Headline: Joe Walker and 13 Other Qualifiers Conquer Challenges at The Brookside Club During Day 1 of Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Qualifying
For Immediate Release: June 28, 2010
Bourne, MA — Although it was a great day for golf, many of the 63 players on hand for the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Qualifier held on Tuesday at The Brookside Club found that the challenge of the competition overshadowed the perfect weather.
To wit, the low score of the day in Bourne – posted by Rui Lima (Cape Cod CC), Stephen Visco (Miacomet GC) and Thomas Tomasian III (Cranberry Valley GC) – was a 6-over par 76. In total, 14 golfers survived the grueling test and as a result earned at spot at the 2010 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship which will be held on August 10-11 at Quashnet Valley Country Club.
The 6,179-yard championship layout tested the skills of even the most veteran and accomplished of players. Included in that list was Joe Walker (Dennis Pines GC), a seven-time and defending champion of the Seagulls Fourball Championship. Walker, who earlier this year qualified for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship, was one of nine competitors who had to return to the course following 18 holes to compete in a nine-for-eight playoff. Although the odds were in Walker's favor, the fact that he had to continue play was surprising.
"I had never seen the course before and I was told that it was not wise to play it blind," said Walker. "I had a couple of bad breaks but I didn't play that badly. It says 9 over but honest to God I only mishit three shots."
Walker's incredulousness comes from the fact that the 53 year old made the turn at an uncharacteristic 9-over par 44 and looked to be well out of the hunt. As most veterans do, however, Walker found a way to turn the round around as he went on to post two birdies – on the 586-yard, par 5 10th and 330-yard, par 4 12th holes – and one bogey to finish at 1-under par 34 for the back nine and 8-over par 78 for the round.
"I kept picking the wrong clubs," said Walker, who noted that he sent three of his approach shots from the fairway on that front nine over the green and all three resulted in double bogies. "There are changes in the grade and the greens are perched up so if you miss the green it goes into great peril. If you pick the wrong club, it can quickly turn into a double bogey."
While most players would crumble and limp to the finish line after such a disastrous first nine holes, Walker tapped into his long and successful career and was also motivated by the fact that he had been looking forward to taking on the state's top public links players at Quashnet Valley Country Club.
"It's nice to have a home game," said Walker who resides in nearby Dennis. "I have played Quashnet many, many times before but I had never played Brookside... when you have been playing long enough, you realize that all you can do is control the next shot with the best of your ability and work with your mechanics at the time. I was working on my mechanics and trying to execute my golf swing and enjoyed a better fortune on the back nine."
Today's performance also capped off what will be a three-fold championship experience for Walker. In addition to competing at the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship, Walker qualified – just last month – for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship and is exempt and will thus compete at the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship later this summer.
While all three hold unique challenges for him, Walker has fond memories and great hope for his next major challenge at Myopia Hunt Club on July 12-16. After all it was 14 years ago when Walker came a playoff hole from advancing to Match Play when the event was last held at the South Hamilton course. Although he did not advance to that second stage, he enjoyed watching his longtime friend and Seagulls Fourball Championship partner Kevin Carey advance to the semifinals and fall in extra holes to now PGA Tour player James Driscoll.
"Kevin met with a lot of success there," said Walker, who paired with Carey again this past April to capture their record third-straight Seagulls title. "I unfortunately lost in a playoff for that last match play spot, so hopefully I'll have more success this time."
Needless to say, if the going gets rough for Walker at Myopia there is nothing that will keep this champion down... not even an unthinkable 9-over par front nine of golf!
2010 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Qualifying
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Brookside Club (Bourne, MA)
Par 70 (35-35)
Qualifiers
T1) Rui Lima (Cape Cod CC) 39-37-76
T1) Stephen Visco (Miacomet GC) 37-39-76
T1) Thomas Tomasian III (Cranberry Valley GC) 36-40-76
T4) Jeff Burkey (Pinehills GC) 37-40-77
T4) Dave Houghton (The Captains GC) 40-37-77
T4) John Wynn (Granite Links GC) 38-39-77
T7) Stephen Lieberwirth (Bayberry Hills GC) 38-40-78
T7) Brian Neves (Sandwich Hollows CC) 40-38-78
T7) Phil Fratantonio (Hyannis GC) 42-36-78
T7) Bruce Wedge (Bay Pointe CC) 38-40-78
T7) Jeffrey Duggan (The Captains GC) 43 35 78
T7) Joe Walker (Dennis Pines GC) 44-34-78
T7) Tim Stundis (Olde Scotland Links 36-42-78
T7) Rick Cunha (Pinehills GC) 41-37-78
Alternates
1st) Tim Hinchey (Pine Oaks GC) 38-40-78
2nd) Marty Burke (MGA Links at Mamantapett) 42-37-79
