Headline: Under Perfect Skies, 17 Competitors Punch Their Ticket to the 2010 Massachusetts Open Championship Following Day 4 of Qualifying
For Immediate Release: May 26, 2010
Stow, MA — Another beautiful day of weather was met with some outstanding golf as 17 competitors earned the right to compete in the 2010 Massachusetts Open Championship scheduled for June 21-23 at Wellesley Country Club.
Today at Stow Acres Country Club, a talented field of amateurs and professionals took part in an 18-hole qualifying round but only 17 of the 67 competitors have now punched their tickets to Championship Proper. Each individual has a unique story and here are just a few...
Day 4 Quick Links
The Veteran — It was no surprise to see the name of Kevin Quinn (Charles River CC) at the top of the leaderboard. After all, the 44-year-old from Needham is one of the most successful Bay State amateurs from the past two decades. Quinn, whose older brother Fran is currently competing on the PGA Tour, was the 2002 New England Amateur Champion and stands as the last amateur to capture the Massachusetts Open Championship as an amateur. Interestingly, that memorable victory came in 1999... the last time that Wellesley Country Club hosted the championship. After firing a 3-over par 75 round – which included a jaw-dropping seven birdies – to comfortably secure a spot in Championship Proper, Quinn is hoping for some déjà vu at Wellesley next month.
Otis Elevator — It seems like just yesterday when Mike Cole (Larry Gannon Municipal GC) earned the nickname of Otis Elevator when he got up and down from incredible positions during the final match of the 2004 Massachusetts Amateur Championship. Although Cole was not able to capture the title that year (he was defeated by Frank Vana, Jr. at Taconic Golf Club), he earned the respect of many in the golf community as a result of his skill and grace throughout the tournament. Since that time, Cole has become a household name and most recently was a key player for Team Massachusetts when it captured its record sixth Tri-State Match title. Earlier in 2009, Cole established himself as one of the top senior amateurs in the state by finishing second at the Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship. A life-long Lynn resident, he is also a seven-time Larry Gannon Municipal Golf Course club champion and held the course record of 64 for many years.
The Netminder — It hasn't taken much time for Mike Dunham (Old Sandwich GC) to become known more for his golf shots than for his netminding skills. While his success on the ice – his 10-year NHL career included time with the New Jersey Devils, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Atlanta Thrashers and New York Islanders and a silver medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics – may never be matched, Dunham has continued to improve his golf game with each passing season and has become a player to watch. When not serving as a goaltending coach for the New York Islanders, Dunham can be found on the links qualifying for numerous MGA and USGA Championship events. In 2007, he qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and just last season qualified for both the Massachusetts Amateur Championship and Massachusetts Open Championship.
The Businessman — There was one dealer plate in the parking lot today and that belonged to RJ Foley (Sterling National GC), who turned in one of the day's first qualifying scores of 3-over par 75. When not hitting the links or tweaking his swing on the practice tee — Foley is regarded as one of the most avid and hard-working amateurs — the 48 year old father of three from Shrewsbury owns and operates Foley Motorsports, one of the region's top new and pre-owned vehicle showcases. His business acumen has clearly rubbed off on his golf game as he won the 2003 Worcester County Amateur, the 2008 Fallon Cup and captured the club championship at Sterling National Country Club in 2009 by an astounding seven strokes.
Collegiate Kids — The veterans were met with some youthful competition today, including medalist Chase Lovett-Woodsum (Boston GC), Nick Antonelli (North Andover CC) and Emilio Bardini (Beverly G&CC). Lovett-Woodsum, a rising junior at Princeton University, is no stranger to capturing medalist honors as he did just that at Massachusetts Amateur qualifying one year ago. The 20 year old from Boston carded three birdies and three bogies today to finish as the only player to post an even par 72. Prior to donning the black and orange, Lovett-Woodsum was a standout golfer and student at Buckingham Browne & Nichols where he was a four-time first-team All-Independent School League and a Boston Globe All-Scholastic. Antonelli, meanwhile, is coming off a stellar senior season at Salem State College. Antonelli, who finished tied for second place this afternoon after posting a score of 1-over par 73, was selected as the PING Division III All-American third team by the GCAA (Golf Coaches of America Association). Bardini, a Catholic Conference All-Star while at St. John's Prep (Danvers), hopes to follow in his fellow collegian's impressive footsteps as he just finished off his freshman campaign at Saint Anselm College.
The Golf Pros — One player who no doubt headed back to work after signing his 1-over par 73 scorecard was Adam Hemeon (Weston GC), the head golf professional at Weston Golf Club. Last June, Hemeon pursued his dreams of playing in the PGA Championship when he competed in the 2009 PGA Professional National Championship which was held at Santa Ana Pueblo, NM. Adam Riggs (Stow Acres CC) had perhaps the shortest commute from work to the first tee. When not qualifying for MGA and NEPGA events (he registered a 2-over par 75 this afternoon), Riggs serves as an assistant golf professional at Stow Acres Country Club.
The Up & Comers — Many of the golfers in today's field are putting in their time and experimenting with their games as they chase their dreams of making the PGA Tour. One such competitor is George Zolotas (Peabody, MA), who is entering his second full season as a professional golfer. His qualifying round – a 4-over par 76 – will give Zolotas a chance to make noise in a marquee professional event. A former standout golfer at both St. John's Prep (Danvers) and St. John's University, Zolotas certainly has the potential to go low. As a Red Storm senior, Zolotas set a program record for individual low-round when he shot an unprecedented 10-under par 61 at the Treasure Coast Classic. Since turning pro in 2008, Zolotas has been trying to break through by playing on various mini tours and taking part in Nationwide Tour qualifying events.
Two other former amateur standouts who have recently thrown their hats into the professioal ring are David McAndrew (Barrington, RI) and Brendon Ray (Norfolk, MA). McAndrew was the 2008 Rhode Island Amateur Champion and a quarterfinalist at the 2009 North & South Amateur at Pinehurst, while Ray, who learned a lot about golf administration while serving as an intern for the Connecticut State Golf Association, earned PING New England Division I All-Region honors and Northeast Conference Golfer of the Year honors during his senior campaign at Central Connecticut State University.
Hats Off to Stow!
It takes a very special ownership, staff and membership to agree to host an MGA qualifier at the last minute but that's exactly what Stow Country Club did this season!
Just weeks ago, the MGA championship staff received news that Nashawtuc Country Club – one of six sites secured for Massachusetts Open qualifying – was not in playable condition due to the inclement weather and flooding from this past spring. With more than 70 competitors signed up for that site, the MGA looked to neighboring Stow Acres Country Club – located less than 10 miles down the road – and they were met with enthusiastic response from owner Walt Lankau and his staff.
Lankau, a former member of the MGA's Executive Committee, is one of the most regarded golf operators in the country as he has served as present of the National Golf Course Owners Association as well as the New England Golf Course Owners Association. His Stow Acres Country Club has served as host of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship (in 1995) and has been designated as one of the Top 75 courses by Golf Digest.
On this day, the competitors who traveled to Stow were met with a true challenge that will no doubt prepare them for next month's Championship Proper at Wellesley Country Club.
"It was an honor to be able to host this qualifying event at Stow today," said Jesse Menachem, the MGA's director of rules & competition who was on site all day. "When we found ourselves in a jam, Walt and his staff jumped at the opportunity to help us out and that is why we are able to run such a successful championship program year-in and year-out."
2010 Massachusetts Open Qualifying
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Stow Acres Country Club (Stow, MA)
Par 72 (36-36)
Qualifiers
1) a-Chase Lovett-Woodsum (Boston Golf Club) 37-35-72
T2) a-Nick Antonelli (North Andover CC) 37-36—73
T2) Adam Hemeon (Weston GC) 35-38—73
T2) a-Matthew Leger (Oak Hill CC) 36-37—73
T5) a-Mike Dunham (Old Sandwich GC) 40-34—74
T5) David McAndrew (Barrington, RI) 37-37—74
T5) Adam Riggs (Stow Acres CC) 37-37—74
T8) a-Emilio Bardini (Beverly G&C) 38-37—75
T8) a-R.J. Foley (Sterling National CC) 38-37-75
T8) a-Ronald Laverdiere (Crumpin-Fox Club) 40-35—75
T8) a-Bobby Marulli (The Orchards GC) 39-36—75
T8) a-Kevin Quinn (Charles River CC) 38-37—75
T13) A.J. Broderick (The Harmon Club) 38-38—76
T13) a-Mike Cole (Larry Gannon Municipal) 37-39—76
T13) a-Joe Cunningham (The Country Club) 37-39—76
T13) George Zolotas (Peabody, MA) 39-37—76
T17) Brendon Ray (Norfolk, MA) 37-40—77
Alternates
1st) a-Zack Ungvarsky (CC of Billerica) 40-37—77
2nd) Skip Guss (The International) 40-38—78
