Headline: Nick Antonelli and John Kelly III Win Regional Titles; Antonelli Captures North Shore Amateur Crown; Kelly Prevails at Western Mass Amateur
For Immediate Release: August 18, 2010
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Nick Antonelli was one of two Regional Events champions crowned recently. Antonelli prevailed at the 2010 North Shore Amateur. (photo courtesy of the Salem Evening News) |
Norton, MA — Two more regional champions were crowned this past week as the Western Mass Amateur and North Shore Amateur events were held at Elmcrest Country Club and Far Corner Golf Course, respectively.
Capturing victories in the events, which are included in the Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year Points System, were John Kelly, III (Twin Hills CC) and Nick Antonelli (North Andover CC). Both players received Player of the Year points, but most importantly they earned recognition for besting some of the top players in the state.
At Elmcrest Country Club on August 12-13, Kelly – a rising senior at the University of Rhode Island – followed up an opening-round score of 2-under par 70 with an untouchable 8-under par 64 on the final day to claim victory by seven strokes. It marked Kelly’s first career Western Mass Amateur title.
Although playing on the opposite end of the state in West Boxford, Antonelli was doing much of the same.
Trailing by two strokes heading into the second and final round of the North Shore Amateur, the 23-year-old from North Andover carded five straight birdies on his back nine to finish with a 4-under par 68 and a tournament-winning score of 6-under par 138.
"I was a little behind going into the day, so the plan was to go on the front (nine) and shoot something good so I could have a chance at (winning). Then I rattled off those five birdies in a row," said Antonelli to the Salem Evening News following his victory. "I stumbled a little at the end, but overall I did what I wanted to do out there."
Despite making those two bogies through his final three holes, Antonelli had already built up enough of a lead to hold on for the victory against tough competition that included John Gilmartin (Indian Ridge CC), who finished two strokes back of Antonelli. Also very much in the mix throughout the event was third-place finisher Josh Salah (Bass Rocks GC) and first-round leader Colin Brennan (Indian Ridge CC), who came in fourth place.
The final two regional events scheduled for this year that are included in the Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year Points System are the Southeastern Amateur (October 1-2) and the season-ending Cape Cod Amateur (October 30-31 and November 6-7).