Headline: Andy Mai Captures 2010 Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship on Second Playoff Hole at Foxborough Country Club
For Immediate Release: July 29, 2010
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Andy Mai |
Foxborough, MA – In one of the most exciting finales to date, Andy Mai (The Ranch GC) drained a five-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to capture the 2010 Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship at Foxborough Country Club.
For Mai, this year marks the first time that he has ever competed in this event. Since he is 17 years old and not eligible in 2011, it was a fitting way to end his experience at this special MGA Championship. (Story Continued Below)
"It's the first and last time," said Mai. "I had to miss this event last year because of a conflict, but I am really happy that it's over. I had to keep concentrating all day long. It's very exciting."
Heading into the playoff – which included Mai, Dan Slavin (Belmont CC) and Jack Whelan (Myopia Hunt Club) – Mai kept his title hopes alive by posting a third-round score of 1-under par 71 this morning. That impressive round – it was one of only four under-par scores posted on Thursday – included one bogey and back-to-back birdies on the 157-yard, par 3 17th and 502-yard, par 5 18th holes.
Day 3 Quick Links
"Dan was up six on me through 14 holes so I kept telling myself that it's not over until it's over," said Mai who made birdie on the 18th hole during each of his three rounds. "On 18 I swung as hard as I could and was left with 207 yards and hit a 5 iron and two putted. It was a good feeling. I like 18, I guess."
Come playoff time, Mai saved his best for last. After all three players made par on the 396-yard, par 4 1st hole, Mai stepped to the tee (they were playing the 429-yard, par 4 16th hole) and sent his tee shot left of the cart path and into the woods. He then hit a giant hook iron shot to five feet left of the hole. After watching Whelan leave his birdie attempt short, Mai drained his birdie putt for the exciting win.
"I was lucky even to have a shot at it," said Mai, who landed his drive in a similar spot during Tuesday's first round. "I went with a high hook, closed my eyes and it worked out awesome."
There is no rest for Mai, however, as he will hit the road to compete in the 2010 Junior PGA Championship on August 2-5 at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Earlier this summer, Mai won the Pepsi Junior Connecticut PGA Championship, which earned him a berth into the national championship. He also qualified for this year's U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.
"Golf wise it has been a great summer," said Mai. "I always start slow and try to peak at the right time. I have worked hard on my putting... but this summer has been good for golf thus far."
Coming five feet from extending the playoff was Whelan. The Topsfield resident and senior-to-be at the Pingree School came through with the low-score of the day and the second lowest score posted all week – a 3-under par 69. On this day, he made the turn at 1-over par and then shifted into an entirely different gear. He made four birdies – including back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th holes – and five pars to earn a spot in the playoff.
Following tee shots on the second playoff hole, Whelan was in the best position of all three players as his drive found the middle of the fairway. His second shot, unfortunately, dropped 25 feet right and short of the flagstick and he was unable to make the long putt for birdie.
For Slavin, it was a tournament of highs and lows. Less than two weeks after advancing to Match Play at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, Slavin found himself atop the leaderboard at this event following an impressive first-round score of 4-under par 68.
He struggled a bit on Wednesday (although the entire field faced windy conditions), but with nine holes remaining this morning, it appeared that Slavin had the title all but wrapped up after making the turn at 3-under par 33. At that point in time, he held a five-stroke lead over the field. A combination of back-to-back double bogies (on the 15th and 16th holes) by Slavin and solid play by Mai and Whelan changed the landscape of the event dramatically.
Slavin's title hopes came to an end on the second playoff hole when his drive found the right rough and he was unable to recover. He suffered a double bogey on that hole and then watched as Mai made birdie for the victory.
Pre-Junior Division Highlights – John Beadle Wins the Title
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John Beadle |
With one more year of eligibility remaining, John Beadle (Foxborough CC) is already thinking about a repeat in 2011. The 14 year old from North Attleboro posted a back-nine score of 2-under 34 to catapult him into the lead and earn him the title of Pre-Junior Division champion.
"It was a really special week," said Beadle, who enjoyed playing in front of a gallery of friends and family. "I am only 14 years old now so this is a good starting point for the future and hopefully someday I can win the overall title."
With a two-stroke divisional lead heading into the final round of play, Beadle struggled on the front nine (he carded a 5-over par 41) and saw his advantage quickly disappear. Knowing the situation, the youngster didn't get rattled and righted the ship to pull away once again and claim the prestigious title on his home course.
"As Harvey Penick said, ‘take dead aim' at everything," said Beadle. "I thought that I needed to make some birdies and get under the par. I figured that I needed a 33 or 34 [on the back nine] to have a chance. I was fortunate to accomplish that."
Helping his cause was a red-hot putter, which did not come alive until his final nine holes. First, on the 555-yard, par 5 11th hole Beadle was forced (due to an errant second shot) to play his third shot from the 2nd-hole fairway. His approach from an unorthodox position landed nine feet from the hole and he drained that birdie putt to set the stage for the rest of his round.
He went on to make a 25-foot putt for birdie on the 409-yard, par 4 15th hole and then a 14-foot birdie putt on the 157-yard, par 3 17th hole. It is also important to note that he just missed birdie attempts on the 12th and 13th holes, lipped out for birdie on the 14th hole and drained a 10-foot par save on the 16th hole.
"I hit the ball very well off the tee all week," said Beadle. "The tee shot was probably the most important part of the game. You can cover the distance here with your second shots, but if you hit it well off the tee you can get around."
Sound course knowledge and a hot putter... there is no telling what this 14 year old may do come 2011.
"That would be great," said Beadle when asked about his chances of winning the overall title next year. "If not that then definitely the Pre-Junior again. This has been so special."
Boys Division Highlights — Two-Peat for Steven Dilisio
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Steven Dilisio |
Different course, same result.
For the second straight year, Steven Dilisio (Swampscott, MA) captured the Boys Division title at the Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship. The 12 year old who is a junior member at Salem Country Club posted a two-round total of 11-over par 155 to win by a five-stroke margin.
"I am pretty excited," said Dilisio, who capped off his victory this morning by making birdie on the 502-yard, par 5 18th hole. "It feels good that all of the hard work is finally paying off."
This past summer, Dilisio, who will be a seventh grader at Swampscott Middle School in the fall, has focused his efforts on improving his overall game by competing in a slew of local, regional and national events. It also helps that he has a supportive family including his mother and grandfather (who followed him all week long) as well as older brother Anthony and father Dana, who captured the 2007 Massachusetts Father & Son Championship.
"My game has been pretty good lately," said Dilisio, who also credits his coach Tom Patri for his improvement over the years. "I didn't hit the ball great yesterday, but I made a lot of putts. Today was the opposite. I hit the ball well, but I didn't make many putts."
To that point, Dilisio – despite windy conditions – jumped out to a first-round lead on Wednesday thanks to a 4-over par 76 which included several highlight-reel shots including a 20-foot par putt on the 493-yard, par 4 5th hole. Today's round had its memorable moments as well including a 40-foot eagle putt on the 493-yard, par 5 4th hole. He also – on the 490-yard, par 5 9th hole – watched his fourth shot bounce into the hole and out... just missing what would have been his third birdie of the day and sixth of the championship.
"I felt like if I didn't win it again or place high it would be a disappointment and it would be more like a one-time thing," said Dilisio when asked if he felt pressure entering the event as the defending champion. "I was just going out and trying to play the best that I could. I wasn't worrying about what everyone else was doing or what it would be like if I didn't win."
Spoken like a true champion... and one who – if successful in 2011 – will become only the second player in MGA history to capture three straight Boys Division title. The only other player to accomplish that feat was Peter Uihlein, who captured the title in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
A Look Ahead at 2011
It's never too early to start planning for the next event. In 2011, eligible junior amateur players from the Bay State can look forward to taking part in this event which will be held at Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill, Massachusetts. In hopes of not conflicting with other major regional and national junior tournaments, the event will be held one week later on August 8-10, 2010. Play on!
