Headline: Ryan Riley and Herb Aikens Successfully Defend Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship; Duo Posts Two-Day Score of 16-under par 128 for the Win
For Immediate Release: May 11, 2010
Ipswich, MA — Last year, the team of Ryan Riley (Norton CC) and Herb Aikens (Pinehills GC) had to share the Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship title after the event was shortened to just 18 holes due to inclement weather.
This year – under sunny skies as far as the eye could see in Ipswich – the dynamic duo came through with two impressive rounds of golf and can now claim the MGA Four-Ball Trophy as their own. Aikens tapped in a bogey putt on the 170-yard, par 3 18th hole – only their second bogey in 36 holes – at the Golf Club at Turner Hill on Tuesday afternoon to cap off a second straight round of 8-under par 64 for a two-day total of 16-under par 128.
Day 2 Quick Links
"We both play the circuit with a lot of the same guys and we heard a few comments about the fact that it was a shortened event," said Riley referring to their 2009 win. "We wanted to prove that we could put together 36 holes and that motivated us a lot. We weren't concentrating on what anyone else was doing. We wanted to put together quality golf shots and as a whole we did that."
Their outstanding performance was good enough for a six-stroke victory over the teams of Scott Congdon (Foxborough CC) and Chris Congdon (Foxborough) and Mark O'Sullivan (Juniper Hill GC) and Aengus McAllister (City GC). To make the victory even sweeter, the two-day score of 16-under par 128 marks the lowest score (relative to par) ever recorded at this event.
"Both of our games have improved," said Aikens. "What's exciting about our team is that we are getting better each year and have become a better team as a result. We really feed off each other."
The road to this title was one that began back in 2006 when both players were partner-less and looking to play more amateur golf. It was a progression of both friendship and talent that culminated in today's memorable victory. Prior to capturing back-to-back MGA Four-Ball titles, Riley and Aikens finished in fifth and third place in 2007 and 2008, respectively.
"I needed a partner and so did Herb because he was starting to play more," said Riley. "We just hit it off from the start and formed a relationship and a friendship."
Much like they did one year ago, Riley and Aikens played themselves into contention on the first day.
The road to the championship began at Ipswich Country Club on Monday morning when Riley carded five straight birdies to begin the round. After Aikens contributed a birdie of his own on the team's sixth hole, they found themselves 6-under par through their first six holes. They continued their stellar play. Their day-one score of 8-under par 64 gave them a nice cushion heading into the second and final round of play.
A tournament low score of 10-under par 62 by the Congdon cousins (see more about that duo below) added excitement as Riley and Aikens – after posting a 2-under par 34 on the front nine at the Golf Club at Turner Hill – found themselves tied for the lead through nine holes on Tuesday.
"We had no idea," said Riley and Aikens in unison when asked about finding themselves tied for the lead after nine holes.
Their veteran poise shined through as they responded by making birdie (by Riley) and eagle (by Aikens) on their next two holes to jump out to a three-stroke lead. Then, after making very few putts on the front nine, their putters lit on fire… especially Aiken's.
The Plympton resident drained a 35-foot putt on the 550-yard, par 5 13th hole and then followed that up by sinking a 30-foot putt on the 390-yard, par 4 14th hole. After Riley's wedge shot on the 15th hole set him up for a five-foot birdie, Aikens came through once again.
This time, he snaked in a 20 footer on the 383-yard, par 4 16th hole to put an exclamation point on a string of six holes where he carded three birdies and one eagle.
"We must have made 100 feet of putts," said Aikens. "We weren't happy with our first nine holes. We missed a lot of putts on the front, so we wanted to focus on making putts on the back nine... It was nice to finish with a flourish like we did."
Following and guiding the team through both days was Aiken's longtime friend from his home course of Pinehills Golf Course – Jim Borho. Known by all simply as "Jimbo", Borho played a key role in helping the two players maintain their composure.
"We have to give credit to Jim," said Aikens. "He kept us calm all day long and really gave us great yardage."
Needless to say, there is no question that the entire team will be back and ready to defend — for a second time — in 2011. And don't be surprised if you see the names of Riley and Aikens side-by-side again this season.
"We always play in the Anderson Cup in mid September and we won that last year," said Aikens. "I'm sure we'll dig up a couple more (tournaments) along the way."
Cousin Connection
It may not have been enough to win a championship, but Scott Congdon (Foxborough CC) and Chris Congdon (Foxborough CC) made sure they – along with the entire field of competitors – would not soon forget their round on Tuesday.
Following a decent but disappointing even par 72 on Monday at Ipswich Country Club, the cousin duo exploded on Tuesday by carding 10 birdies en route to a day-low score of 10-under par 72. Whatever birdies were left hanging the day before were certainly realized on the Golf Club at Turner Hill layout.
"We didn't have a great feeling (going into today)... at least I didn't," said Chris. "We played this course last week so we knew this place better than Ipswich. Scott played great the first nine and then I had a lot of birdies on the back nine."
The playing chemistry between the two was undeniable. Although being members at Foxborough Country Club and having a family connection certainly helps, this team was able to ding and dong all day long. It marks only the second time that these two players have competed in a tournament together. Less than two weeks ago, Chris and Scott were victorious at their first four-ball event – the Cronin Memorial Golf Tournament in Halifax.
"We help each other out a lot out there," said Chris, 39, who drained a key par putt on the 18th hole at the Country Club of Halifax to capture the team's victory on April 30. "We play out of the same club so we play a lot together. We help each other out reading greens and with club selection."
Although Scott, who is coming off his senior season playing for Bryant University, gave his playing partner a lot of credit for helping him with this club selection these past two days, he seemed to be on cruise control this morning when he registered three key birdies through the team's final seven holes. On the front nine it was all Chris who came through with five birdies, including a stretch where he made birdie on four out of five holes to help his team make the turn at a jaw-dropping 6-under par 30.
It was a welcome change from the struggles of the day before. While other teams were finding the red, the Congdons could not find their rhythm at Ipswich Country Club.
"I didn't help him out much yesterday," said Scott. "I was missing greens and putting unnecessary pressure on us."
While the putts were not falling on Monday (Chris noted that he missed two putts inside of two feet that day), they were finding the bottom of the hole on Tuesday. The 10-under par 62 round was good enough to give the team a share of second-place overall. Not too shabby for a team that has been together for 13 days and counting.
"Every now and again it clicks," said Scott. "It was just nice to do it together."
Double Duty
It's common to have a club professional take a break from his day job to compete in the Massachusetts Open Championship, especially if it's being held at his or her home club. After all, a little home-course knowledge is always helpful.
For the first time in recent memory, a superintendent is making his playing debut in the Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship. John Sadowski (GC at Turner Hill), golf course superintendent at the Golf Club at Turner Hill, took time out from his busy schedule to compete alongside partner David Hunt (GC at Turner Hill).
Kudos go out to Sadowski and his staff — as well as the entire Ipswich Country Club greens staff — for preparing the courses which were both in fantastic shape!