Headline: David Holmes Set the Stage for Another Championship Memory ... Headlines a Field of Seven Qualifiers During Day 4 of MGA Amateur Qualifying
For Immediate Release: June 10, 2010
Charlton, MA — You can always count on David Holmes (Blackstone National GC) to deliver at least one outstanding... and oftentimes memorable... performance each season.
Two years ago, the 52-year-old from Sutton finished T2 at the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship. One year ago, he was one of seven Bay State golfers who qualified for and competed at the 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Kiawah Island (SC). This year he is hoping to add a Massachusetts Amateur Championship title to his impressive resume. (story continues below).
Day 4 Quick Links
Today under dreary and sometimes rainy skies at Heritage Country Club, Holmes posted a score of 1-over par 72 to claim one of the seven available qualifying spots. As a result of his performance, Holmes will now have a chance to take his game to Myopia Hunt Club on July 12-16.
"I have been real busy with work and haven't had a chance to play as much as I would like," said Holmes, who works as a sales representative for Savvis Communications in Waltham. "My game is a bit rusty right now and I have been struggling to find my rhythm. But now that I have qualified for the Amateur, I am excited and going to find some time to do some serious practicing."
There is no question that Holmes has the game (he is — among many accomplishments on the links — a former senior club champion at his home course of Blackstone National Golf Club), but his biggest challenge may be finding the time to hone his skills and prepare to take on a course that he has not seen in many years.
In fact, Holmes believes that the last time that he played Myopia Hunt Club was back in 1996 when this event was last held in South Hamilton. Although his memory of the holes may be fuzzy, he feels confident about bringing his game to that site come July.
"I think that Myopia sets up well for me because I don't hit it real far," said Holmes. "It's not a long golf course. If I am able to drive it straight and get it up and down and make a few birdies, I think that I have a good chance there."
If today's performance is any indication of what is to come, Holmes is certainly ready for the ups and downs of an Massachusetts Amateur Championship. After making two birdies and one bogey through his first eight holes today in Charlton, Holmes ran into serious trouble on the 453-yard, par 4 9th hole. It was a hole that could have spelled certain doom, but he managed to somehow remain calm and recover from that triple bogey.
"I had that almost disastrous hole on nine when I snap hooked my 5 into the trees," said Holmes, who explained that his next shot from the trees sailed into the hazard. "I was 1-under par at the time and just chunked it around to make a 7. I was able to calm down and play well from then on."
To wit, Holmes carded eight pars and a birdie on the 305-yard, par 4 14th hole to finish with a score of 1-over par 72 and secure one of the precious qualifying spots. The last time that Holmes qualified for Championship Proper was in 2007, the same year he came just two strokes shy of winning the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship.
"I try to be as patience as I can be out there," said Holmes. "I try to breathe deeply and play one hole at a time. When I start out, I try to make a par and ease into the round and sort it out. I get a feel for the course and see how I am going to play that day."
Holmes is certainly hoping that his strategy will lead him to a 2010 championship performance to remember at Myopia.
Heritage to the Rescue
One month ago, the field of nearly 50 golfers never expected that they would have an opportunity to play Heritage Country Club today.
After all, when registration opened for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship four months ago, those players had signed up to qualify at Sterling National Country Club. However, when the Sterling facility unexpectedly closed its doors and went on the auction block, the MGA Championship staff began searching for another club to step to the plate.
Enter Heritage Country Club located in nearby Charlton.
Without hesitation, the staff and membership opened its doors to the MGA and the competitors who were looking to secure a spot at the 2010 Massachusetts Amateur Championship.
Fate was clearly on the side of the competitors because — despite threatening storms in the area — the 18-hole qualifier went off without a hitch and a total of seven players earned at spot at Championship Proper scheduled for July 12-16 at Myopia Hunt Club.
"We can't thank Heritage Country Club enough for their generosity, hospitality and flexibility," said Jesse Menachem, the MGA's director of rules & competition. "When we needed to find a home for those qualifiers, the staff and membership at Heritage made sure that today's event would be a huge success... and it was that and much more."
Located in the rolling hills of Central Massachusetts, Heritage Country Club is the home of the Central Massachusetts Professional Open and has long been considered one of the finest public courses in the area.
To learn more about this special MGA Member Club that came to the rescue, please visit www.heritagecountryclub.com.
Qualifying News & Notes
Leading the way with a medalist score of even par 71 today was Stephen Finocchi (Highland CC), who finished with four birdies and four bogies on the day.
The 30-year-old Finocchi is no stranger to earning accolades considering that he was inducted into the Bishop Feehan Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 for outstanding performances in both golf and swimming. He went on to be a two-sport athlete at The College of Holy Cross, earned a bachelor's degree in financial mathematics from The University of Chicago and now works for State Street Corporation in Boston. In addition to his work and golf schedule, he also managed to squeeze in a marriage this past May in his hometown of North Attleboro.
One stroke back of Finocchi with scores of 1-over par 72 were Holmes and Mike Dunham (Old Sandwich GC). This marks the second straight MGA Championship that Dunham has qualified for this season. Back in May, the former NHL netminder was one of 17 competitors who earned a spot at the 2010 Massachusetts Open Championship at a qualifier held at Stow Acres Country Club. Dunham, who currently serves as a goaltending coach for the New York Islanders, accomplished the same "double" feat last season.
Another notable qualifier was Phil Smith (Vesper CC), the 2007 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Champion. Smith, who finished today's round with a score of 2-over par 73, has continued his strong play since that time as became only the second player in event history to capture back-to-back Norfolk County Classic titles (2007, 2008). Two years ago, Smith posted his best Massachusetts Amateur Championship finish by advancing to the quarterfinals at The Kittansett Club.
Also qualifying were two former Mount Pleasant Country Club club champions — Matt Bianchini (Mount Pleasant CC) and Jeff Zidonis (Mount Pleasant CC) — and BC High golf standout Noah Walker (The Harmon Club). Interestingly, Walker, a 2009 Boston Globe All-Star selection, began making golf headlines at a very young age. In 2003, he garnered national attention when he drove the ball 260 yards at The Golf Channel's Drive, Chip, and Putt Junior Golf Skills Competition. He was 10 years old at the time!
2010 Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Heritage Country Club (Charlton, MA)
Par 71 (35-36)
Qualifiers
1) Stephen Finocchi (Highland CC) 36-35—71
T2) David Holmes (Blackstone National GC) 37-35—72
T2) Mike Dunham (Old Sandwich GC) 36-36—72
T4) Jeff Zidonis (Mount Pleasant CC) 36-37—73
T4) Philip Smith (Vesper CC) 37-36—73
T6) Matt Bianchini (Mount Pleasant CC) 36-38—74
T6) Noah Walker (The Harmon Club) 40-34—74
Alternates
1st) Michael Higgins (Green Hill Municipal GC) 38-37—75
2nd) Scott Wardner (Maplegate CC) 34-41—75
