Headline: Sean Gaudette Holds Early Lead Following Day 1 at 2009 Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship
For Immediate Release: July 27, 2009
Framingham, MA — Handling new challenges is nothing new to Sean Gaudette (The Orchards GC). The rising senior at Hopkins Academy posted a day-low score of 1-over par 73 to take a one-stroke lead over the field at the 2009 Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship which is being held at Framingham Country Club. (Story continues below)
Day 1 Quick Links
Gaudette, who earlier this year captured co-medalist honors at the Western Massachusetts Division III Golf Championship, posted an interesting round today as he registered eight pars, six bogeys, three birdies and one eagle.
Following a disappointing front nine in which he made the turn a 1-over par 37, Gaudette pulled out driver on the 378-yard, par 4 10th hole. Although he went with a safe iron shot during his practice round, Gaudette took out his frustrations from the front nine with the big club and it paid off. After hitting a solid drive, Gaudette had only 75 yards to the hole. He then sailed his 52° wedge shot onto the back of the green and watched it spin back into the hole for eagle.
"I missed a couple of short putts that I should have made on the front nine so I was really mad," said Gaudette, who noted that he missed five-foot putts for par on both the 8th and 9th holes. "When I hit it, I knew that it was going to be close. The fact that it went into the hole was kind of a bonus."
Gaudette continued on with his round and putted out for par on the 18th hole. Although he was still frustrated with his overall play, he was comforted by the fact that he still held a lead heading into the second round.
"I went into the day with a goal of keeping myself in it," said Gaudette. "It's a three-round tournament and I knew that I wasn't going to win it today but I could lose it. I just wanted to keep it around par and I knew that I would be in good shape."
It was just two years ago when Gaudette transferred from South Hadley High School (where he was a co-medalist at the sectional Division I Championships) to Hopkins Academy. He didn't miss a beat as he was his team's top scorer this past season and is one of the few golfers to capture medalist honors at the Division I and II levels.
"It wasn't too bad," said Gaudette about the change of schools midway through his high school career. "I don't mind different courses and different environments."
That laid-back attitude has served him well not only today but throughout the season. Earlier this year, Gaudette finished as second alternate at a U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifier and one week ago finished in a tie for 11th place at the Deutsche Bank Partners for Charity Junior Shoot Out held at Dedham Country & Polo Club. That impressive event featured a 99-player field and players from 21 states, Taiwan and South Korea.
Standing one back of Gaudette today with a score of 2-over par 74 is Joe Cooper (Weston GC), who just completed his sophomore year at Wayland High School where he was named a 2008 Boston Globe All Scholastic. On this day, Cooper carded identical splits of 37 on his front and back nines to stay in contention.
Cameron Duchin (Edge Hill CC) and Nick Maccario (Haverhill CC) are in a tie for third place with scores of 3-over par 75. Maccario is coming off a stellar 2008 junior season at St. John's Prep in Danvers after leading his team to a 17-0 regular season record and finishing in third at the Division 1 state championship. He was a Catholic Conference All Star.
Last year's Pre-Junior Division winner, Bob Marulli (The Orchards GC), is competing in the Junior Division this year and finished with a score of 7-over par 79. Marulli is a member of the Newton South High School golf team that captured a share of the Division 1 North sectional title this past season. He was also a 2008 Boston Globe All Scholastic selection.
Pre Junior Division
Nick McLaughlin (Far Corner GC) is no stranger to this event and he put his experience and talent to good use today by firing a 2-over par 74 to take an early lead in the Pre Junior Division. In 2008, McLaughlin finished 8th in his debut at the Pre-Junior level, while the year before he claimed second place in the Boys Division.
One stroke place of McLaughlin is Adam Goldstein (Newton Commonwealth GC) with a score of 3-over par 75.
Boys Division
David Thompson (Shrewsbury, MA) holds a two-stroke lead in the 14-and-under group following his first-round score 5-over par 77. Sitting in second place is Steven Dilisio (Swampscott, MA), who comes from a long line of golfing talent
The Bay State golf community has come to know father Dana Dilisio (Salem CC) and older son Anthony Dilisio (Salem CC) as they were champions at the 2007 Massachusetts Father & Son Championship. Earlier this month, Anthony, 18, advanced to Match Play at the Massachusetts Amateur Championship.
This week, 11-year-old Steven will look to pick up where his older brother left off as Anthony finished in a tie for sixth place at this event in 2008.
Divisional Notes
The Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship is unique in that it features three divisions of competitors (based on age) and two sets of tees. Here is a summary of the three age divisions:
All Junior and Pre-Junior Division competitors compete from the Blue tees with a yardage of 6,702 yards. The Boys Division competitors play from the Gold Tees with a yardage of 5,699 yards.
As a result of the course setup, any competitor from the Pre-Junior Division can capture the overall Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship title since they are playing from the same tees as the Junior Division players. Competitors from the Boys Division, however, are not eligible to win the overall title since they are playing a shorter course setup.
Schedule of Events
Here is a schedule for this week's event. Spectators are welcome – free of charge – throughout the week.
Monday, July 27
First Round, 18 Holes
Tuesday, July 28
Second Round, 18 Holes
The 30 lowest scorers and ties in the Junior Division, the 20 lowest scorers and ties in the Pre-Junior Division and the 10 lowest scorers and ties in the Boys Division continue play on Wednesday
Wednesday, July 29
Final Round, 18 Holes.
The MGA Junior Champion will be the low scorer for 54 holes from either the Junior or Pre-Junior Divisions. Any tie for first place (overall championship or divisional championship) will be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole playoff.
