Headline: Dave Turgeon and Herbie Aikens Fire Medalist Scores of 1-under par 71 in Needham to Cap Off Seven Days of Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying
For Immediate Release: June 16, 2010
Needham, MA — After years of competing and finding a way to fit golf into a busy work and family schedule, Dave Turgeon (Woodland GC)) took today's medalist performance all in stride.
Today — under mixed skies in Needham — he fired a day-low score of 1-under par 70 and tied Herbie Aikens (Pinehills GC)) for top honors at a Massachusetts Amateur qualifier at Needham Golf Club. When all of the scorecards were turned in, Turgeon was simply thankful for the opportunity to play another day. (story continues below).
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"Having five kids and four grandchildren keeps the golf to a minimum," said the 52-year-old Turgeon. "I don't have that many more years left (to compete) and last year I only played eight rounds all year. But as long as I am playing well, I figure that I have a good shot especially on a golf course like Needham where it's not a long bombers course."
Turgeon took his methodical game to the 6,070-yard Needham layout and played solid golf which included hitting all but one fairway. He also managed to hit most of the greens and make a putt here and there. Although it looked like a workmanlike round – three birdies and two bogies – it was anything but a walk in the park for the seasoned competitor who plays out of Woodland Golf Club.
"It was a lot of work actually… it wasn't one of those easy ones," said Turgeon, a Needham resident who enjoyed the short commute to the course this morning. "The course was in great shape and the greens were great. I have never seen the greens that great, so you felt that you could make a lot of putts."
After making par on his first two holes, Turgeon came through with a key birdie putt on the 297-yard, par 4 3rd hole where he drained a 40-foot downhill putt.
"The only long one I had was a stupid long one that didn't have any business going in," explained Turgeon. "It was a downhill slider from 40 feet where you were just trying to keep it close. It was long and only had a few inches of break, but it was really fast because it was downhill. It was a good one to make."
That fortuitous putt set the tone for the rest of the morning as he went on to make two bogies and two birdies – on the 379-yard, par 4 15th and 281-yard, par 4 17th holes. Being in the first group off the tee, Turgeon had no idea what the scores would be that day but he wanted to end his day on a high note and finish under par. To that end, he calmly hit driver, 5-wood and wedge to the center of the 18th-hole green and made a two putt for a par, a score of 1-under par 70 and a spot at next month's Massachusetts Amateur Championship at Myopia Hunt Club.
"It's not a long course so as long as you keep it in play and out of trouble it sets up well for old guys like me," said Turgeon about his experience at Needham Golf Club today. "I wanted to play for par on 18 to finish under par. That is always a good feeling."
In addition to the excitement of advancing to the next stage of the event, Turgeon was truly enjoying the experience of playing alongside friends. In his case, the game of golf has extended beyond his golf bag. The game has allowed him to create lasting friendships and – in some cases – help build his successful business career.
Several years ago, Turgeon was a driving force behind the growth of Country Club Network, a company now known across the country as MembersFirst. In its early days, the company was a leader in the development of web sites for golf courses including many here in the Bay State. Since that time, Turgeon has continued to strengthen his connections with the golf community but has moved on to focus his attention on helping to grow and build the Mentor Network, a national network of local human services providers that is based in downtown Boston.
"It has gotten to the point where I know all of the rules officials and most of the players," said Turgeon about his deep golfing ties here in Massachusetts. "Jeff Page (who was in today's field at Needham) and I played CYO golf together when we were 12. It's a pretty special game when that can happen."
Turgeon will no doubt run into many friends again next month at Myopia Hunt Club when he competes at Championship Proper. Included in that list of friendly faces will be Aikens, the co-medalist at today's qualifier in Needham.
Aikens is already off to a fast start this season as he was victorious – with partner Ryan Riley – at the Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship and advanced to U.S. Open sectional qualifying. On this day, Aikens' round featured two birdies and one bogey… all of those coming on his back nine.
Also qualifying today was Jordan Burke (Needham GC), another experienced competitor who has fared well in the Massachusetts Amateur Championship over the years. In 2005, he qualified for the Round of 32 and then one year later at Worcester Country Club he advanced to the semifinals where he was defeated by eventual champion Ben Spitz.
2010 Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Needham Golf Club (Needham, MA)
Par 71 (36-35)
Qualifiers
T1) Dave Turgeon (Woodland GC) 36-34—70
T1) Herbert Aikens (Pinehills GC) 36-34—70
3) Jordan Burke (Needham GC) 36-35—71
4) Dan Head (Wellesley CC) 37-35—72
T5) Will Boyle (Brae Burn CC) 37 36—73
T5) Patrick Kline (New Sandy Burr CC) 36-37—73
T5) Mike Verde (Easton CC) 34-39—73
Alternates
1st) Matt Dunn (Wachusett CC) 36-37—73
2nd) William Boyle (Brae Burn CC) 37-37—74
