Headline: Matt Parziale Clinches Medalist Honors at 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur Sectional Qualifying Held at Maplegate Country Club

For Immediate Release: August 8, 2016

Matt Parziale

Bellingham, MA — On Monday, there was definitely no shortage of golf across the Bay State as the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship wrapped up at Waubeeka Golf Links while a USGA qualifier and a state qualifier also took place across Massachusetts.

At the U.S. Mid Amateur qualifier at Maplegate Country, a total of 64 competitors fought for four qualifying spots and an additional two alternate spots ahead of the 36th U.S. Mid Amateur Championship, being held at Stonewall Links in Elverson, Pennsylvania in early September.

At the first of two qualifiers to be held in Massachusetts, Brockton’s Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea GC) posted a 2-under par 70 to lead the group of four who qualified for the USGA event.

On his performance, Parziale said, “I figured coming in today that even-par would be a good score. It’s a difficult course, so I was very pleased the way I played.”

Parziale, the 2015 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Champion, had much to be pleased about as he overcame a bogey on the first hole, his only one of the day, with a birdie on the 4th hole, a 522-yard par-5, followed by 10 straight pars.

“I made a lot of good pars and hit a lot of good shots today,” said the two-time MGA Player of the Year. “I kept it out of trouble, and kept it in play at the tee. I didn’t have too many close birdie opportunities, but a lot of easy pars.”

On his final three holes, the Brockton firefighter fired back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 17th holes before making par to clinch his third appearance in the U.S. Mid Amateur Championship.

On his strong finish, Parziale said, “On 16, I decided to lay up off the tee and then lay up again instead of going for it. I was able to hit a wedge to about four feet. I made a good putt. On 17, I hit it a little long left and I was able to chip it in there. That was a good chip.”

In addition to Parziale, Kevin Silva (New Bedford, Mass.) Brad Valois (Warwick Rhode Island) and Antonio Grillo (Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.) posted scores of 71, 72 and 73, respectively, to earn the three remaining qualifying spots. Silva and Valois did it in 18 holes while Grillo had to overcome a 4-man playoff to finalize his position above the number of qualifiers.

Silva combined two birdies and 15 pars to finish at 1-under par 71, while Valois tallied four birdies en route to his even par finish.

Thomaston, Maine resident Ricky Jones took the first alternate spot in the 4-man playoff while Concord, Mass. resident Alex Jeffers, a 2016 MGA Amateur Championship semi-finalist, took the second alternate spot.

The MGA will be hosting a second one USGA Mid Amateur qualifier on Wednesday, August 10 at Stockbridge Golf Club. The first tee time is scheduled for 8:00 a.m.