Headline: Four Bay State Golfers - Led by Brian Higgins - Advance at U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying Held at Pinehills Golf Club
For Immediate Release: September 8, 2009
Plymouth, MA — The reigning Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year is certainly making a statement to the amateur golf world.
Brian Higgins (Bellingham, MA), who one year ago won two MGA championship titles en route to capturing player of the year honors, came through with a day-low score of 3-under par 69 at Pinehills Golf Club on Tuesday to earn medalist honors at U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying.
Click here for full-field results from the U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier at Pinehills Golf Club
As a result of his play, Higgins – along with fellow qualifiers Kevin Quinn (Needham, MA), David Holmes (Sutton, MA), Douglas Clapp (Walpole, MA), Herbie Aikens (Plympton, MA) and Roger Hoit (Summit, NJ) – will look forward to competing at the 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship set for October 3-8 at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Charleston, South Carolina.
"I was really looking forward to this," said Higgins, who visits Kiawah Island every March with fellow members of Franklin Country Club. "I played pretty well this weekend [in the Pleasant Valley Country Club Four-Ball Invitational] so I had enough confidence going into today that I thought that I could play pretty well."
Today's performance is nothing new for Higgins, who has established himself as one of the most consistent golfers in the region since his reinstatement as an amateur player back in 1998. He is a 10-time club champion at Franklin Country Club and was the 2008 Massachusetts Four-Ball and Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Champion. Although he has yet to win an MGA title this season, he is on the right path. Just two weeks ago, Higgins captured the Tarlow Invitational against a field of some of the best amateur talent.
"I made putts when I needed to and I kept it in front of me all day," said Higgins, who hit 14 greens and made just 27 putts today. "From a visual standpoint the course fits my game well. I didn't do anything spectacular, but I didn't make too many mistakes out there. That is usually my goal with these qualifiers."
Teeing off against a field of nearly 100 golfers is challenging enough, but Higgins also battled a painful knee injury which he suffered just three days ago. Although he said that it did not impact his swing, the pressure in his knee kept him from being able to bend down to read putts.
"I wasn't feeling great going into today because of my knee," said Higgins. "I had to extend my knee out when I was reading the putts which was kind of awkward."
The discomfort certainly didn't have a negative impact on his game as Higgins finished with five birdies and two bogies. One highlight from his round came on the 3rd hole where he chipped in for birdie.
Higgins is hoping to recreate some of that same magic in Charleston next month.
"It will be great," said Higgins of a return to his annual getaway locale. "It will be like a home course for me."
U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Pinehills Golf Club (Plymouth, MA)
Par 72 (36-36)
Qualifiers
1) Brian Higgins (Bellingham, MA) 35-34--69
2) Kevin Quinn (Needham, MA)
34-36--70
T3) David Holmes (Sutton, MA) 34-37--71
T3) Doug Clapp (Walpole, MA) 35-36--71
T5) Herbie Aikens (Plympton, MA)
37-35--72
T5) Roger Hoit (Summit, NJ) 36-36--72
Alternates
1st) Tommy Dudley (Boston, MA) 37-36--73
2nd)
Jason Harkins (Jupiter, FL) 37-36--73
The photo featured above was courtesy of David Colt.