News Release
For Immediate Release: August 14, 2001
Eric McPhail held off a late charge by Michael Carbone today to capture the
Massachusetts Public Links Championship at Chicopee CC. McPhail, the 1998
champion, entered the day with a slim one-stroke lead over the field and was
never able to pull away. After making bogey on the 16th and 17th holes, McPhail
was forced to make a 3.5-foot putt on the final hole to salvage par and defeat
Carbone by a mere stroke. He finished at 5-under 137.
Carbone, who shot a 3-over 74 on the first day, was watching McPhail's round from the clubhouse after shooting the best round of the event. Following bogies on the 1st and 3rd holes, Carbone found his rhythm and posted zero bogies and eight birdies, including five on the back nine, from that point on.
Thomas Giles, a 2001 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship qualifier, played consistently on both days to earn sole possession of third place with a 3-under 139. Jacob Kutzy also made a run for the title after bettering his first-round score of 1-over 72 by four strokes. Kutzy shot a 32 on the front nine en route to a 3-under 68 for the day and a piece of third place.
Day 2 Highlights
• John Glynn delivered a hole-in-one on the 305-yard, par-4
9th hole. Glynn posted a 3-over 74 for the day and was 9-over 151 for the
event.
• William Link IV, who advanced to the second round of match play at
the 2001 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, claimed 7th place with even-par
141.
• First-round co-leader Daniel Engstrom finished in a three-way tie
for 4th place at 2-under 140.
Highlights From August 13, 2001:
McPhail and Daniel Engstrom posted 4-under par 67's to take a one-stroke lead after Day 1 of the Massachusetts Public Links Championship held at Chicopee CC. McPhail, the 1998 champion of this event, shot a 33 on the front nine after making birdie on the 7th, 8th and 9th holes. Engstrom shot a bogey-less round, capturing two birdies on both the front and back nine.
McPhail, the 1998 champion of this event, shot a 33 on the back nine after making birdie on the 7th, 8th and 9th holes. Kenny Lewis stands alone in second place with a 3-under 68 after a topsy-turvy round that included seven birdies and four bogies. Following a birdie on the par-5 2nd hole, Lewis made bogey on the next three holes. A birdie on the 7th hole got him back on track as he posted five birdies and only one more bogey from that point on.
Thomas Giles, who qualified for last month's U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, is two back of the leader at 2-under 69 along with Alan Sonnenberg.
The 99-player field will commence their second and final day of play tomorrow morning.
Day 1 Highlights:
• William Link IV, who advanced to the second
round of match play at the 2001 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, finished
his round at 1-under 71.
• Tele Wightman and Michael Carbone -- two of the most
promising young amateur players in the state -- finished at 2-over 73 and
3-over 74, respectively.
• Two players registered eagles on the day: Jeffrey
Goodwin on the par-5, 500-yard 15th hole and Daniel Falcucci on the par-5,
500-yard 2nd hole.