Headline: Todd Ezold Leads a Field of 10 Qualifiers at a Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Qualifier Held at Skyline Country Club
For Immediate Release: August 19, 2010
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A warm welcome message from the staff and members of Skyline Country Club. |
Lanesboro, MA — When players arrived at Skyline Country Club, they were welcomed with open arms by the staff and membership.
In fact, the sign shown to the right was greeting players and officials even at the very early morning hours.
Week 1 Qualifying Feature Stories
When play was completed hours later, a total of 10 qualifiers earned the right to compete at the 2010 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship scheduled for September 27-29 at Dedham Country & Polo Club.
Grabbing headlines with an impressive 2-under par 69 to claim medalist honors by four strokes was Todd Ezold (Westover GC).
The 2008 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Champion and a former minor league catcher in the Yankees organization carded five birdies and three bogies in Lanesboro.
Here are two stories — courtesy of the Berkshire Eagle and Springfield Republican — about that qualifier at Skyline Country Club.
Springfield Republican
Published: Thursday, August 19, 2010
Westfield's Todd Ezold earns medal at Massachusetts Mid-Amateur qualifier
By Russ Held
Todd Ezold of Westfield had never set foot on Skyline Country Club in Lanesboro until Thursday morning.
A few hours and 69 strokes later, he was medalist at a qualifier for the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship.
Ezold made five birdies and fired a 2-under-par 69 to lead 11 qualifiers to the championship proper, at Dedham Country & Polo Club on Sept. 27-29.
"I played it blind, but on course like that I tend to stayed focused a little more being unsure of what’s ahead," said Ezold, a member at Tekoa CC in Westfield. "As a qualifier, you have the feeling that even par is going to be a good score so it was nice to be 2 under on the front."
Ezold was followed by the likes of Tim Tunstall and Cort Duda of Longmeadow CC. James Patterson of Wyckoff CC and Greg Fisk of Longmeadow CC shared fourth with 74s.
Berkshire Eagle
Published on August 20, 2010
Ezold is top finisher in local qualifier
By Richard Lord
LANESBOROUGH -- There were a few happenings at Thursday’s Massachusetts Golf Association Mid-Amateur qualifier that defied golf logic.
With 38 players battling for 10 positions, the least suprising thing was that a playoff was needed to decide the final player and two alternates for the Sept. 27-29 tournament at the Dedham Polo and Country Club. Nine golfers shot 75s to qualify minus the drama.
Ryan was the best finisher from the area’s Allied-affiliated courses. Coming closest from Berkshire County’s five-player contingent was Stockbridge Golf Club’s Randy Driscoll, who had a 77.
"My putter cost me," said Driscoll, who admits his game hasn’t been up to his usual high standards this summer. "I’ve been battling the hooks and have been working on a lot of [swing] changes. It takes time."
Ryan, meanwhile, hit a brilliant 7-iron shot and made a 4-foot putt on the 167-yard 11th hole, the second playoff hole, to become the first alternate. He believes chances are "pretty good" some will drop out and he’ll sneak into the field.
If not for two early holes, he wouldn’t have to sweat it.
"I had a double bogey and No. 3 and a triple on No. 4," Ryan said.
Maki was probably as surprised as anyone when he won the playoff with a short birdie putt on the par-4 10th hole.
"I excited. I only play a handful of times a year," said Maki, whose brothers are both golf professionals.
Maki works for the U.S. Dept. of Transportation and is currently is charge of a project to install air-traffic control radar systems on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
Ezold, the 2007 Mass. Public Links champion, meanwhile, won on his first trip over a course that has its share of blind shots and unexpected trouble.
"I drove it straight and this course demands that," said Ezold, who had five birdies and three bogeys.
2010 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Qualifying
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Skyline Country Club (Lanesboro, MA)
Par 71 (35-36)
Qualifiers
1) Todd Ezold Westover GC 33-36--69
T2) Tim Tunstall Longmeadow CC 35-38--73
T2) Cort Duda Longmeadow CC 39-34--73
T4) James Patterson Wyckoff CC 36 38--74
T4) Greg Fisk Longmeadow CC 37-37--74
T6) Kim Mertes Wyckoff CC 41-34--75
T6) Keith Burch Crumpin-Fox Club 36-39--75
T6) David Russell Easton CC 39-36--75
T6) Eric Simonson Pine Ridge CC 36-39--75
T10) Matt Maki Butter Brook Golf Club 39-37--76
Alternates
1st) James Ryan (Worthington GC 40-36--76
2nd) Brian Secia (Miacomet GC 42-34--76
