Headline: Jim Ruschioni & Paul Nunez Capture 2009 Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship on the First Playoff Hole
For Immediate Release: September 9, 2009
Mattapoisett, MA — No one can say that they don't make things interesting. After losing this event in a two-hole playoff four years ago, team of Jim Ruschioni (Monoosnock CC) and Paul Nunez (Ludlow CC) enjoyed sweet redemption today as they came from behind to capture their fourth career Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship title. (Story continues below)
Day 2 Quick Links
The historic victory (no other team or individual has posted as many wins since its debut in 1997) came on the grounds of the Bay Club at Mattapoisett, which along with Allendale Country Club served as host of this year's MGA championship event.
"We tried to stay focused and we realized that we had nothing to lose," said Ruschioni who paired with friend Nunez to win this title in 2003, 2004, 2008 and now 2009. "I told him that we needed to stay relaxed. We have been here enough that we don't get too excited anymore."
Nunez, who just weeks earlier qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, played the role of hero this afternoon when he sealed his team's fourth title by sinking a 15-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole. That one putt dashed the hopes of two teams looking to capture their first-ever Massachusetts Senior-Four Ball title – Steve Bell (Charles River CC) and Mike Fitzgerald (Nashawtuc CC) and Joe Keller (Oyster Harbors Club) and Bruce Carter (Ponkapoag GC).
"He made a great putt," said Ruschioni of the winning stroke. "He had putted poorly all day and was looking for some redemption and he got it. When he made the shot, he just held up his arms and looked at me. I told him now you are the hero."
There is no question that draining that putt could not have come at a better time for Nunez, who had not been able to find his rhythm all day long. In fact, while the pair was waiting to learn of their fate they made their way to the putting green where Nunuz made adjustments to his putting stroke. He moved the ball slightly forward and… as it turns out made the very next putt to win the title.
Playoff hopes didn't always look so promising for the dynamic duo. Heading into the second and final round, Ruschioni and Nunez found themselves two strokes back of the leaders. They made a run early this afternoon by carding four birdies and only one bogey to make the turn at 3-under par 32. Costly bogies on the 14th and 18th holes at the Bay Club at Mattapoisett, however, put a question mark on their title hopes as they were forced to wait in the clubhouse to see how the final groups fared.
"After the front nine we were 3 under and hitting a lot of good shots," said Ruschioni. "I thought that we were in good shape but then we couldn't make any birdies and we started making bogies. I really thought that the bogey on 18 would cost us the tournament."
Fortunately for Ruschioni and Nunez, their second-round score of 1-under par 70 was just enough to secure themselves a spot in the playoff and a chance for yet another title.
This marks the 12th MGA Championship title for Ruschioni who has won – over the course of his celebrated career – the Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship (4), Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship (3), Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship (2), Massachusetts Father & Son Championship (2) and the Massachusetts Senior Championship (1).
Earlier this summer, Ruschioni came one putt shy of what would have been his third career Massachusetts Father & Son Championship title when he and his son Jason were defeated on the fourth playoff hole at Segregansett Country Club.
"It was disappointing to lose that playoff because you always like to win with your son," said Ruschioni. "I didn't want to lose this one as well. You aren't going to win many titles when you're 61 years old like me so you need to take advantage of your opportunities."
And that is exactly what he and Nunez did today. A sign of true champions.
Second Place Honors
While most of the leaders were battling at the Bay Club at Mattapoisett, Bell and Fitzgerald were making a move into the top spot miles down the road at Allendale Country Club. After firing a 2-under par 69 on Tuesday, the pair quietly went about their business in North Dartmouth this afternoon.
Many assumed that the team to watch at that site would be Pat Monti (Swansea CC) and Mark Derham (Swansea CC), who posted a day-low score of 4-under par 67 at the Bay Club at Mattapoisett on Tuesday. However, while Monti and Derham faded (they posted a 2-over par 74 at Allendale Country Club and finished in a tie for sixth place), Bell and Fitzgerald soared. A bogey on their very first hole of the day – the 391-yard, par 4 1st hole – was followed by spectacular golf highlighted by birdies made on the 5th, 9th and 15th holes.
For Carter and Keller, they simply made the shot when they needed to during the second round. With just one hole remaining, the pair came up with a birdie on the finishing hole to secure a spot in the three-team playoff.
On that deciding first playoff hole, both teams landed their approaches on the collar of the green and were unable to match the birdie posted by the champions.
Just the Facts
One of the features of the TPP Scoring Program that is used by the Massachusetts Golf Association for all of its championship events is the course statistics section which provides a detailed analysis of the holes played by the competitors. Here is a brief summary of key statistics from this year's Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship.
Click here for a complete list of course statistics from this year's Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship.
Shot of the Day
For the second day in a row, a player in the tournament field scored a hole in one! On Wednesday, Henry Shean (Brae Burn CC) scored an ace on the 153-yard, par 3 12th hole at the Bay Club at Mattapoisett.
On this day it was Brian Mulrooney (Plymouth CC) who posted a "1" on the 153-yard, par 3 12th hole at the Bay Club at Mattapoisett. Mulrooney used his 7 iron to card his second career hole in one. The shot came at a key time for Mulrooney and his partner Bob Ronayne (The Milton-Hoosic Club) as they were in the midst of an incredible back nine where the pair carded three birdies and one eagle en route to a 5-under par 71. The pair bettered their day-one score of 4-over par 76 with an even par 71 on Wednesday.
