at the last two Massachusetts Amateur Championships – did not need a miracle finale to his round as he posted four birdies, one eagle and two bogeys to claim medalist honors in Andover.
In a tight battle in Harwich, Greg Shuman (The Country Club) earned the right to compete on his home course next month as he posted a 2-over par 74 at Cranberry Valley Golf Course. The 11 qualifiers at that site were separated by only two shots.
Nicholas Pokora (Crestview CC), a junior at the University of Hartford, fired a 1-under par 71 and was the only player to break par at Hampden Country Club. Pokora was a four-time All-Western Mass selection at Agawam High School and a former Pre-Junior Division at the 2003 Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship. That same season, Pokora advanced to Match Play at the Massachusetts Amateur Championship at The Country Club before losing to eventual champion Andy Drohen in the Round of 32.
Zack Ungvarsky (CC of Billerica) and Michael Willock (Plymouth CC) both posted scores of even par 72 to earn medalist honors at Wollaston GC. Ungvarsky is a junior student-athlete and teammate of Pokora at the University of Harford.
A total of 888 applications were received for this year’s Massachusetts Amateur Championship. That marks the most entries received for any MGA Championship event and the most for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship since 2003.
Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Andover Country Club (Andover, MA)
Par 72 (36-36)
|
Qualifiers |
|||
|
1 |
John Gilmartin |
Indian Ridge CC |
33-36--69 |
|
2 |
Chad Bouchard |
Sterling National CC |
36-35--71 |
|
T3 |
Ed Whelan |
Bear Hill GC |
33-39--72 |
|
T3 |
Ken Whalley |
Carriage Pines GC |
35-37--72 |
|
T5 |
John Dahrouge |
Berkshire Hills CC |
38-35--73 |
|
T5 |
Mark Souliotis |
Haverhill CC |
36-37--73 |
|
T7 |
Devin Russell |
Andover CC |
39-35--74 |
|
T7 |
Kevin Rourke |
Salem CC |
37-37--74 |
|
T7 |
Michael Kaloyanides |
Walpole CC |
37-37--74 |
|
T7 |
Michael Kuzara |
Thomson CC |
37-37--74 |
|
11 |
Mike Cole |
Larry Gannon Municipal GC |
38-37--75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alternates |
|||
|
1st |
Ricky Stimets |
Oyster Harbors Club |
41-34--75 |
|
2nd |
Michael Zmetrovich |
Tedesco CC |
38-37--75 |
Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Hampden Country Club (Hampden, MA)
Par 72 (36-36)
|
Qualifiers |
|||
|
1 |
Nicholas Pokora |
Crestview CC |
37-34--71 |
|
2 |
Paul Buttafuoco |
Elmcrest CC |
34-38--72 |
|
T3 |
Guy Antonacci |
Elmcrest CC |
38-35--73 |
|
T3 |
Robert Linn |
Berkshire Hills CC |
37-36--73 |
|
T3 |
Ronald Laverdiere |
Crumpin-Fox Club |
36-37--73 |
|
T6 |
Derek Hoy |
Hampden CC |
35-39--74 |
|
T6 |
Hal Marshall |
Highfields G&CC |
37-37--74 |
|
T6 |
Mickey Werenski |
The Orchards GC |
38-36--74 |
|
T9 |
Christopher Markiewicz |
Dudley Hill GC |
39-37--76 |
|
T9 |
Creighton Page |
Olde Scotland Links |
37-39--76 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alternates |
|||
|
1st |
Doug Briggs |
CC of Billerica |
38-38--76 |
|
2nd |
Flynt Lincoln |
Longmeadow CC |
39-37--76 |
Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Cranberry Valley Golf Course (Harwich, MA)
Par 72 (36-36)
|
Qualifiers |
|||
|
1 |
Greg Shuman |
The Country Club |
37-37--74 |
|
T2 |
Brian Baker |
LeBaron Hills CC |
39-36--75 |
|
T2 |
Dan Mastrototaro |
Cyprian Keyes GC |
36-39--75 |
|
T2 |
Darren Bolton |
Larry Gannon Municipal GC |
37-38--75 |
|
T2 |
Dennis Konary |
Hyannis GC |
40-35--75 |
|
T2 |
Matt Lowell |
Oyster Harbors Club |
38-37--75 |
|
T2 |
Peter Anderson |
Bass River GC |
36-39--75 |
|
T8 |
Bunt Whitelaw III |
Duxbury YC |
36-40--76 |
|
T8 |
Kyle Pelletier |
Acushnet River Valley GC |
39-37--76 |
|
T8 |
Robert Monahan |
Hatherly CC |
40-36--76 |
|
T8 |
Sean Devers |
George Wright GC |
37-39--76 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alternates |
|||
|
1st |
Brian T Foley |
Springfield CC |
40-37--77 |
|
2nd |
Joseph Pimental |
Pine Oaks GC |
39-38--77 |
Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Foxborough Country Course (Foxboro, MA)
Par 72 (36-36)
|
Qualifiers |
|||
|
1 |
Mike Dunham |
Old Sandwich GC |
35-36--71 |
|
2 |
Andrew Grzyb |
Dudley Hill GC |
36-38--74 |
|
3 |
Chris Congdon |
Foxborough CC |
39-36--75 |
|
T4 |
Bill Drohen |
Bradford CC |
37-39--76 |
|
T4 |
Bill Vine |
Foxborough CC |
36-40--76 |
|
T4 |
Brendan Livingston |
Meadow Creek GC |
38-38--76 |
|
T4 |
Mike Phipps |
Pleasant Valley CC |
39-37--76 |
|
T8 |
Brendan Monahan |
Winchester CC |
41-36--77 |
|
T8 |
Brien Tolland |
Sharon CC |
40-37--77 |
|
T10 |
Pat Pio III |
Longmeadow CC |
38-40--78 |
|
T10 |
Thor Van Vaerenewyck |
Heather Hill CC |
38-40--78 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alternates |
|||
|
1st |
Ryan Riley |
Norton CC |
38-40--78 |
|
2nd |
Jon Fasick |
New England CC |
38-40--78 |
Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Wollaston Golf Club (Milton, MA)
Par 72 (36-36)
|
Qualifiers |
|||
|
T1 |
Michael Willock |
Plymouth CC |
36-36--72 |
|
T1 |
Zack Ungvarsky |
CC of Billerica |
37-35--72 |
|
3 |
Mark Donnellan |
Winchester CC |
36-37--73 |
|
T4 |
Bernie Lynch Jr |
Wollaston GC |
35-39--74 |
|
T4 |
John Geraci |
Ponkapoag GC |
37-37--74 |
|
T4 |
Matt Dunn |
Wachusett CC |
37-37--74 |
|
T4 |
R J Foley |
Sterling National CC |
36-38--74 |
|
T4 |
Robert Malcolm Jr |
Oakley CC |
40-34--74 |
|
9 |
Michael McCarthy |
Woodland GC |
37-38--75 |
|
T10 |
Mike Gunderson |
Marshfield CC |
37-39--76 |
|
T10 |
Steven Burak |
Thorny Lea GC |
40-36--76 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alternates |
|||
|
1st |
Ryan Pelletier |
Acushnet River Valley GC |
37-39--76 |
|
2nd |
Dana McMaster |
Framingham CC |
38-38--76 |
