Headline: Bay State Products Mike Welch and Amateur Herbie Aikens Lead a Field of Six Qualifiers at U.S. Open Local Qualifying Held at Pinehills GC
For Immediate Release: May 12, 2010
Plymouth, MA — One year ago, Mike Welch (Quincy, MA)
was living out his dream of competing in the U.S. Open Championship as a professional player. Although he failed to make the cut that week, he walked away with a strong sense that he could play at that level.
Photo Right: Mike Welch in action... courtesy of the Hooters Tour.
Fast forward in time and Welch – who currently stands third on the Hooters Tour money list – is again on pace to take his
game to the national stage. Taking on a field of more than 80 professional and amateur players today in Plymouth at U.S. Open Local Qualifying, the two-time New England Amateur Champion (2003, 2004) bested them all by posting a medalist score of 5-under par 67 at Pinehills Golf Club. This latest achievement comes on the heels of Welch’s recent victory –
his first since 2007 – at the Hooter’s Tour’s F&S Asset Management Group Classic at Amelia National Golf & Country Club (FL) in March.
On this day, Welch carded eight birdies and three bogies to lead a field of six qualifiers who will now set their sights on U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying scheduled for early June. If successful at the next stage of qualifying, those players will have earned the right to compete at the 2010 U.S. Open Championship, which will be held at the Pebble Beach Golf Links (GC).
Finishing one stroke back of Welch was an amateur who is enjoying one of the best weeks of his young career. Less than 24 hours after capturing the 2010 Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship with partner Ryan Riley, Herbie Aikens (Pinehills GC) showed his home-course prowess by registering a 4-under par 68 and earning the second qualifying spot overall.
Much like he did the day before when his team posted an untouchable two-day four-ball score of 16-under par 128, Aikens was a master at making birdies, especially down the stretch. After making the turn at even par 36, Aikens went on to card four birdies (including three straight on holes 14 through 16) and zero bogies for a final score of 4-under par 68.
Also qualifying today were Brendan Livingston (Westford, MA), a rising star who is coming off a successful senior campaign at UMass-Lowell, Jason Caron (Jupiter, FL), a Hyannis native who once earned his PGA Tour card and a handful of talented competitors who traveled to the Bay State for this 18-hole local qualifier. Those out-of-state qualifiers included amateurs Beon Yeong Lee (Montreal, QC), Jake Nutter (Bedford, NH).
2010 U.S. Local Qualifying
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Pinehills Golf Club –Nicklaus (Plymouth, MA)
Par 72 (36-36)
Qualifiers
1) Michael Welch (North Quincy, MA) 33-34--67
2) a-Herbie Aikens (Plympton, MA) 36-32—68
T3) a-Beon Yeong Lee (Montreal, QC) 35-34--69
T3) a-Brendan Livingston (Westford, MA) 36-33--69
T3) a-Jake Nutter (Bedford, NH) 37-32—69
6) Jason Caron (Jupiter, FL) 34-36--70
Alternates
1) a-Kyle Pelletier (Acushnet, MA) 36-34--70
2) John Hickson (Topsham, ME) 37-33--70
