Headline: A Controlled and Precise Brian Higgins Holds One-Stroke Lead Following Day 1 of Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship
For Immediate Release: September 15, 2009
Haverhill, MA —It's not very surprising to see the name of Brian Higgins (Franklin CC) at the top of the leaderboard. The reigning Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year and defending Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Champion is making a statement to the field that he is ready and willing to defend his title this week at Haverhill Country Club. (Story continues below)
Day 1 Quick Links
Higgins, who will celebrate his 35th birthday later this month, holds a one-shot lead over Ryan Riley (Norton CC) and Kevin Carey (Dennis Pines GC) as well as the rest of the 120-player field heading into the second round of play at the 2009 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship.
In workmanlike fashion, Higgins combined impeccable course management with stellar wedge and putting this morning to lift himself to the top of the leaderboard.
"It was a good ball striking round," said Higgins, who just two weeks ago finished as medalist at U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifying. "I was never in any trouble. It's not a terribly long course, but it was open enough for me to hit driver and then hit some short irons into the hole."
After making the turn at even par following one bogey and one birdie on the course's back nine, Higgins switch into the next gear and played 4-under par golf on the front nine. His second birdie of the day came on the 356-yard, par 4 2nd hole where he drained a 15 foot putt from the fringe. He went on to make two more 15-foot birdie putts – on the 155-yard, par 3 4th and 185-yard, par 3 7th holes. On the very next hole – the 601-yard, par 5 8th hole - Higgins calmly got up and down for birdie to card his fourth birdie in seven holes.
"I feel like I am scoring again," said Higgins, who made an uncharacteristic early exit from the Massachusetts Amateur Championship in the Round of 32. "My putter has come around and I feel like I am putting very well."
Following the Massachusetts Amateur Championship in July, Higgins – with the help of his golfing friends – realized that he was not keeping his head down while putting. Never one to practice (he does not enlist the help of a swing coach and rarely hits the practice range), Higgins took that feedback to heart and focused his attention on his putting stroke. Since that time, Higgins has been steadily improving and flexing his muscles yet again as one of the top amateurs in the state.
In addition to qualifying for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, Higgins finished first at the Tarlow Invitational, one of the marquee regional tournaments held in August at Thorny Lea Golf Club.
"I am going to play the same game," said Higgins, who did not have time to play a practice round in Haverhill prior to today's round. "I am not going to change anything. The course fits my eye pretty well. There were a couple of holes where I layed up short, but I will try and play a very controlled and precise game."
Ryan Riley – Teaching From Afar
Knowing that your friends and family members are watching the results page is challenging enough, but Riley has an added pressure this week. As golf coach at Norton High School, Ryan will have an entire team of youngsters checking the MGA web site to see how their coach is doing.
So far, they can't complain because Riley posted arguably one of the most entertaining rounds of the day. The 2009 Massachusetts Public Links Champion finished with a score of 3-under par 67 to sit in tie for second place overall. While his score was impressive, the fact that he had nine one-putts on the course's front nine was simply incredible.
"It felt great out there," said Riley, who made three birdies and six pars on the front nine. "This past winter I worked hard to change my tee game and it has transformed my game to where I am more consistent off the tee. My wedge game has been good and I am using the same putter from the Pub Links which is amazing. That is just something that I don't do."
The putter has indeed turned from enemy to best friend this summer. Heading into the Massachusetts Public Links Championship this past August, Riley was struggling on the greens and selected a new putter just days before the start of that event. Following his four-stroke victory at the event, Riley has been committed to the club that brought him so much luck.
"I took advantage of the good shots today and I was able to get up and down on the other holes," said Riley. "I didn't play in this event last year because I don't get to play a lot during this time of year because I am committed to my high school team. Because I had some good finishes this year, I wanted to play and see how I could do."
So far the decision was a sound one and a great example for his team watching from home.
"They know that I am playing and they are rooting for me," said Riley. "I am going to miss a match tomorrow, but the kids will be looking on the web site to see how I did. It's nice to teach the kids and preach certain ways and then be able to show them that it actually works."
One of the benefits of coaching is that Riley is able to practice different parts of his game. He often takes his students to MGA Links at Mamantapett, the MGA-operated par 3 facility in Norton.
"For the younger kids, I try to preach course management and wedge play and that is something that I can do at MGA Links," said Riley. "For practice we hit a lot of wedges and that has helped me to hit wedge shots more consistently and put me in a better spot to take advantage of the scoring clubs."
So even though he will not be with his students this week, Riley is giving them a lesson they won't soon forget.
Kevin Carey - The Seasonal Golfer
Come spring and come fall you always need to watch out for Kevin Carey (Dennis Pines GC). The veteran competitor takes a hiatus from golf during the summer months as a result of his job as a UPS manager on Cape Cod. Despite the lack of play and practice, he always seems to be ready to play… and more importantly contend. This afternoon, Carey posted a score of 3-under par 67 to stand in a tie second place overall.
"Absolutely… otherwise, I wouldn't be here," said Carey, 54, when asked if he expects to be in contention despite the fact that his fellow competitors play far more golf than he does during the heart of the summer. "That is what I play for; to be in the hunt and to get the juices flowing. That is fun and that is what this is all about."
This past fall, Carey came through with a first-place finish at the Norfolk County Classic, one of the season's first major events. Following that tournament, Carey focused on his job which peaks during the summer when vacationers head to Cape Cod. Now that fall has arrived, Carey is jumping back into golf and is hoping to bookmark his season with another win this week at the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship. If successful, it will mark the third career win for Carey at this event as he was victorious in 1994 and 1995.
"Tee to green I hit it good," said Carey, who finished with five birdies and two bogies today. "I had a couple of bad iron shots but that is going to happen. I putted ok except for the last hole where I misread the putt. That leaves a bad taste in your mouth, but otherwise I was very happy."
The perfect scenario for Carey will be that he continues this great play through Thursday and that he can convince his son, Matt, to travel down from Southern New Hampshire University to serve as his caddie. After all, Matt was his lucky charm back in May when he won the Norfolk Country Classic title for the second time in his career.
"That was unbelievable," said Carey about the experience with his 21-year-old son. "Words can't explain how great that was. He has been playing hockey all of this life so he only just began playing golf. That experience was a thrill for me."
Carey is hoping that – much like him – his son Matt will enjoy the game as much as he has over the years. The fact that Carey can continue to dominate year in and year out is a testament to his commitment and love for the game.
"I have hit so many balls in my life," said Carey. " Back in college I would hit hundreds, thousands of balls a day. I also played this past Saturday and Sunday which helps a lot. Playing two straight days really helps me."
With Carey on pace to play two more rounds on Wednesday and Thursday, it is scary to think just what his spring/fall golfer is capable of this week.
Cy Kilgore (Tedesco CC) is certainly not showing his age as the 56 year old following a first-round score of 2-under par 68. Kilgore, the 1995 Massachusetts Four-Ball Champion, is a 14-time club champion at Tedesco Country Club.
Kevin Quinn (Charles River CC), who posted a 2-over par 72 this morning, is seeing his game peak at the right time. Quinn, along with four other competitors in this week’s field, recently qualified for the 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship being held later this month at Kiawah Island GC (Charleston, SC). Quinn is no stranger to championship competition as he stands as the last amateur to capture the Massachusetts Open Championship. He accomplished that feat in 1999. He was also the 2002 New England Amateur Champion.
Other competitors who will be joining Quinn at the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship later this month include Jack Kearney (Elmcrest CC), Andy Drohen (Crestview CC), Brian Higgins (Franklin CC) and Herbie Aikens (Pinehills GC).
Steve Tasho (Thorny Lea GC), the 1998 winner of this event and the 1981 Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year, once again finds himself in the hunt after posting a 1-under par 69. Tasho, who just recently finished 7th at the Tarlow Invitational, carded five birdies and four bogies this morning.
John Gilmartin (Indian Ridge CC) was hoping that he didn't exhaust all of his birdies during his qualifying round. Gilmartin, a former North Shore Amateur Champion who advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2009 Massachusetts Amateur Championship, was the low scorer at qualifying this year after posting an impressive 4-under par 66 at Elmcrest Country Club on August 25. On this day, Gilmartin finished with a score of 1-over par 71.
Tommy Dudley (Fresh Pond GC) may be new to the area, but he is no stranger to competitive golf. The recent Florida transplant (he and his wife relocated to Boston this past summer while she completes her residency program in Boston). In addition to competing well in Florida State Golf Association and USGA events over the years, Dudley is a former two-time First Team Old Dominion Athletic Conference selection (1995, 1996) and Golfer of the Year (1996) while a student athlete at Washington and Lee University (VA).
In addition to his own golfing resume, Dudley has had the pleasure of watching his father – Tom Dudley – take a leading role in golf administration as he is the current president of the Florida State Golf Association and a seasoned rules official who has officiated at numerous USGA Championships.
A Look Back at Qualifying
Prior to the start of Championship Proper, nearly 400 competitors took to qualifying sites located across the state in hopes of earning the chance to compete this week. Here are just some of the interesting stories that came from those important qualifying events.
August 17, 2009 … Former State Amateur Champion Brendan Hester Makes Splash at First MGA Qualifying Event in Eight Years
One name – Brendan Hester(Pleasant Valley CC) – stands out in the list of qualifiers who advanced to the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship today at Highfields Golf & Country Club. Read More
August 19, 2009 … 20 Competitors Advance at Day 2 of Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Qualifying... Read On to Learn More About the Qualifiers
The second day of qualifying for the 2009 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship has come and gone. Read More
Here is a summary of just a few interesting player notes from today's 18-hole qualifier at Cummaquid Golf Club in Yarmouthport. A total of 20 competitors advanced at that site. Read More
August 20, 2009 … Bob Bradley Keeps It Real... the 62 Year Old Taps Into His Experience to Advance at State Mid-Amateur Qualifying
Being the elder statesman in the field is nothing new to Robert Bradley (Ponkapoag GC). In fact, the 62-year-old from Hanover revels in that all-too-familiar situation. Read More
August 25, 2009 … RJ Foley Maintains Perspective... Finishes as One of 40 Qualifiers at Day 3 of Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Qualifying
RJ Foley (Sterling National CC) was one of more than 130 competitors who took part in a qualifying round today in hopes of advancing to the 2009 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship next month. While Foley was like the rest of the 40 qualifiers from today who made the drive home with a sense of satisfaction and anticipation for next month's Championship Proper, he was especially relieved that he was able to compete on this day. Read More
Schedule of Events
Here is a schedule of events for this year's championship.
Tuesday, September 15
First Round, 18 Holes
Wednesday, September 16
Second Round, 18 Holes.
The low 30 scorers and ties or anyone within 5 strokes of the lead will continue play on Thursday, September 17.
Thursday, September 17
Final Round, 18 Holes.
Any tie for first place will be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole play-off.
