Headline: A Total of 15 Spots Secured During Day 3 of Massachusetts Public Links Qualifying Held at Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course at Putterham
For Immediate Release: July 1, 2010
Brookline, MA —The first week of qualifying has been completed as hundreds of hopefuls looked to secure their spot in the 2010 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship, scheduled for August 10-11 at Quashnet Valley Country Club.
A total of 15 qualifying spots were secured on Thursday at Robert T. Lynch Municipal Golf Course at Putterham. While each competitor brings a special story to the event, here are just a few stories from the qualifier in Brookline.
Whether it's for his golf, academics or charity work, Garrett Colgan (Olde Barnstable GC) seems well at ease holding awards. On this day, he added medalist to his resume as he posted the day-low score of 1-under par 70 to finish as the low scorer in Brookline. Colgan made up for a double bogey on the 395-yard, par 4 9th hole and a bogey on the 321-yard, par 4 4th hole with four birdies to finish as the only player in the field to break par. A rising sophomore at Skidmore College, Colgan was an honor roll student and standout golfer at Brookline High School. He also regularly volunteered his time at the Shattuck Shelter in Dorchester and served as a caddy at Oyster Harbors Club for four years.
It's not often that a player requests the earliest possible starting time. However, Scott Guild (MGA Links @ Mamantapett) knew that he had little time to spare during his busy week for a round of golf. When not hitting the links and qualifying for MGA Championships – he fired a 3-over par 74 in Brookline – Guild serves as director of handicapping for the Massachusetts Golf Association. In that capacity, Guild provides hands-on service to the more than 390 Member Clubs located across the state. As part of his duties, Guild logs thousands of miles driving to nearly all of the clubs from the North Shore to Cape Cod and to the Berkshires – to help them manage their GHIN handicapping program and TPP scoring system.
A former professional golfer and standout player while at Salem State College, Guild entered the world of golf administration three years ago. Although he does not find much time during the season to practice or play competitively, his natural skill is hard deny considering that this marks the third time in a year that he has qualified for an MGA Championship. Last year, he qualified for and competed in the 101st Massachusetts Amateur Championship at The Country Club and the year before he competed in the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship.
The oldest competitor in the field, Bob Bradley (Ponkapoag GC) continued his impressive string of qualifying for MGA Championships. One year ago, the 63 year old from Hanover was – as he tends to be in many of these events – the oldest competitor to qualify for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. Over the course of his storied career, Bradley has won two Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championships (1989, 1996) and two Ouimet Invitationals (1985, 1988).
Although he failed to qualify for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship this year (he was just off the pace at a qualifier held at Sharon Country Club), his best finish in that event was one of his most memorable. En route to advancing to the semifinals of the 1997 Massachusetts Amateur Championship, Bradley faced off and defeated former Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year and current PGA Tour player James Driscoll. On this day, Bradley made sure that his streak of advancing to MGA Championships continued as he posted a score of 4-over par 74.
Coming off his freshman year of college at Monmouth University, Ian Thimble (George Wright GC) is no rookie when it comes to competitive golf. A four-year letterwinner at Boston College High School, he was second on his high school team and finished in an 11th place tie at the MIAA Division 1 State Championship during his junior season. During his first season with the Hawks, Thimble was a key contributor who earned Northeast Conference Golfer of the Week honors following his first intercollegiate golf tournament and then – later in the season – helped his team to a seventh place finish at the 2010 NEC Men's Golf Championships. One year ago, Thimble successfully qualified for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship.
Another former MGA Champion in today's field was Jon Fasick (New England CC), who carded a 4-over par 74. Over the course of his impressive amateur career, Fasick has captured three different MGA Championships including the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship (1990), Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship (1994) and the Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship (1986, 1991, 1997, 1998). He also – according to the Pinecrest Men's Golf Association - holds the Pinecrest Golf Course course record of 58. From 1974 through 1987, Jon and his twin brother Carter Fasick dominated the club championship at that course as they combined for 12 club championship titles during that 14-year period.
Qualifying for the 2010 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship continues next week.
