Headline: Rain Can Not Dampen the Playing of the 2009 Southeastern Amateur... Steve Tasho Collects Fifth Title
For Immediate Release: October 5, 2009
Norton, MA — Rain may have shortened the event, but the inclement weather could not take away from the playing of a very special 2009 Southeastern Amateur.
One of the regional events that are part of the Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the year Points System, the Southeastern Amateur is annually a three-round tournament featuring some of the state's top amateur competitors from the the South Shore. This past weekend, rain forced the shortening of the event to 36 holes contested at South Shore Country Club and Easton Country Club.
Photo Caption: Steve Tasho shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday at South Shore Country Club en route to his fifth victory in the Southeastern Amateur. Photo courtesy of Gary Higgins/The Patriot Ledger.
This year there were simply too many headlines to cover at the 50th anniversary of the event. It could have been the impressive play of former Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year Steve Tasho (Thorny Lea GC) who captured his fifth straight title... or the presence of founders Roger Barry, Fordie Pitts, Dick Lambert, and Ray Bump who were honored at the awards ceremony... or the presentation delivered by former champion and PGA Tour player Dr. Bill Mallon.
To help cover this memorable event, here is a copy of the story – written by dedicated golf writer Nate Crossman – that appeared in a recent issue of the Patriot Ledger.
Tasho wins his fifth Southeastern Amateur title
By Nate Crossman
For the Patriot Ledger
October 4, 2009
In a year when the Southeastern Amateur Championship celebrated a milestone anniversary, it was only fitting that one of its all-time greats took home the title.
On the 50th anniversary of the tournament that was originally conceived to definitively decide who was the best amateur golfer on the South Shore, Thorny Lea Golf Club's Steve Tasho fired a final-round 6-under-par 66 at South Shore Country Club to win his fifth Roger Barry Patriot Ledger Championship Trophy by six shots over Brian Secia of Miacomet Golf Course.
Tasho's victory ties him with another Southeastern Amateur legend, Fordie Pitts, for all-time victories. Tasho also won in 1993, 1998, 2001 and 2002. The only player who has more titles than him and Pitts is his Thorny Lea clubmate, John Hadges, who has seven, including last year's.
"Every (Southeastern Amateur) you play is special because of the quality of the players in the field,” Tasho said. "This is a big event.
"I'm happy to win again.”
Tasho, 50, also took home the Dick Lambert Senior Championship, and Thorny Lea won the Ray Bump Team Championship. Jim Sullivan captured the Fordie Pitts Super Senior Championship.
Tasho, who played in his first Southeastern Amateur while he was at Oliver Ames High School, entered the final round in third place, two strokes behind Bob Hickman, after firing an even-par 71 at Easton Country Club on Friday. Saturday's second round at Hyannis Golf Club was canceled because of rain.
He pulled into the lead at South Shore by the turn, after making birdies on the par-4 first, par-4 sixth and par-5 ninth.
"The birdie on one got me off to a nice start,” Tasho said. "I knew the guys behind me were going to play well. There was a lot of depth in the field this year, and everyone seemed to be playing well.”
Tasho began his back nine with four straight pars, but by the time he'd reached the 13th hole, he'd already opened a two-shot lead on Hickman and former Southeastern Amateur champ Ryan Riley of Norton Country Club.
Hickman's and Riley's comeback hopes, however, ended when Tasho birdied the par-5 15th, par-3 17th and par-5 18th. On the 17th, he stuck his tee shot, a 7-iron, to within two feet.
"I knew where I was (on the leaderboard) after 10 or 11 holes, but I didn't look at any boards after that,” Tasho said. "I just hit some solid shots, hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens.”
One player who was watching the boards was Secia. Secia, who hails from Nantucket, almost didn't make the final round because his flight from the island was delayed landing because of fog. Once he did land he raced to the course, only to arrive 10 minutes before his tee time.
"I hit two putts (on the practice green) and then let it rip,” Secia said.
Secia knew he didn't have enough to beat Tasho after hearing of his score on the back nine, but he thought if he kept making pars, he could remain in second. He almost thought too much.
"I got caught looking behind on one hole,” Secia said. "I missed a short birdie putt because I was more interested in the group behind me; I was thinking ahead. It was pretty stupid, and I gave myself a talking to after that.”
Riley, who finished third, and Hickman, who came in tied for fifth, were both done in by the 18th's back-to-front sloping green. Riley three-putted it for a 6, while Hickman carded an 8.
After the win, Tasho had his picture taken with members of Roger Barry's family, since Barry couldn't attend because of health reasons. He credited Barry and the rest of the tournament's founders with setting up a tournament that's challenging because of the variety it presents players.
"It just comes down to the fact that you have to play good for 54 holes (sic),” Tasho said. "Just look at the plaque and the guys who've won it. It's some of the best players. This really is a special tournament.”
Chips and Putts
To honor the Southeastern Amateur's 50th anniversary, tournament organizer Mike Prendergast invited several former champions to attend. Allen Doyle, who won in 1971, and is now a member of the PGA Senior Tour, didn't attend, but he wrote a letter praising the tournament and its founders. Bill Mallon, who won in 1973, did attend, but didn't play.
Mallon, who played five years on the PGA Tour and is now an orthopedic surgeon and accomplished author in North Carolina, was on Cape Cod for his 40th high school reunion, and decided to attend the final round.
He spoke at the awards ceremony, joking that he admired Fordie Pitts so much that he once gave him free medical advice about an injured shoulder. ... Excitement is already building for next year's Southeastern Amateur, which will feature Easton, Braintree Municipal Golf Course, and Thorny Lea.
Braintree PGA Professional Bob Beach believes the Southeastern Amateur is the perfect showcase for his course.
"It's the perfect time for us, because we're wet in the spring time, but usually in real good shape by this time. Our superintendent is really excited.”