Headline: Rick Marcos Jumps Out to a Two-Stroke Lead at the 2009 Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship
For Immediate Release: September 29, 2009
Peabody, MA — He may not have been happy with his finish, but Rick Marcos (Segregansett CC) is content with the fact that he finished with a score of 1-under par 71 to take a two-stroke lead following the first round of the 2009 Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship. (Story Continues Below)
Day 1 Quick Links
On a day when heavy rain from the night before and windy conditions this afternoon made the Salem Country Club layout even more challenging than normal, Marcos was able to do what many could not – make birdies.
The Lakeville resident carded six birdies this morning. Stepping onto the 18th tee, Marcos needed just one more par to post a 3-under par 69 but he suffered a double bogey on that 387-yard, par 4 finishing hole to turn in what was still a day-low score of 1-under par 71.
"I was trying to be smart and play the right shot," said Marcos who used his 3 wood instead of driver off the tee. "I was trying to hit the fairway, but I pulled it off the tee and the trees caught it."
Although that hole went from bad to worse, Marcos is happier thinking about his other shots which were outstanding especially since he did not make a putt longer than eight feet all day long. His strength was his length off the tee (he drives the ball anywhere from 290 to 310 yards) and his precision with his short irons.
"I try to keep focused on each shot," said Marcos. "I tell myself that what is done is done. All you can worry about is your next shot. A mistake happened out there today. If that is the only mistake I make in these two days, then I'll be fine."
After making the turn at 1-under par 35, Marcos had one of those moments which define a round. A bad drive off the tee on the 401-yard, par 4 10th hole led to a disappointing second shot which fell 10 feet short of the green. What looked like a sure bogey turned into a birdie when Marcos holed in his third shot. He went on to make par saves on the 11th and 12th holes and then he hit his approach on the 13th hole to four feet for birdie.
"I hit a lot good close shots, but I never made any long putts," said Marcos. "I had just birdied nine from four feet and the potential for making bogey on 10 was huge. Instead I come out with a birdie. I hit it just right and was shocked that it went in."
While he has never captured an MGA title, Marcos has always been a factor in local and regional tournaments. Earlier this year he finished T4 at the Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship with partner James Irving (Segregansett CC) and sixth at the Brockton City Open.
"For some reason I take a long time to get started," said Marcos, who qualified for and competed in the 2006 U.S. Senior Open Championship which was held at Prairie Dunes Country Club (KS). "By the time I start to hit it good the season is over. All of my life my father said that I was a slow learner… I guess that I am proving it true."
While Marcos may call himself a slow starter with a laugh, he is in top form this week as he is currently leading a field of the state's best senior amateur golfers. He will look to continue that strong play on Wednesday during the second and final round of play.
"I am going to do the same thing I did today," said Marcos. "I am going to take it one shot at a time and take each shot as I see it. I also guarantee that I'll be smoking one off of 18."
A lesson he learned all too well today.
Chasing Marcos
Chasing Marcos on day two will be a handful of competitors who are championship tested. Paul Murphy (Charles River CC) and Chuck Costello (Ferncroft CC) both finished with scores of 1-over par 73 and sit in a tie for second place overall.
Murphy is a wily veteran as he captured the 2006 New England Senior Amateur Championship and has qualified – over the course of his career – for 14 USGA championships. He was also the second oldest competitor at the 2009 Massachusetts Amateur Championship.
Not too far down the leaderboard are two familiar names – Joe Keller (Oyster Harbors Club) and Bob Linn (Berkshire Hills CC). Keller, the 2005 winner of this event and the reigning George M. Cohen MGA Senior Player of the Year, was 1-under par through 14 holes before carding two bogies, one double bogey and one birdie through his final four holes to finish at 2-over par 74.
Linn, who won the 2009 New England Senior Championship last week, made the turn at even par 36 but struggled down the stretch by making one double bogey and two bogies to finish at 4-over par 76.
Super What?
Although one Massachusetts Senior Amateur Champion will be crowned on Wednesday afternoon, there is another honor which will be bestowed on one very deserving competitor.
In addition to battling for the rights to the Frederick J. Wright Memorial Trophy, all competitors who are 65 years and older are in the running for the Super Senior Division title. One year ago, Charles McGovern (Cape Cod National GC) posted a score of 7-over par 78 which was good enough to capture the Super Senior Division title in that rain-shortened event.
All Super Seniors have an asterisk placed next to their name on the results page.
Past Champions In the Field
A total of seven past champions of this event are featured in the 2009 starting field – Tom Bergeron (Crumpin-Fox Club) – 2008; Doug Crawford (Twin Springs GC) – 2007; Jim Ruschioni (Monoosnock CC) – 2006; Joe Keller (Oyster Harbors Club) – 2005; Don Anderson (The Kittansett Club) – 2004; James Drohen (Crystal Springs GC) – 2003; and James Holbrook (Ferncroft CC) – 1996 and 1997.
Frederick J. Wright Memorial Trophy
The fortunate and talented competitor who captures the Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship title on Tuesday will be presented with the Frederick J. Wright Memorial Trophy.
Wright's golf legacy can be matched by very few if any. The 1956 U.S. Senior Amateur Champion captured a record seven Massachusetts Amateur Championship titles (1920, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 38) and was a member of the 1923 Walker Cup Team.
Player News & Notes
The last major MGA event scheduled this year is the 2009 Tri-State Matches scheduled for October 8-9 at Pleasant Valley Country Club. This annual event takes teams of mid amateurs and senior amateurs from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island and has them compete in two days of singles and foursomes play.
The event dates back to 1907 and has traditionally included eight mid amateurs and two senior amateurs. However, new for the 2009 event each state will be featuring eight mid amateur and four senior amateur competitors. Four members of today's field will no doubt be selected to represent Team Massachusetts which will be looking to capture its record sixth straight Tri-State Matches title.
Jon Fasick (New England CC) and Jim Ruschioni (Monoosnock CC) have been friends for a long time and just days ago they earned the right to call themselves 2009 champions. The pair came together to claim a piece of the 2009 Gilholm Cup held at the Country Club of New Bedford with a final score (for 27 holes) of 106. Due to the inclement weather which forced the event to be shortened from 36 to 27 holes, the duo finished in a tie for first place with Mike Soucy of Rhode Island and Bill Auger (Crestwood CC).
Alistair Catto (The Orchards GC – MA) – Just two years ago, Catto was crowned the George M. Cohen MGA Senior Player of the Year following a sensational season that was capped off by a quarterfinals appearance at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship. It marked the first time that Catto had advanced to Championship Proper. Although the Scotland-native and Amherst College graduate had previously competed in three U.S. Amateurs (1987, 1990, 1995) and the 1990 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, his quarterfinal performance in 2007 at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship stands as his best result to date.
Cy Kilgore (Tedesco CC – MA) – The 56-year-old from Marblehead is coming off a T3 finish at the 2009 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship two weeks ago. Over the past two decades, Kilgore has won his club championship 14 times, was a two-time Tournament of Club Champion and partnered with long-time friend Bill Jenks to win the 1995 Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship.
Jim Ruschioni (Monoosnock CC – MA) – The wily veteran is looking for his second championship victory of the season this week. Ruschioni, the 2006 Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship, was victorious at the 2009 Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship with fellow competitor Paul Nunez, Jr. (Ludlow CC – MA). In total, Ruschioni has captured a total of 11 MGA Championship titles over the course of his impressive amateur golf career.
