Headline: Nick McLaughlin Captures 2009 Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship at Framingham Country Club
For Immediate Release: July 29, 2009
Framingham, MA — It's hard to say that it has been a long time in coming when you're talking about a 15 year old.
However, after seven years of playing in the event Nick McLaughlin (Far Corner GC) can now call himself a Massachusetts Junior Amateur Champion. The youngster secured the prestigious MGA title this afternoon at Framingham Country Club. (Story Continues Below)
Day 3 Links
"I am just really happy and relieved because I was getting geared up for a potential playoff," said McLaughlin. "To be able to go home now and enjoy it is a really nice feeling."
McLaughlin becomes only the third Pre Junior Division player in 17 years to capture the overall title. James Driscoll, the two-time Massachusetts Amateur Champion who is now competing on the PGA Tour, accomplished that feat in 1993 while Nat Hoopes following suite in 1996.
"It's pretty cool," said McLaughlin. "Being mentioned in the same group is a real honor."
And with two more years of eligibility in this MGA event left for McLaughlin (he turns 16 years old in September), the advantage is surely his in 2010 and beyond.
"Playing in this before definitely makes you feel more comfortable," said McLaughlin whose best performance heading into today was a second-place finish in the Boys Division back in 2007. "I know what to expect here. When you play in an event for the first time, you don't where to go or what to do. That is not the case here."
McLaughlin capped off his impressive title run this afternoon with a final-round score of 4-over par 76. Since the Pre Junior Division competitors began their rounds earlier in the day, McLaughlin had to wait for nearly two hours before he learned of the final results. After going back and forth between the putting green, driving range and the clubhouse… McLaughlin finally learned of his victorious fate at 3:35 p.m.
"I was just hanging out and staying loose in case there was a playoff," said McLaughlin. "It's just a great feeling."
Today's victory marks yet another impressive accomplishment for the youngster just this month. Two weeks ago, McLaughlin, whoplays out of Far Corner Golf Course in Boxford, advanced to the quarterfinals of the New Hampshire State Amateur Championship. In his path, McLaughlin knocked off – among others – two-time winner of that event and perennial amateur standout Craig Steckowych, who happens to be competing at the U.S. Senior Open Championship this week.
This course clearly fit McLaughlin's game as he was able to stay out of trouble and navigate this challenging Framingham Country Club layout.
"I definitely would say that this course is good for me because you have to be in the right spots on the greens," said McLaughlin, who used driver on only four holes today. "I like having to think about where to put it on the green and I really like the overall course set up."
That type of cerebral approach to the game has served McLaughlin well as he was the No. 1 golfer this past season at St. John's Prep in Danvers. As a sophomore, McLaughlin – along with Junior Division competitor Nick Maccario (Haverhill CC) – led the Eagles to a 17-0 regular-season record.
When asked if he plans to return in 2010 to defend his title as a Junior Division player… McLaughlin smiled big and said, "I certainly plan to."
Finishing in second place overall was Brandon Medeiros (The Harmon Club) with a score of 9-over par 225. This year marks the first year of competition for Medeiros, who recently moved to the Bay State from Texas
Another player who is smiling today after an impressive round is David Gilbert (Indian Ridge CC). Gilbert capped off the tournament with a final round score of 2-over par 74 which featured many good shots including a hole in one on the 175-yard, par 3 8th hole. Gilbert finished in a tie for third- place overall with Maccario. Both players posted a three-day total of 11-over par 227.
"It was a downhill par 3 playing about 175 yards and I striped a 7 iron at the pin," explained Gilbert, a rising senior at Andover High School. "It hopped twice and rolled right in. It just disappeared."
When asked his reaction to his first-ever hole in one?
"I screamed," said Gilbert with a smile. "I gave it a 'woo'."
Pre Junior Division
Although he entered the round with a sizeable lead, the road to victory was no less satisfying.
Nick McLaughlin (Wentworth By the Sea) capped of a stellar performance this week with a 4-over par 76 on Wednesday to claim the Pre Junior Division title with a three-day total of 6-over par 222. Perhaps most impressive was the margin of his victory – nine shots over the second-place finisher.
"I felt really comfortable," said McLaughlin. "I hit the ball maybe better than yesterday, but I didn't make any birdie putts. I don't think that I had any double bogeys this week which was good. I wasn't in any hazards or out of bounds and this is a tough course. I was able to hit it straight and well."
McLaughlin was simply dominant all week long. He began his title pursuit on Monday with a score of 2-over par 74. He improved that score on Tuesday with a tournament-low score of even par 72 on Tuesday.
"Two rounds isn't bad but if you can put three solid rounds together than you definitely deserve to win," said McLaughlin. "In the shorter events, it comes down to lucky bounces but the longer tournaments even everything out."
Finishing in second place with a score of 15-over par 231 was Graham Small (Stow Acres CC), who catapulted into second place on Tuesday following a tournament-best score of 2-under par 70. That score marked the only under-par round posted by any of the 120 players in this year's field.
Peter French (Maplegate CC), the 2007 Boys Division champion, rounded out the top three in the Pre Junior Division this year with a score of 20-over par 236. French posted the second lowest score in his division today – a 5-over par 77.
Boys Division
On the 14th hole, Steven Dilisio (Swampscott, MA) was not a happy camper. After entering the final round with a two-stroke lead, the 11 year old saw his approach shot land in a bunker and it went downhill from there.
"I compounded that mistake by hitting it over the green and made it worse with a three putt," explained Dilisio. "[After that], I just relaxed because I knew that there were four more holes left at the time. I knew that if I finished well that I had a chance to be right in there."
It was one of those rounds for Dilisio as he and David Thompson (Shrewsbury, MA) battled back and forth all day long. The two competitors were tied at the turn before Thompson took a one-stroke lead following his par and a Dilisio bogey on the 131-yard, par 3 11th hole. Although a double bogey by Thompson on the 12th hole opened the door of opportunity for Dilisio, the youngster from Swampscott was unable to take full advantage as he proceeded to make bogey, double-bogey and bogey on his next three holes.
Dilisio posted two straight pars on the 16th and 17th holes but still found himself standing on the 18th tee deadlocked with Thompson. In true champion fashion, however, Dilisio maintained his composure and drained a 20-foot birdie putt for the victory.
"That was really exciting," said Dilisio about his finish. "It capped off a good three days. I made the 20 footer and it was a good putt and I was pretty happy that I made it."
As a result, Dilisio can now call himself the 2009 Boys Division champion after finishing with a three-day total of 19-over par 235.
"I am so excited even though I didn't play my best today," said Dilisio, who posted a 9-over par 81 on Wednesday. "I kept it steady and kept it going. I finished off well so I am happy."
This marks the second MGA Championship win for the Dilisio family. Steven's older brother Anthony and father Dana captured the 2007 Massachusetts Father & Son Championship. Most recently, Anthony advanced to Match Play at the 2009 Massachusetts Amateur Championship.
Needless to say, the month of July has been kind to the Dilisio clan.
"It ranks right up there at the top," said Dilisio about the significance of his divisional win. "I can't think of a whole lot else that is higher than this. I called my father and grandfather already and they were happy for me. They are waiting to see me later tonight, and I think that we are going to all go out for dinner."
A much deserved dinner for a very deserving Boys Division champion.
