Headline: Veteran Donald Foberg and Youngster Christopher Melvin Steal the Show During Day 2 of Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying
For Immediate Release: June 8, 2010
Norton, MA — When you have qualified for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship five times and have played the amateur circuit for many years, there is a calm that guides one through what is normally a nerve-wracking experience where one bad day can destroy any hopes for an MGA Championship title.
Donald Foberg (Indian Pond GC), a veteran player who in recent years has focused his attention on senior amateur events, displayed complete control and poise today as he fired a sizzling 4-under par 67 at Cape Cod Country Club to qualify for the 2010 Massachusetts Amateur Championship which will be held at Myopia Hunt Club on July 12-16. (story continues below).
Day 2 Quick Links
"It was a pretty normal day," said Foberg, who was paired today with fellow seniors David Pierce (CC of Halifax) and the 2008 George M. Cohen MGA Senior Player of the Year Joe Keller (Oyster Harbors Club). "I hit it down the middle and was able to get it on the green. I didn't miss a lot of greens today, so I had a lot of putts for birdie."
After four straight pars to begin his round, Foberg carded three birdies – on the 5th, 6th and 7th holes – to break into the red and all but secure a spot at Championship Proper. The only miscue on his card was a bogey on the 417-yard, par 4 8th hole where he – uncharacteristically – missed the green with his approach shot. Other than that minor hiccup, he was flawless.
"The guys in my group and I were talking about how the greens were very difficult, but I happened to have the right speed on a lot of my putts" said Foberg, who has enjoyed his Championship Proper experience which has taken him to clubs such as The Kittansett Club, Thorny Lea Golf Club, Charles River Country Club and now Myopia Hunt Club dating back to 1988.
One his more recent highlights was finishing T3 at the 2009 Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship where he posted two straight rounds of 74 at Salem Country Club.
"The consistency was the key for me today," said Foberg, who was a member at the Country Club of Greenfield for 25 seasons before moving to Pembroke this past year and joining Indian Pond Country Club. "I just hit smart shots to the right side of the hole and gave myself lots of opportunity. I made one 20 footer for birdie on 17, but all of my other putts were all inside of 10 feet."
Foberg is hoping that this type of solid play and his calm demeanor will make six his lucky number come next month.
"I have never made match play, but Myopia Hunt Club may be good for me to break through."
Christopher Melvin — Looking Forward to a Summer to Remember
Hours after finishing his round as the only competitor to break par at Sharon Country Club, the smile was still on the face of Christopher Melvin (Walpole CC). After all, not only did the 18 year old from Medfield finish as medalist against a field of 40 top amateur players to earn a spot at next month's Championship Proper, he also made it two for two in MGA qualifying events.
"I qualified for the Mass Open two weeks ago," said Melvin, who fired a 1-under par 71 today in Sharon. "I actually made Match Play two years ago and lost in the first round to Brian Higgins who was the Player of the Year that year. I only lost 2 & 1 which was pretty good for a 16 year old."
That type of enthusiasm and confidence has made Melvin one of the top talents coming out of the 2009-2010 Massachusetts high school class. This past year, Melvin led his Medfield High School team to a third place Division 3 sectional finish and also picked up Tri-Valley League individual championship and co-MVP honors. In the state tournament, he fired a score of 74 which was good for sixth place.
"Two summers ago when I made Match Play at Kittansett I had a phenomenal summer at the Mass Junior and in AJGA events," said Melvin , who finished sixth at the 2008 Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship. "I had a pretty bad summer last year, so I am excited because I am having a good summer so far."
It's hard not to understand why Melvin is so excited. In addition to qualifying for the Massachusetts Open Championship and Massachusetts Amateur Championship, he also – just last week – finished T24 at the Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT) National Championship held at the PGA National Golf Club (FL). And oh yes, he will be packing his bags and heading to Ohio next week to take part in a freshman orientation program for Bowling Green State University where he received a golf scholarship.
Bowling Green Head Coach Gary Winger will no doubt be excited about what his incoming freshman accomplished today. On a day when birdies were few and far between, Melvin carded five birdies and made just four bogeys which was just fine with the youngster.
"The key to my game is when I make a lot of birdies I do well," explained Melvin. "I usually make a lot of bogeys because I am not a fairway to green and two-putt player. When I keep the doubles and three putts off the card, I do even better. I had no three putts or doubles today which was great."
Surprising to Melvin was the fact that his short game came through for him all day long.
"I made every putt I looked at today," said Melvin, who did miss one putt... an eight footer for birdie on the 400-yard, par 4 18th hole that would have put him at 2-under for the day. "The longest putt I had today was probably 15 feet. I was hitting my approach shots really close and I kept it fairly straight off the tee. The wind didn't really affect me all the much, so all in all it was a good round."
Finding himself 2-under par through his first five holes, Melvin made bogey on four of his next six holes and began to feel the pressure that is felt by all during a qualifier. Despite his youth, however, Melvin calmly discussed the magic qualifying "number" with his caddie and went on to play 3-under par golf through his final seven holes.
"My caddie and I were talking most of the day and thinking that one or two over would make it," said Melvin. "I was happy to come in with such a good number."
With so much going on between college preparation and traveling to national golf tournaments, Melvin isn't letting this latest opportunity slip past him. His focus is razor sharp on bettering his performance from two years ago.
"Last year, I shot awful in qualifying and didn't make it," said Melvin. "I have never played Myopia but my friend who is going to caddie for me said that it was the best course ever."
After seeing his game flourish over the past few weeks, Melvin is hoping to create some Myopia magic next month!
2010 Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Cape Cod Country Club (E. Falmouth, MA)
Par 71 (36-35)
Qualifiers
1) Donald Foberg (Indian Pond CC) 34-33—67
2) Connor Wentzell (Tatnuck CC) 34-34—68
3) Curtis Collopy (Hyannis GC) 35-35—70
T4) Dave Houghton (The Captains GC) 35-36—71
T4) Max Campion (Woods Hole GC) 35-36—71
6) Guy Lansing (CC of Halifax) 38-34—72
T7) Christopher Tarallo (Thorny Lea GC) 36-37—73
T7) Philippe Panico (Pine Brook CC) 37-36—73
T7) Robert Mancini (Thorny Lea GC) 36-37—73
T10) David Pomarico (South Shore CC) 40-34—74
T10) Tucker Dooley (Olde Barnstable GC) 36-38—74
T10) Nick Clarke (Bay Pointe CC) 38-36—74
Alternates
1st) Andrew Diramio (Indian Pond CC) 39-35—74
2nd) Cob Carlson (George Wright GC) 36-38—74
2010 Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Sharon Country Club (Sharon, MA)
Par 72 (36-36)
Qualifiers
1) Christopher Melvin (Walpole CC) 37 34—71
2) Chris Congdon (Foxborough CC) 36 36—72
T3) Chris Scott (Wayland CC) 38 38—76
T3) John Mazzocca (Walpole CC) 38 38—76
T5) Brad Hartz (Fresh Pond GC) 36 41—77
T5) Hans Sherman (The Country Club) 39 38—77
T5) Robert Monahan (South Shore CC) 38 39—77
Alternates
1st) Brien Tolland (Sharon CC) 39-39—78
2nd)
John Mirabile (Sharon CC) 41-37—78
