The undulating 18th green at Vesper CC as well as the 17 other greens and their accompanying bunkers were all rebuilt last fall to their original specs in a very successful renovation project at the Donald Ross gem in Tyngsborough.

By Gary Larrabee

North Shore Golf and Tennis editor Bob Albright and I can tolerate each other on the golf course only once a year. I talk too much and wander off into the woods too often in search of grouse and gorillas. Bob? He tends to play his worst round of the year in my presence – just to irritate me, I guess. That and that he never fails to accidentally drive his golf cart into a bunker or through an out of bounds fence, since that’s where half his tee shots land.

Our annual “torture me/torture you” moment came on September 1 at one of our region’s finest layouts – Vesper Country Club in Tyngsborough, hard by the Merrimack River.

Bob and I gladly accepted Vesper president Paul Kaplan’s invitation to observe first hand the results of the club’s $1.5 million bunker/green restoration project from last fall. We wrote about it on this blog earlier this season, so it was time to see for ourselves. Accompanied by long-time golf chum Hank Ramini, at 78 the most senior member at Salem CC, we got the royal treatment from Kaplan, a four handicap when he is not working as a veterinary cardiologist.

No matter that we played on the 34th 90-plus degree day of the summer. This was Vesper. One of my five favorites in the region. None of us wanted to miss this chance. We were amply rewarded.

The overall Vesper golf experience, as expected, was five-star in every respect. The project, directed by Donald Ross restorer Brian Silva and worked by MacCurrach Construction (CEO Allan is son of Allan Sr., the late PGA Tour and USGA agronomist chief), received rave reviews in the summer 2010 issue of Golf Inc. magazine. Vesper surely did not need our validation, but I’m pleased to give it any way.

A course of Vesper’s pedigree deserved nothing but the best effort from Silva/MacCurrach and they appear to have gotten it. Keep in mind the underrated Alex Findlay built the club’s first nine holes on Tyng’s Island in 1895. Donald Ross, winner of the very first Massachusetts Open, played at Vesper in 1905, returned 14 years later to design a second nine and rework the original nine.

No surprise the 6726-yard, par-72 course has hosted a variety of MGA, NEGA and NEPGA championships and that the membership is pondering the extension of an invite to the USGA to host a national championship event. The tract is worthy after the recent renovation. Logistics may be the prime issue.

“We couldn’t be happier with the results,” Kaplan said after making birdie on our first hole Wednesday. “We may not be the longest championship course in the area but I’ll match our playability and shot qualities with any course around. And with our outstanding superintendent, Chris Morris, and his staff on top of every conceivable turf issue, we’ve never seen the course look or play better.”

With Salem in line to host (not yet finalized with the USGA) the 2016 U.S. Senior Open and Wellesley in the process of inviting the USGA to stage a second championship at their highly regarded facility, Vesper may have to wait for its chance. But it should happen.

Disclosure: Your humble agent, hoping merely to break 100 on a day when the heat index got that high, enjoyed a career-like round for 11 holes, at which point he had made two birdies and was four over par (three over for eight). Staggered down the stretch, got back to reality with a nine on the par-five 18th, and still was delighted to shoot 86. Albright asked me to take a urine and blood test after the round, encouraged by the presence of two physicians in our group. The tests proved negative.

Postscripts: Kaplan shot what was for him a disappointing 80; my beloved editor started and finished strong (never mind the middle 16 holes); and Ramini, a former Essex and Salem fourball champ, displayed his envied chipping/putting skills and walked off the home green as fresh as he was standing on No. 1 tee. Must be his Italian bloodlines.

Editor’s note: I can attest that a good portion of the above is fairly accurate and that my esteemed columnist, who displayed a syrupy smooth swing all afternoon while decked out in his best ’s Gilligan’s Island hat and black socks, was indeed en fuego — both literally and figuratively. Myself? Well, I was confident that on a 95-degree day I would be able to post a number just under the mercury on the thermometer. Turns out I needed a few more of those southern Merrimack Valley breezes bringing with them another five degrees or so. Not to worry. As both Gary and I agreed afterward, Vesper is one course that you don’t mind playing with temps in the mid 90s or beyond.

By Gary Larrabee

There was no indication before hand that former Salem Country Club golf director and Beverly resident Kirk Hanefeld would post a Champions Tour career-best T-6 finish this past weekend (Aug.6-7)  at the 3M Championship outside Minneapolis.

No way. The New Hampshire native had not been in contention all season, had placed in the top 25 only once in ten starts and, worst of all, he was plagued by a sore back.

“First time I’d ever had a back issue in my life,” Hanefeld, 64, revealed.

But to the pleasant surprise of the former University of Houston player and his legion of followers here on the North Shore, Hanefeld snapped out of what had been a playing slump and thrust himself back into contention for an exempt finish on the 2010 money list.

Hanefeld, with drugs masking his back symptoms, shot an impressive 68-64-68 for 200, 16 under par, won $66,500, and provided a major mental boost to his hopes for the rest of the campaign.  Amazingly, Hanefeld still lost the tournament by nine strokes to final round playing partner David Frost. But in the process Hanefeld nearly doubled his 2010 earnings to $137,000 and delivered a powerful reminder of what he’s capable of on the 50-and-over circuit.

“Let’s not get carried away,” Hanefeld said to his interviewer. “It was nothing other than a pretty good experience that I hope I can duplicate – maybe even improve upon – when I next tee it up in two weeks in Washington.”

The Champions Tour is off this week because of the PGA Championship and resumes next week at the Jen-Weld Tradition in Oregon, for which Hanefeld is not eligible.

Hanefeld must finish among the top 30 money winners, winning a lot more cash than in his prior four years (his best year was 2008, $181,000), to gain full exempt status for 2011. That would mean winning around $500 grand for the year. Or he must finish among the top 50 money winners to gain access into a majority of events; or he must place in the top five at Qualifying School in December, which would also get him into a dozen or so events, but nowhere near as many as he wants to play in.

Hanefeld has played in nine events in 2010 and is nguaranteed of playing in two of the remaining seven, with a chance of playing in more, based on his performance in Washington. If he should win an event, he’s all set. Whenever he finishes in the top 10, he is already exempt for the next event that’s not a major.

Hanefeld’s showing in the 3M came after developing the back problem while flying to Scotland for the Senior British Open. “I had limited mobility for the qualifier but won that with a 68, so I felt good that I could play with such an annoyance,” Hanefeld said. “But then it got worse leading into championship week at Carnoustie. I got my back treated six times in two days and couldn’t play practice rounds Tuesday and Wednesday. I was going to withdraw, but I owed it to myself to wait ‘til the last possible hour to pull out, just in case I could give it a go.

“Well, an hour before my 2:30 tee time Thursday I decided to try. I played terrible, flew home, got treatment for several days (he did not qualify for the following week’s U.S. Senior Open on the west coast), got lots of ice treatments, took anti-inflammatories, and I was able to reduce the pain a great deal for Minneapolis.”

Hanefeld next’ step was to undergo an MRI, if his back did not improve this week. But that decision had not yet been made when Hanefeld spoke with North Shore Golf and Tennis Magazine.

No matter. Hanefeld has much to build upon after the 3M Championship.

His opening 68 put him in the top 20, but his second-day 64, his career low in competition anywhere, thrust him into a tie for third place, two shots off the lead shared by two PGA Tour veterans, South African Frost and Mark Calcavecchia.

“As I’ve said all along, with me it’s my putter. When I’m making a fair share of 15- and 20-footers, I can contend, but that has not happened much since I’ve been out here. This weekend it did.”

Making his third appearance in the final grouping the final day, Hanefeld comported himself well shooting 68. But Frost bolted to a fast start, going six under in his first eight holes and ran away with the title by seven shots over runnerup Calcavecchia, who, like Hanefeld, shot 68.

“I was keeping David’s scorecard and I kept writing down three after three. He was amazing,” Hanefeld said. “No surprise. He and Mark have had fine careers on the regular Tour. It was time for David to win out here.”

Hanefeld got minimal airtime during the weekend on The Golf Channel’s coverage, but he was interviewed by Tim Rosaforte after his 64 and handled it well. “No gaffes,” Kirk joked, “I don’t think.”

So now he’s dealing with his back, hoiping to be ready for a last push to success, figuring he needs to win $250,000 to finish in the top 50 and a victory to finish in the top 30. He’s not certain how many of the remaining tournaments he’ll get in, but as he’s said before, “My playing can take care of all ofm it,” especially if he can play like he did in Minnesota.

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Swampscott's Steve DiLisio, who is featured on the cover of this month's magazine, repeated as the Boys Division champion at the Mass. Junior at Foxboro CC.

By Becky Blaeser, MGA

Different course, same result.

For the second straight year, Steven DiLisio captured the Boys Division title at the Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship. The 12-year-old who is a junior member at Salem Country Club and who was featured on the cover of July’s North Shore Golf & Tennis magazine, more than lived up to the billing by posting a two-round total of 11-over par 155 to win by a five-stroke margin at Foxboro CC.

“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. His 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. Speaking of the 2011 tournament, DiLisio and the rest of the field will have the opportunity of playing one of the top private courses in the area as Renaissance GC in Haverhill plays host to the prestigious event.

“I am extremely excited,” said Higgins, who got up-and-down from the right bunker to save par on the 18th hole. “I didn’t have a number in mind. I wanted to be aggressive for most of the day. I figured that if I could putt today then I would be ok.”

Higgins, a 35 year old from Bellingham, entered the third and final round three strokes back of the leaders but emerged - thanks to a final-round score of 3-under par 67 - in first place overall with a three-round total of 6-under par 204. Indian Ridge’s Colin Brennan (67-70-68 — 205) finished just one shot back, while Bass Rock’s Josh Salah (66-68-76 –210), who was tied for second coming into the final round, finished tied for 12th.

From the first hole, Higgins’ putting came through especially at critical points in the round. Following a bad drive off the 410-yard, par 4 1st tee, Higgins landed his third shot on the green and drained an eight-foot par putt to set the tone for the rest of the round. In total, he made four birdies - three of which came on the back nine - and one bogey on Thursday.

For Higgins - the 2008 Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year and two-time Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Champion - the victory is especially sweet since it marks his first major New England victory since he was reinstated as an amateur back in 1998.

“It was the biggest win of my golf career,” said Higgins, who becomes the second Bay State golfer to win this title in as many years. “I am still excited.”
With the wind picking up and players getting worn down by the conditions and the 54-hole march to the finish, Higgins appeared to gain strength with each passing hole.

After making the turn at even par 34, Higgins took a brief break on the 9th tee and proceeded to make his second birdie of the day on a challenging par-3 hole. He then made his move up the leaderboard by making back-to-back birdies on the 190-yard, par 3 15th and 553-yard, par 5 16th holes.
Interestingly, it was those two holes which marred what had been a near perfect tournament one day earlier. Heading into the 15th hole on Wednesday, Higgins was 3-under par for his round. He went on to make a double bogey on the 15th and then he made an incredible save from the right woods on the 16th hole for bogey.

“I had a horrible time on those two holes yesterday so I tried to forget everything I did yesterday,” said Higgins.

What he ended up doing was nothing short of incredible. He hit a cut 6 iron shot to 10 feet and rolled in an aggressive birdie putt (it bounced off the back of the hole). On the 16th hole, a good drive was followed by an approach that landed in the left bunker. Almost identical to the bunker shot he would go on to make on the 18th hole, Higgins hit his third shot to eight feet and made that putt to go 6-under par and take his first lead of the tournament.

“It was nice to make birdie, birdie there and I felt good heading into 17,” said Higgins.

Although he had never led before today, it seemed as if the stars were aligned for Higgins. After all, he was one of only two competitors in the 150-player field to score a hole in one this week. He made that incredible shot on Wednesday on the 213-yard, par 3 9th hole. Despite the fact that it came midway through a round that was riddled with stoppages (the players were pulled off the course due to lightening in the area on three different occasions), the shot kept him in a round that could have spelled certain doom for his title chances.

“I was shocked to see it go in,” said Higgins, who has made five holes in one over the course of his career. “It’s always great to make those shots, but to do it in a stroke play event is special.”

Making things interesting down the stretch were a handful of young guns - many of whom are some of the top collegiate stars in the country. Finishing in a tie for second place overall was Michael Ballo (Woodway CC), a Connecticut native who recently graduated from St. John’s University.

With Higgins in the clubhouse with a score of 6-under par for the tournament, Ballo had a chance to draw even on the 18th hole. His 20-foot birdie putt lipped out and ended Ballo’s last chance to win a New England Amateur Championship title. He plans to turn pro later this fall.

“I knew that it was good and when it came within a few inches of the hole I thought that it was going in,” said Ballo. “It was the worst lip out I have ever had in a tournament.”

Minutes earlier Higgins had stood on that same green except that he watched his key par putt roll 360 degrees and fall into the hole.

Weather, Weather Everywhere
Midway through the Wednesday afternoon wave, a series of storm systems rolled through the New Haven region and forced two postponements in play. Play resumed for the second time at 6:35 p.m. before the players were called off the course for the third and final time at 7:20 p.m.
As a result, tournament officials announced that the second round would be completed on Thursday morning beginning at 8:00 a.m. Following the completion of the second round, the field was cut to the low 40 scorers and ties.

Weather delays are nothing new to this event. One year ago, play was suspended for less than an hour on day one due to rainstorms that made the Portsmouth Country Club course unplayable. More favorable conditions followed and allowed the scheduled 72-hole event to finish on schedule. In 2007 and then again in 2008, however, the New England Amateur Championship was shortened to just 36-holes due to inclement weather. The last time that this event was shortened to 54 holes was in 2003 at Salem Country Club.

Shots of the Tournament
Despite the inclement weather, two players came through with the shots of the tournament on Wednesday. Bret Lawrence (Crestbrook Park GC) and Brian Higgins (Franklin CC) both carded holes in on during their second rounds of play at The Course at Yale.

After carding one bogey and two pars, Lawrence stepped up to the tee on the 212-yard, par 3 13th hole and sent a perfect 5-iron shot towards the middle-left hole location. Later in the afternoon, Higgins matched that ace on the 213-yard, par 3 9th hole. He too used a 5 iron to make that memorable shot.

Round 2 Highlights
Two weeks ago he won the Troy Invitational and last week he was victorious at the Vermont State Amateur Championship. Following two rounds of play at the New England Amateur Championship at The Course at Yale, Devin Komline (Dorset Field Club) is looking like he might go three-for-three. The East Tennessee State standout posted a two-day score of 7-under par 133 - including a stellar 6-under par 66 on Wednesday - to stand atop the leaderboard.

Going low is nothing new for Komline, but it’s not often that he makes the turn with an eye-popping score of 29! On Wednesday morning, that is exactly what the 20 year old accomplished on the front nine of The Course at Yale.
“I just knew when I stepped over the ball that it was going to be good,” said Komline. “It doesn’t happen often, but it happens.”

Following a par on the 410-yard, par 4 1st hole, Komline went on a tear which saw him card birdie on five of his next six holes. There were no 50-foot putts or chip ins. It was simply a dominating performance where Komline was finding fairways and putting himself in position to make birdie on each hole. In fact, he had only two putts outside of 10 feet during that first nine holes.

“I was just hitting it close on the front nine,” said Komline. “I didn’t make anything long. I made five putts between four and eight feet. I missed one eight footer, and that was about it.”

Although his back nine was less dramatic, he was consistent from start to finish. He drained his sixth and final birdie of the day on the 379-yard, par 11th hole and then made seven straight pars to cap off his bogey-free, 6-under par round.

“I am starting to take it lower more consistently,” said Komline. “I just figured if I could get under par going into tomorrow I would be in good shape because anything can happen with 36 holes.”

Nipping at Komline’s heels is his friend and golfing foe - Josh Salah (Bass Rocks GC) - who finished with a two-day total of 6-under par 134. Days after qualifying for Match Play at the Massachusetts Amateur Championship, Salah arrived in New Haven and has been playing impeccable golf.

On Tuesday, the 19 year old lit up the back side of the course by carding four straight birdies - on the 14th through 17th holes - to post a score of 4-under par 66. Although the results were quite as good on Wednesday, Salah still came through with a solid 2-under par 68.

“I was just hitting it close and I made the putts that I was supposed to,” said Salah, whose round featured two birdies - on the 11th and 12th holes - and 16 pars. “I didn’t do anything special. I just made putts under eight feet, got on a roll and kept it going.”

Hitting 18 greens in regulation certainly helped his cause today.

“I have probably only missed a handful of fairways and I’m knocking it close and hitting good wedge shots,” said Salah. “My ball striking and iron play is really good right now. Hopefully tomorrow they’ll all go in.”

A former high school standout from Gloucester who was one of the leading scorers for Sacred Heart University this past season, Salah has made it a mission to compete well this week in an event that includes friendly faces like his buddy Komline.

“It is probably the strongest field in any amateur tournament in New England,” said Salah. “You see your friends from junior golf and it’s fun just to compete.”

Several of the first-round leaders struggled to match their day-one performances as they battled the afternoon weather issues. Round-one leader Jonathan Pannone (Warwick CC) posted a score of 2-over par 72, while Garrett Medeiros (Metacomet CC) was 2-over par through 15 holes but made a great comeback by making birdie on two of his final three holes to post an even par 70.

Former MGA Executive Director Dick Haskell from Ipswich passed away Sunday at the age of 84. Photo courtesy of the MGA

By Gary Larrabee

The passing of Dick Haskell, Ipswich native, former Essex County Club, member and long-time executive director of the Massachusetts Golf Association (MGA), is the end of an era in Bay State golf history.

APPRECIATION

Haskell, who died at his Chestnut Hill home Sunday (July 11) at the age of 84 while working out on his treadmill (and presumably watching Paula Creamer win the U.S. Women’s Open), brought the MGA into the modern generation of golf administration. He created one of the top state organizations for golf administration in the country. The MGA became a national model for how a state golf association should be run for the benefit of its member clubs and golfers.

The former Sports Illustrated sales executive loved everything about golf. As his wife Betty told this writer, “Dick loved his family and he loved golf. He felt he was blessed with the best of both, the golf through the MGA.”

Golf was in his blood from boyhood days growing up in Ipswich. He caddied at Labor-in-Vain Country Club, Richard Crane’s nine-hole playground on his Crane Estate, and lost the Ould Newbury club championship to Charley Volpone before moving over to Essex CC, where he was a member for seventeen years. From there, after moving the family to Brookline, he joined The Country Club, where his family’s connection dates back to the 1800s.

He served in important capacities for the 1988 U.S. Open and 1999 Ryder Cup at The Country Club and played a vital role in the publishing of the MGA’s centennial volume and The Country Club’s golf history.

Joe Sprague, MGA executive director since 2007 and previously the executive director of the Rhode Island Golf Association, knew Haskell from both positions.

“Dick was a giant in golf administration throughout the country,” Sprague said, “and within the International Association of Golf Administrators.

“Personally, I was never happier than when Mr. Haskell called me after I got the MGA job and invited me to lunch at The Country Club. That was a sign of his approval which I will always cherish.”

Haskell received special honors in recent years from the MGA (the MGA Player of the Year award is named after him), the United States Golf Association and the Francis Ouimet Fund.

For many years he was MGA executive director while his son, R.D., playing out of The Country Club, contended in many state and regional competitions. Dick had game as a young fellow, but he experienced his finest moments as a player vicariously through his son’s performances.

On a personal note, Dick Haskell was an enthusiastic counsel when I began covering golf, first for The Beverly Times, and later during a 25-year career at The Salem News and as a correspondent for Golf World magazine, MassGolfer and North Shore Golf & Tennis. More recently, as I delved into the game from an historical perspective, Dick was often the first phone call I made to get an opinion or confirmation. His encouragement has continued to be invaluable as I’ve moved into the realm of writing golf and institutional histories.

One of the first occasions I had to enjoy his company was at the 1972 Massachusetts Junior at The Country Club, the shrine of Greater Boston golf. My kid brother Mark, now the head professional at Eastman Golf Links in New Hampshire, but then a caddy at Topsfield (now Ferncroft), in his first foray at competitive golf, qualified for the Junior with a 73 at Ould Newbury. My father and I, his biggest boosters, were shocked – pleasantly.

Thrust immediately into match play (the format then), the unknown Larrabee won three matches, two of them major upsets, on the course Ouimet made famous. Dad and I, walking every step of the way, were in heaven. He lost his semifinal match to one of the kingpins at the time in junior golf, Bob Caprera, 3 and 2, but what a wonderful ride it had been. That was Mark’s launching pad to a career as a golf professional. Yes, I’ve been living my golf dreams vicariously through him ever since. I remember meeting Dick Haskell that week at TCC, Dick’s home course by then, and no one was happier to see a dark horse burst into the limelight than the executive director himself. He embraced Mark’s success as if he were embracing Jack Nicklaus. That was the beginning of a near four-decade friendship I will savor forever.

We were kindred spirits, Haskell and this ink-stained wretch. He loved golf history as much as I did. That voice, his rare intelligence and insight that I relied on for so many years, has fallen silent. But as long as I am able to continue penning these historical documents, Dick Haskell’s imprint will live on.

Haskell never forgot his local roots. “I’ll always be a North Shore boy,” he said when profiled in The Green and Gold Coast: The History of Golf on Boston’s North Shore, 1893-2001. But a far more expansive golf community is grateful he spread his wings and served the game like few men have. He leaves a remarkable legacy to the game locally and beyond.

Andy Drohen gives younger brother, Bill, the read at last year's Mass Amateur at the Country Club. Drohen captured the title and will be at Myopia next week to defend his crown. David Colt photo

By Becky Blaeser, MGA

The time has come for the state’s top amateur competitors to take part in one of the most historic and grueling tests of golf in the Bay State.

Beginning on July 12th at Myopia Hunt Club in South Hamilton, a field of 144 players hailing from all parts of Massachusetts will take part in the 102nd Massachusetts Amateur Championship. The end goal for all is to capture the prestigious Commonwealth Cup, which has been won by golfing legends such as Francis Ouimet, Eddie Lowery, Gene Sarazon and Jesse Guilford.
Come Monday, all eyes will no doubt be on defending champion Bill Drohen (Brookmeadow CC), who will making his 2010 debut at the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. One year ago, Drohen made a memorable comeback from off-season shoulder surgery to capture his first-ever Massachusetts Amateur title by defeating two-time champion Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC) by a score of 4 & 3 at The Country Club.

This year Drohen will face a 144-player field that is loaded with talent including defending Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Champion Brian Higgins (Franklin CC) who will be looking to secure his second victory in July. One week ago, Higgins - who advanced to the Massachusetts Amateur finals in 2002 - captured the Worcester County Amateur by an impressive six-stroke margin.

“I haven’t had the best success in match play,” said Higgins who was defeated in the first round of Match Play last year after finishing as medalist during the stroke-play portion of the event. “It’s a mindset change and I historically have not adapted well from stroke to match play.  My goal is to win this year, as it is every year, and take it one step at a time.  Patience is the key, and I’ve become increasingly patient throughout my golf career.”

Here are a few reasons why Myopia Hunt Club should be a destination for all next week!

Spectator Amenities

*    Admission throughout the five-day event is free of charge for the general public.
*    This is a unique opportunity for golf enthusiasts to freely walk Myopia Hunt Club layout and enjoy an “inside the ropes” experience.
*    To help spectators plan ahead, starting times for Round 1 and Round 2 are now available as well as a special Myopia Hunt Club Program Guide that includes an aerial course map and an official MGA scorecard.
*    A scoreboard area will be set up outside of the clubhouse so that all spectators and players can follow all of the action.
*    Lunch and beverages will be made available for purchase on the Myopia Hunt Club patio that overlooks the practice putting green and 404-yard, par 4 18th hole.
*    Results will be posted online throughout the event at www.MGAlinks.org

Myopia: Vision of a World Apart

It was considered the best golf course in America at the beginning of the 20th century, chosen to host the U.S. Open Championship four times in 10 years. All four Opens in that early era were high-scoring affairs, prompting one respected journalist to label the course “the Alcatraz of U.S. Open venues”.

So goes just one of the many tales of Myopia Hunt Club, one of the 42 founding clubs of the Massachusetts Golf Association. That excerpt appeared in the MGA’s Centennial book “A Commonwealth of Golfers” and aptly describes the rich history and lore that surrounds the club that was established in 1875.

A respected venue for the best players in the world, Myopia Hunt Club served as host of the U.S. Open Championship in 1898, 1901, 1905, and 1908. The 72-hole winning score by Willie Anderson in 1901 was 331, a record high that still stands today. He defeated Alex Smith in an 18 hole playoff, 85 to 86, his highest 18 hole score of the tournament.

Walter Travis, the three-time U.S. Amateur champion and British Amateur winner, called the layout, “the best in the country… the creation largely of one man… with putting greens, mostly undulated, which are equal to the best anywhere in the world.”

Golf was first introduced at Myopia in 1894 with the creation of nine holes. Herbert C. Leeds - after joining Myopia in 1896 - was then charged with upgrading the layout already in place and, using Shinnecock Hills on Long Island as one of his models, created an inland links measuring 2,928 yards and offering, in the era of a guttapercha ball, a formidable test. As noted in “A Commonwealth of Golfers”, the course was a challenge “offered by its tight tee boxes, chocolate-drop mounds, bunkers and perversly sloped greens and fairways”.

Since that time, the course has undergone renovations and changes - most recently from 1995 through 2005 - but the vision of Leeds has lived on. Considered “a work in progress” to its creator, Myopia Hunt Club has always been a challenge to even the best of golfers. Leeds, for example, was known to follow top players who frequented his course (such as Harry Vardon and Bobby Jones) and “mark a spot where a good player’s poor drive came to rest, then build a bunker on that spot after the visitor left.” After all, he firmly believed that - as he once penned his scrapbook - “to eliminate change from any game is to spoil it.”

It’s beauty and expert design has led Myopia Hunt Club to become the only course in the United States to have been listed by Golf Magazine as having two of the United States’s top 100 signature holes, Myopia’s 4th and 9th. It is currently ranked #32 on the 2010 Golfweek’s Best Classic Courses and #78 on GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Courses in the United States.

Here are just a few special features of Myopia Hunt Club that players and spectators alike will enjoy next week.

*    Boasting the oldest continually running polo field in the nation, Myopia Hunt Club has bridle paths that are still in use on the golf course and are reminders of the club’s equestrian heritage. In fact, polo is still played on Sunday afternoons and is open to the public for a small fee.
*    Be sure to check out the 136-yard, par 3 9th hole - Myopia’s signature hole. It has been ranked by Golf Magazine as one of the top 100 golf holes in America.
*    Another nationally ranked hole is the 392-yard, par 4 4th hole. In his Pro Positions feature that appeared in the most recent issue of MassGolfer magazine, Safrin notes: “A dogleg left with a lateral hazard on the left side, this hole requires a drawn tee shot with a driver or 3-wood to set up a short iron into a punishing, uphill sloped green. Missed irons will feed into a gathering sand bunker strategically placed in the left front of the green. This is rated by Golf Magazine as one of the top 100 holes in America.”
*    The Pre-Revolutionary farmhouse was remodeled without altering its unique Colonial character. Its rambling porch overlooks the practice putting green and finishing hole.
*    The inside of the yellow, classic clubhouse offers a walk down memory lane. The dining room features tributes to the club’s past presidents… the 19th hole bar is wood paneled and has on display the many club trophies… and framed scorecards and wooden club championship boards line the hallways.

The Championship Course

*    The 144-player field will face a challenging 6,539-yard layout in South Hamilton.
*    The par 72 layout has a course rating of 73.2 and a slope rating of 135.
*    Unique hole locations will be set up for each day of competition by the MGA Championship staff.
*    Click here <http://www.mgalinks.org/championships/amateur/amateur_programbook_page1.pdf>  to view a PDF that shows an aerial view of the course and an official MGA scorecard.

The Best of the Best Amateur Competition
Over a five-day period, spectators will watch the state’s best players battle through two rounds of stroke play and three days of Match Play. The road to the championship title is considered one of the most grueling tasks as players must possess elite skill and endurance. Here are just some of the marquee players who will tee it up on Monday.

*    Bill Drohen (Brookmeadow CC) - The defending champion will look to become the first player since Frank Vana, Jr. to claim two straight Massachusetts Amateur Championship titles. One year ago, Drohen successfully rebounded from off-season shoulder surgery to battle his way to his first Massachusetts Amateur Championship titles. As a result of his work as a school teacher, Drohen has not been able to compete in many events thus far in 2010… but that does not seem to matter much since the 2009 Massachusetts Amateur Championship was also his first major tournament of that year!
*    Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC) - The nine-time Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year and two-time winner of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship came just shy of capturing his third title last year when he fell by a score of 4 & 3 in the final match to Bill Drohen. It marked the third time in his career that Vana has finished second in this event. If successful in 2010, however, Vana will become the eighth player in the 102-history of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship to win more than two such titles.
*    Brian Higgins (Franklin CC) - The 2008 Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year and defending Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Champion has never won the Massachusetts Amateur Championship title, but his recent performances lead many to believe that this may be his year. Over the past two weeks, Higgins finished second (to Vana) in the New England Invitational and first in the Worcester County Amateur. His best finish in the Massachusetts Amateur Championship came in 2002 when he finished as runner-up (he was defeated by Rob Oppenheim). Last year, Higgins finished as medalist following two rounds of stroke play after carding a 2-under par 138 but was defeated in the first round of Match Play by Chad Bouchard in 19 holes. Over the course of his amateur career, he has won one Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship and two Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championships.
*    John Hadges (Thorny Lea GC) - Two years ago at The Kittansett Club, Hadges became the first Massachusetts Amateur medalist (i.e. the player who posts the low score during the stroke play portion of the event) to win the title since James Driscoll accomplished that feat back in 1998 at Belmont Country Club. Earlier this season, Hadges was one of only six amateurs who advanced to the third and final round of the Massachusetts Open Championship.
*    Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich GC) - The only thing that could hold Doug Clapp back this year would be his work schedule. The lawyer by day is an accomplished player who earlier this year won his first-ever Norfolk County Classic title. He was forced to withdraw from this year’s Massachusetts Open Championship because of a work conflict.
*    Mike Dunham (Old Sandwich GC) - The former NHL goaltender who played for the New York Islanders, Atlanta Thrashers and New York Rangers and who now serves as the goaltending coach for the Islanders will be making a return to the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. This year marks the second straight year that he has qualified for both the Massachusetts Open and Massachusetts Amateur Championship.
*    Kevin Quinn (Charles River CC) - A perennial Match Play threat, Quinn stands as the last amateur player to have won the Massachusetts Open Championship (1999). If he were to win the Massachusetts Amateur Championship, he would become only the seventh golfer in history to capture both major MGA titles.
*    Ben Spitz (The Harmon Club) - The southpaw and 2006 winner of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship (and runner up in 2005) is coming off a strong performance at the 2010 Massachusetts Open Championship where he finished T14.

Who’s Missing?
With Bill Drohen looking to capture his second straight title, one name is conspicuously absent from the field. Bill’s older brother Andy Drohen (Crestview CC) - who won this title in 2003 at The Country Club and who served as caddy for Bill last year after failing to make Match Play - is not playing much golf this year after undergoing elbow and shoulder surgery. This marks the first time since his victorious 2003 campaign that he has not been in the event’s starting field.

Another important figure who will be noticeably absent from the field is the 2008 George M. Cohen MGA Senior Player of the Year Joe Keller (Oyster Harbors Club). Demonstrating how deep the amateur field is here in Massachusetts, Keller missed qualifying for this year’s event by a mere two strokes at Cape Cod Country Club on June 8. Had he advanced to Championship Proper, Keller would have been attempting to return to Myopia Hunt Club where - in 1996 - he lost in the finals of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship to current PGA Tour player James Driscoll. Over the course of his career, Keller has finished as runner up on three occasions, in 1988, 1996 and 1998.

A Family Affair
The Drohen brothers made family the name of the game at the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. When Bill Drohen captured the title in 2009, it marked the first time in the event history that a pair of brothers have won the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. Andy Drohen, who is five years older than Bill, won at The Country Club in 2003.

This year, another set of brothers will take to the course with hopes that they might - down the road - accomplish that same feat. Richy Werenski (The Orchards GC) and Mickey Werenski (The Orchards GC) - brothers separated by three years - both qualified for Championship Proper this year. One year ago, Richy, a 19-year-old freshman at Georgia Tech who shared low amateur honors at the 2010 Massachusetts Open Championship, made the trip to The Country Club last year to serve as caddy for his younger brother who missed the cut by three strokes. This time around, both players will need to find someone else to carry their bags as they aim to advance to Match Play for the first time in both of their young careers.

While the Werenskis represent the only brothers in the field, there are two sets of cousins who will hope for some family luck! Scott Congdon (Foxborough CC) and his older cousin Chris Congdon (Foxborough CC) came together earlier this season to post a score of 10-under par 72 during the final round of the Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship to finish second overall. Both players are in this year’s field and will tee off on the 11th tee just 10 minutes apart.

Another cousin duo featured this year are Dave Tasho (Thorny Lea GC) and Steve Tasho (Thorny Lea GC). Steve Tasho was victorious at this event in 1981 and 1985, while Dave Tasho won his first Brockton City Open in 2009.

Super Seniors
While the youngsters in the field draw much attention, there is a strong contingent of senior firepower in this year’s field. Highlighting that impressive group of players over the age of 55 is the marquee threesome of Paul Murphy (Charles River CC), Robert Linn (Berkshire Hills CC) and Alistair Catto (The Orchards GC). Those three competitors will tee off at 8:40 a.m. on Monday off the first tee. Alone they have impressive resumes, but together they are simply inspiring.

Over the course of his career, Murphy has competed in at least 29 Massachusetts Amateur Championships and 14 USGA Championships and won the 2006 New England Senior Championship. He is also coming off a 2009 season in which he won the Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship… it came 21 years after he won his first-ever Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship.

Catto, a Scotland-native and Amherst College graduate who was the 2007 George M. Cohen MGA Senior Player of the Year, advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship that year. Previously, he had competed in three U.S. Amateurs (1987, 1990, 1995) and the 1990 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

Linn, meanwhile, is the youngest of the three who made a splash during his first year of eligibility for senior amateur events. He won the 2009 New England Senior Amateur Championship, finished T3 at the Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship and represented Team Massachusetts at the 2009 Tri-State Team Match.

The Numbers Game

*    768 - the number of entries received
*    144 - the size of the 2010 field
*    144 - the approximate* number of holes that will be played by the eventual champion and runner up over the five-day period
*    121 - the number of qualifying spots available
*    66 - the age of the oldest competitor in this year’s field. Dave Houghton (The Captains GC) turned 66 years old on June 19.
*    40 - the number of holes needed to decide the 1993 winner of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship at Essex County Club. That stands as the longest extra 36 hole Match in the event’s history.
*    23 - the number of exempt players who registered
*    16 - the age of the youngest competitor in this year’s field. Mickey Werenski (The Orchards GC) turned 16 years old on May 15.
*    12 - the number of qualifying sites used to determine the 2010 Championship Proper field
*    7 - the most Massachusetts Amateur Championship titles won by a competitor. Frederick J. Wright, Jr. won the title in 1920, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931 and 1938.
*    6 - the most number of players in the 2010 field representing the same club (Thorny Lea GC). This marks the second straight year that the Brockton course has enjoyed this honor. Representing Thorny Lea Golf Club this year are Steven Burak, John Hadges, Robert Mancini, Christopher Tarallo, Dave Tasho and Steven Tasho.
*    4.4 - the MGA/USGA GHIN Handicap Index requirement for all 2010 entrants
*    4 - the number of years that Myopia Hunt Club has hosted the Massachusetts Amateur Championship (1903, 1955, 1985 and 1996).
*    4 - the most consecutive Massachusetts Amateur Championship titles won by a competitor. Frederick J. Wright, Jr. won the event in 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1931. Francis Ouimet won three straight titles beginning in 1913 (the same year he was victorious at the U.S. Open Championship held at The Country Club).
*    2 - the most Massachusetts Amateur Championship titles won by a competitor in the 2009 field. Frank Vana, Jr. won the title in 2004 and 2005 and Steve Tasho (Thorny Lea GC) was victorious in 1981 and 1985.
*    1 - the number of champions to be crowned on Friday, July 17

Qualifying Feature Stories

*    Surging Veteran Doug Clapp Takes Qualifying All in Stride; Qualifies With Ease for 2010 Massachusetts Amateur Championship <http://www.mgalinks.org/about-us/news/2010/news_2010_060710.html>
*    Veteran Donald Foberg and Youngster Christopher Melvin Steal the Show During Day 2 of Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying <http://www.mgalinks.org/about-us/news/2010/news_2010_060810a.html>
*    Keith Orlen Makes Most of His Time on the Links… Leads a Field of 21 Qualifiers During Day 3 of 2010 Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying <http://www.mgalinks.org/about-us/news/2010/news_2010_060910.html>
*    David Holmes Set the Stage for Another Championship Memory … Headlines a Field of Seven Qualifiers During Day 4 of MGA Amateur Qualifying <http://www.mgalinks.org/about-us/news/2010/news_2010_061010.html>
*    Veteran Bill Shipman Gives a Lesson on Qualifying; Leads a Field of 10 Qualifiers at Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying Held at Ludlow Country Club <http://www.mgalinks.org/about-us/news/2010/news_2010_061410.html>
*    Michael Philipp Is Enjoying a Week of Firsts… Including a Course Record Score of 5-under par 67 During Day 6 of MGA Amateur Qualifying <http://www.mgalinks.org/about-us/news/2010/news_2010_061510.html>
*    Dave Turgeon and Herbie Aikens Fire Medalist Scores of 1-under par 71 in Needham to Cap Off Seven Days of Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying <http://www.mgalinks.org/about-us/news/2010/news_2010_061610.html>

Schedule of Play

Monday, July 12, 2010
First Round, 18 Holes Stroke Play
- Morning Tee Times Begin at 7:30 a.m.
- Afternoon Tee Times Begin at 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Second Round, 18 Holes Stroke Play
- Morning Tee Times Begin at 7:30 a.m.
- Afternoon Tee Times Begin at 12:00 p.m.
(The low 32 scorers continue on to Match Play Competition. In the event of a tie, a sudden-death playoff will be used to determine the final Match Play competitors.)

Wednesday, July 14, 2010
First Day of Match Play
- Round of 32 Matches Begin at 8:00 a.m.
(Remaining 16 move on to afternoon match)
- Round of 16 Matches (Afternoon)
(Remaining 8 move on to Thursday’s matches)

Thursday, July 15, 2010
Second Day of Match Play
- Quarterfinal Matches Begin at 8:00 a.m.
(Remaining 4 move on to Semifinals)
- Semifinal Matches (Afternoon)
(Remaining 2 move on to Finals)

Friday, July 16, 2010
Third Day of Match Play
- Morning 18 Holes Begin at 8:00 a.m.
- Afternoon 18 Holes Begin 45 minutes following the conclusion of the morning round.
(In the event of a tied match, (a) the winner shall be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole playoff, and (b) the stipulated round is deemed to extend to as many holes as are required for a match to be won.)

* this number does not include any playoff holes required following stroke play and any additions or reductions in the number of holes during Match Play.

Country Club of Billerica (Billerica, MA)
Par 69 (34-35)
Qualifiers
T1) Jack Whelan (Myopia Hunt Club) 33-37-70
T1) Jason Steele (Ferncroft CC) 36-34-70
3) Chris Rollins (Waltham, MA) 36-35 71
T4) Donny Hunt (Renaissance GC) 34-39-73
T4) Adam Goldstein (Newton Commonwealth GC) 37-36-73
T6) Warren Hill (Cohasset GC) 37-37-74
T6) Jack Ronan (Carriage Pines GC) 38-36-74
T8) Kevin Burpee (Charles River CC) 35 40-75
T8) Tim Cunningham (Meadow Brook GC) 35 40-75
T8) Ian Ballantyne (The Country Club 34-41-75
T11) Stephen Parise (Vesper CC) 39-38-77
T11) Jamie Shaughnessy (The Harmon Club 38-39-77
T13) John Steele (Concord CC) 36-42-78
T13) Pete Lawlor, Jr. (Vesper CC) 39-39-78
T13) Ryan Richard (Ipswich CC) 37-41-78
T13) Brian Butler (West Dennis , MA 37-41-78
T17) Brian Delgreco (Lexington GC) 35 44-79
T17) Dan Hemme (Thomson CC) 40-39-79
T17) Michael Pulido (Andover, MA 38-41-79
20) Andrew Noble (Brae Burn CC) 36-44-80
T21) Nick Drago (Plymouth CC) 37-44-81
T21) Deklan Robinson (Myopia Hunt Club 40-41-81
T21) Robert Sylvestro (Plymouth CC) 41-40-81
T21) Jonathan Cooper (Segregansett CC) 39-42-81
T25) Zach Rothschild (Blue Hill CC) 41-41-82
T25) Pat Burpee (Charles River CC) 42-40-82
T25) Riley Whitham (Hudson, MA 41-41-82
T28) Andrew Wester (Concord CC) 39-44-83

Alternates
1st) Brett Thomas (Medfield, MA_ 41-42-83 T28
2nd) Durham Ghelfi ***2nd Alternate Ballymeade CC) 39-44-83 T28

2010 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Qualifying
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Brookside Club (Bourne, MA)
Par 70 (35-35)

Qualifiers
T1) Rui Lima (Cape Cod CC) 39-37-76
T1) Stephen Visco (Miacomet GC) 37-39-76
T1) Thomas Tomasian III (Cranberry Valley GC) 36-40-76
T4) Jeff Burkey (Pinehills GC) 37-40-77
T4) Dave Houghton (The Captains GC) 40-37-77
T4) John Wynn (Granite Links GC) 38-39-77
T7) Stephen Lieberwirth (Bayberry Hills GC) 38-40-78
T7) Brian Neves (Sandwich Hollows CC) 40-38-78
T7) Phil Fratantonio (Hyannis GC) 42-36-78
T7) Bruce Wedge (Bay Pointe CC) 38-40-78
T7) Jeffrey Duggan (The Captains GC) 43 35 78
T7) Joe Walker (Dennis Pines GC) 44-34-78
T7) Tim Stundis (Olde Scotland Links 36-42-78
T7) Rick Cunha (Pinehills GC) 41-37-78

Alternates
1st) Tim Hinchey (Pine Oaks GC) 38-40-78
2nd) Marty Burke (MGA Links at Mamantapett) 42-37-79

Mass. Open champ James Hazen chips on to the green during his final round at Wellesley CC Wednesday. David Colt photo

Wellesley, MA — The first call that James Hazen (Miller Place, NY) made after tapping in his par on the 625-yard, par 5 18th hole for a final score of 6-under par 204 was to his father back home. At first the elder James Hazen was skeptical about the news that his son had just won his second career title since there were still golfers on the course.

However, minutes later the 28-year-old Hazen called his “Pop” back again to give him the news that he was indeed the 2010 Massachusetts Open Champion. Hazen captured the title with a one-stroke victory over second-place finishers Scott Hawley (Shrewsbury, MA), Jim Renner (Plainville, MA), Jimmy Lytle (Ocean Ridge, FL) and Jeff Castle (Baltimore, MD) on the grounds of historic Wellesley CC. Kernwood head pro Frank Dully (72-72-71, 215) finished tied for 17th at 5-over-par and was the top local finisher

“He didn’t sound too excited at the beginning,” said Hazen, who had to wait by the 18th green to see if Hawley could make birdie on the final hole to match his score of 6-under par. “When I called him back he was really excited. Like I said, he is my number one fan and my biggest supporter.”

A career mini-tour player who captured the New York State Open in 2006, Hazen entered this week’s tournament looking to gain some momentum heading into the heart of the summer season. After disappointing results over the past few weeks, Hazen looked to swing coach Matt Denzer from the David Leadbetter Academy in Florida for some guidance and swing adjustments. The training has paid off. In the past month, Hazen qualified for U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying and has now captured his second career title.

“My big thing is that I was geared up to get to U.S. Sectionals for a second year in a row and to do well in these tournaments,” said Hazen, who also took home a winner’s check for $15,000. “I was working hard with my coach and it filtered into this week.”

Three strokes off the lead heading into the final round, Hazen methodically made his way around Wellesley’s Centennial Course, took advantage of birdie opportunities and made few mistakes on the 6,903-yard layout. He made the turn at 1-under par 34 and then made his move by carding back-to-back birdies on the 471-yard, par 4 11th and 461-yard, par 4 12th holes. Although he dropped a stroke two holes later, he made up for the miscue by making his fifth birdie of the day on the 541-yard, par 5 15th hole.

“When I turned at 1 under and then birdied 11 and 12 and got to 6 under, I knew that I was at the meat of the golf course so I figured that I had a chance,” explained Hazen. “I bogeyed 14 and needed a good swing on 15 down the fairway to right the ship which I made.”

His poise was undeniable through his final three holes. In fact, while other players were losing their tee shots off the 18th tee, Hazen left himself an uphill 15-foot birdie putt on that hole which came inches from dropping in. At that point, Hazen had to sign his scorecard, catch up with friends and wait for the final two groups to finish. When it was all said and done, Hazen was simply relieved.

“When I showed up at the beginning of the week I saw that it was a tee shot golf course and that is usually the strength of my game because I am pretty straight off the tee,” said Hazen. “The reason I am sitting here now is that I cleaned up extremely well this week. From five or six feet in, I can count on one hand how many I missed this week.”

One person waiting anxiously for Hazen is a name familiar to Bay State golfers – Ryan Reilly, the 2009 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links and two-time Massachusetts Four-Ball Champion. Former teammates and roommates at Sacred Heart University, Reilly was on hand in Wellesley with his two young children and was one of the first to congratulate his longtime friend. After all, Hazen was the best man in Reilly’s wedding and is godfather to Reilly’s daughter Brianna. Now both men can say that they have yet another thing in common – they are both MGA Champions.

“Anytime you can get a win under your belt against a field like this – it’s a great feeling,” said Hazen. “After the Vermont Open, I’m going to go back down to Florida to work with my coach and celebrate a little bit.”

And Low Amateur Honors Go To…
Capturing low amateur honors this year was a seasoned veteran and an up-and-comer from Georgia Tech. Former professional player Mike Calef (Brockton CC) and 18-year-old Richy Werenski (The Orchards GC) both posted final scores of 1-over par 211 to finish in a tie for 11th-place overall.

For Calef this marks the second time in his career that he finished as low amateur. The first such honor came back in 2008.

“That was one of my first events back as an amateur,” said Calef, who represented Team Massachusetts at the 2009 Tri-State Team Matches. “I didn’t know what to expect (back then), and I just went out there and played and that kind of happened. Once you do it once, you know what to expect.”

Consistency was the key to Calef’s game all week long. Following identical scores of even par 70 on Monday and Tuesday, Calef found himself 2-under par on Wednesday and threatening the top 10 overall. Unfortunately for the 32-year-old from West Bridgewater, he suffered a bogey on the 211-yard, par 3 13th hole and then a double bogey – his first and only of the tournament – on the 226-yard, par 3 17th hole to post a final score of 1-over par 71.

Despite the rocky finish, Calef couldn’t help but be pleased with his finish against a field of professional golfers who have much more time to hone their skills.

“I definitely had my sights set on low amateur,” said Calef. “If I could do that then it’s fantastic.”

Werenski, meanwhile, has a summer packed full of amateur golf events and he was thrilled to come through with a strong finish at this marquee Bay State championship.

“This was a big tournament for me and I wanted to do well,” said Werenski, who was 4-under par and just two strokes off the overall lead heading into the third and final round. “Being from Massachusetts, it was an opportunity to finally get my name out there a little bit more than it already is. I am happy with low amateur. I didn’t have my best round today, but it’s kind of tough when you’re in contention. I was two shots back and they call us amateurs for a reason. We still have a lot of stuff to work on.”

Following impressive under-par rounds on Monday and Tuesday, Werenski struggled a bit with the tougher course conditions and the pressure of battling for a title and capped off his week with a 5-over par 75. Still, there are many positives to take away from this event as he looks forward to competing in next month’s Massachusetts Amateur Championship.

“I felt really relaxed in the first two rounds and today obviously it was hard,” said Werenski, who began his freshman campaign at Georgia Tech in January. “Once you make a bogey or two, you try and force a birdie and you don’t play the golf course. The positive is that I played relaxed the first two days… I had a couple of bad breaks out there today, but I didn’t play terrible. I don’t feel like I blew up or that the pressure got to me.”

The Shot of the Day
Jon Curran (Framingham, MA) may not have won the title, but he delivered the shot of the day by making a hole in one on the 211-yard, par 3 13th hole. Heading into that hole, Curran was 1-under par for the day and looking to make a move up the leaderboard for a strong finish. His wish came through on that par 3 hole as his hybrid shot off the tee rolled into the cup for a magical “1″. Regardless of his finish today, it has been a memorable week for the Hopkinton native who was the only Bay State golfer to advance to the 2010 U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links (CA).

Second-Round Leader Curse
It was not the finish that the two second-round leaders were looking for. After battling their way to first place following the first 36 holes, second-round co-leaders Jim Renner and Scott Hawley struggled on day three and lost their delicate grip on first place.

Renner, who captured this title in 2008 and was looking for his third title in 2010 (he was victorious at two NGA Hooters Tour events this year), appeared to be focused as he made a difficult up-and-down save for par on the 1st hole and then drained a birdie putt from the fringe on the 364-yard, par 4 2nd hole. He then entered a disappointing stretch where he made bogey on six of his next 11 holes to fall out of contention. He battled back admirably, however, and played 3-under par golf through his final five holes. That stretch included an eagle – on the 541-yard, par 5 15th hole – and a birdie.

The difficulties started early for Hawley who was seeking his first-ever MGA Championship title. The Shrewsbury native and current Canadian Tour player dropped four shots through his first three holes to dig a hole that he could not recover from on Wednesday. Following a strong drive down the middle of the fairway on the 412-yard, par 4 1st hole, Hawley watched his approach sail over the green and suffered a double bogey. He went on to leave his birdie putt on the next hole – the 364-yard, par 4 2nd hole – short and then succumbed to another double bogey on the 3rd hole.

Much like his playing partner Renner, grit and determination defined his final few holes. Following that second double bogey, Hawley carded four birdies and two bogies to find himself just one stroke off the lead heading into the final hole. To get to that critical point, Hawley drained a 65-foot birdie putt on the 226-yard, par 3 17th hole. Although an errant drive ended his chances for a title, his performance did earn him his best career finish at this event.

The Big Break Comes to the Bay State
Two former participants in the Golf Channel’s The Big Break – David Gunas (Amston, CT) and Eugene Smith (Glen Ridge, NJ) – show traveled to Massachusetts this week to take part in the Massachusetts Open Championship.

Smith, one of the Big Break Prince Edward Island contestants, advanced to the final round of this year’s championship by posting a two-round total of 2-over par 142 to make the cut.

After a first-round score of 4-over par 74, he came through with a 2-under par 68 to secure his spot in the final round. It marked the second time that Smith narrowly missed the cut. One month ago at the Country Club of Pittsfield, Smith survived an eight-hole playoff to secure one of the final qualifying spots and earn the right to compete at Wellesley Country Club this week.

An accomplished collegiate player, Smith was victorious at the 2000 NCAA Big East Championship and was the Seton Hall Athlete of the Year in 2001. A Canadian Tour veteran also once shot 59 at his home course in New Jersey in a round that included a hole in one. In 2009, Smith competed on The Big Break and advanced to the show’s eighth episode where he was eliminated in a challenge that featured each competitor holing out from three short-game locations surrounding the fourth green at Mill River Golf Resort in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Another player who enjoyed the same experience was Gunas who was a two-time The Big Break competitor. He participated in The Big Break II and was then welcomed back to take part in The Big Break VII Reunion Show.

Prior to his national fame, Gunas — who was not recruited out of high school — played his way to a full scholarship at the University of Hartford where he not only won his first tournament but he also roomed with current PGA Tour stars Jerry Kelly and Tim Petrovic. Over the course of his professional career, Gunas won 28 professional tournaments and has shot 9-under-par for 18 holes on two occasions.

Massachusetts Open Championship Fun Facts

• More than 400 golfers (404) competed for 92 spots at six MGA Open qualifying sites. A total of 150 advanced to Championship Proper.
• This year’s starting field was comprised of 151 professional and 49 amateur competitors.
• The first Massachusetts Open Championship was contested in 1905 at Vesper Country Club and won by Donald Ross.
• This year’s event marked the third Massachusetts Open Championship held at Wellesley Country Club (1985, 1999, 2010).
• Since its debut in 1905, there have been 63 Champions crowned and 38 sites used to host this championship.
• To this day, Oyster Harbors Club has hosted the most Open Championships – seven in 11 years (1932, 1934, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942)
• A total of 17 clubs have hosted three or more Massachusetts Open Championships
• Alex Ross and Geoffrey Sisk have won the most Championships (six each!). Alex Ross captured the title a record five years in a row from 1906 through 1910.
• The longest any champion has ever gone between winning two Massachusetts Open Championships is nine years (Jesse P. Guilford: 1919, 1929).

The two-week ticket window not only allows fans to guarantee they get their tickets to see the PGA TOUR’s top 100 golfers in the FedExCup playoffs at the Deutsche Bank Championship from Aug. 31-Sept. 6 at TPC Boston, but features the added incentive of some spectacular promotions.

Anyone who purchases tickets online or over the phone with a MasterCard will be automatically entered in a drawing to win a “Priceless Boston Red Sox Experience.” The grand prize includes four Green Monster tickets to the Red Sox-Yankees game on Oct. 1, dinner in the State Street Pavilion, a pre-game tour of Fenway  Park and a $200 MasterCard gift card. In addition, four first-place prizes, which include two tickets to a Red Sox game in September, will be awarded. All fans using a MasterCard to purchase tickets to the Deutsche Bank Championship during the two-week ticket window will also receive 5 percent off their orders.

In addition, anyone who purchases tickets online or over the phone will be able to enter a free drawing to win a package trip for two to Ireland, courtesy of Tourism Ireland. This prize package includes a round-trip flight from either Boston or New York, six nights of first-class hotel accommodations with a daily Irish breakfast, a seven-day rental car with unlimited mileage and a 100 Ireland Guide and Ireland discount voucher booklet.

Complete rules for both contests are available online at www.dbchampionship.com. No purchase necessary.

Fans attending the 2010 Deutsche Bank Championship will be treated to a better experience than ever before when the PGA TOUR’s best players come to TPC Boston on Labor Day weekend.

This year, the Deutsche Bank Championship will feature spectator enhancements that include more bleacher seating throughout the golf course and expanded VIP and Premium Access options that will give fans more opportunities to catch the action up close and in unprecedented ways.

“We are striving to make the 2010 Championship our best yet,” said Eric Baldwin, Championship Director for the Deutsche Bank Championship. “We have added some great new spectator enhancements and ticket incentives that we’re sure will be well-received, and we’ll continue to offer all of the kids’ activities and other fan-experience elements that have been so popular each year of the Championship.”

For fans purchasing grounds tickets, there will be more bleacher seating and an exciting new spectator venue at the 17th tee, called the Overlook. The Overlook is open to all spectators and features a unique atmosphere to socialize with friends, grab a glass of Beringer wine or a cocktail and watch golfers tee off on the 17th hole or finish up on the 18th. It features bleachers facing the 17th tee and an expansive open-air patio overlooking the 18th fairway and green.

For those seeking a Premium Access experience, the MasterCard Club along the 17th fairway is new and improved this year, featuring a new video board to help fans follow the action all over the golf course. The double-decker pavilion offers a unique experience that features the Gosling’s Rum Dark ’n Stormy Tavern, a retail food court, courtyard seating outside and stadium-style seating upstairs. Spectators can enjoy a Boston Red Sox experience with a Green Monster replica and a World Series trophy on display, have the opportunity to take part in PGA TOUR player meet and greets and take pictures with the FedExCup trophy.

New this year is the Delta Global Pavilion, a VIP hospitality pavilion located adjacent to the exciting par-3 16th hole at TPC Boston. Tickets to the Delta Global Pavilion include complimentary premium food and beverage service, stadium seating, an air-conditioned interior and 5,000 complimentary Delta SkyMiles that can be used toward a future flight or redeemed for $50 in merchandise at the Delta SkyMiles Marketplace online. Only 200 tickets are available for each of the four competition rounds in this exclusive pavilion, and they are expected to sell out quickly.

Deutsche Bank Championship week features professional practice rounds Tuesday and Wednesday and the Championship Pro-Am on Thursday before the four-round, 72-hole PGA TOUR Playoff event takes place Friday-Monday (Labor Day).

Tuesday, Aug. 31 will kick off Military Appreciation Week – all active-duty U.S. military personnel, U.S. military retirees and other veterans will be allowed complimentary grounds admission (with their military ID or proof of military service) for each day of the Deutsche Bank Championship, Aug. 31-Sept. 6.

New England’s favorite Labor Day sporting tradition, the 2010 Deutsche Bank Championship features a $7.5 million purse and a $1.35 million winner’s check. It enters its fourth year as a PGA TOUR Playoffs event and is the second of four stops in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. Its distinguished list of champions includes Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh (twice), Steve Sticker, Adam Scott and Olin Browne.

Details on all ticket options are available at the Championship’s revamped website, www.dbchampionship.com. Golf fans can also follow the latest news surrounding the Deutsche Bank Championship online by joining the Championship’s Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/DeutscheBankChampionship, and the Championship’s official Twitter page at www.twitter.com/DBChampionship.

The following ticket packages can be purchased for two weeks only, from June 18-July 4, or until sold out:
SINGLE- AND MULTIPLE-DAY GROUNDS-ONLY ADMISSION OPTIONS
GROUNDS-ONLY ADMISSIONS – $25, $55
Practice/Pro-Am Rounds (any one day Tuesday through Thursday): $25 each
Competition Rounds (any one day Friday through Monday): $55 each

COMPETITION SERIES BOOKLET — $175
One (1) booklet of four (4) grounds-only competition round tickets (one ticket per day, Friday through Monday)
SINGLE- AND MULTIPLE-DAY PREMIUM ADMISSION OPTIONS
MASTERCARD CLUB BOOKLET – $275 ($250 when purchased with a MasterCard)
▪     One (1) Weekly MASTERCARD CLUB  TICKET booklet (Tuesday through Monday). Each booklet contains one ticket  for each day of the Championship
▪     The MASTERCARD CLUB is an  upscale, double-decker pavilion, spectator experience and golf viewing  venue along the 17th fairway and offers a variety of enhanced  spectator activities such as the Gosling’s Rum Dark ‘n Stormy  Tavern

MASTERCARD CLUB FOURSOME PACKAGE – $275 ($250 when purchased with a MasterCard)
▪     Four MASTERCARD CLUB TICKETS  for the competition round of your choice (Friday-Monday).

MASTERCARD CLUB TWOSOME PACKAGE – $175 Competition Rounds, Friday-Monday ($155 when purchased with a MasterCard)
▪     Two MASTERCARD CLUB TICKETS for  the competition round of your choice (Friday-Monday).

DELTA GLOBAL PAVILION VIP EXPERIENCE – $200 Friday - Sunday, $250 Monday (Only 200 available each day)

§         Exclusive access to the Delta Global Pavilion located on the 16th tee
▪     Complimentary catered food and beverage service,  including lunch, afternoon snacks, beer, wine, spirits (including the  Gosling’s Rum Dark ‘n Stormy Tavern) and soda
▪     5,000 Delta SkyMiles that can be redeemed toward  airline tickets, mileage upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, Delta Sky  Club memberships, merchandise and the SkyMiles Online auction. (Click here  to view all ways to use miles: http://www.delta.com/skymiles/use_miles/index.jsp)
▪     10% discount in the merchandise tent on site  during Championship week
▪     One (1) VIP Blue Lot parking pass
▪     Complimentary transportation via the  “Delta Shuttle” between the Blue Lot parking area and TPC  Boston
About Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank is a leading global investment bank with a strong and profitable private clients franchise. A leader in Germany and Europe, the bank is continuously growing in North America, Asia and key emerging markets. With 80,849 employees in 72 countries, Deutsche Bank competes to be the leading global provider of financial solutions for demanding clients creating exceptional value for its shareholders and people.

www.db.com

About IMG Sports & Entertainment
Operating in 30 countries, IMG Sports & Entertainment’s diverse businesses include: product and brand licensing; consulting services; event ownership and management; fashion events and models representation; golf course design; and client representation in golf, tennis, broadcasting,
speakers, European football, rugby, cricket, motor sports, coaching, Olympic and action sports.

IMG Academies are the world’s largest, multi-sport training and educational facilities, delivering world-class training experiences to more than 12,000 junior, collegiate, adult, and professional athletes each year. More information about IMG is available at www.imgworld.com.

About TPC Boston
Originally designed by legendary player/designer Arnold Palmer, TPC Boston’s award-winning layout was re-designed in 2007 by celebrated golf course architect Gil Hanse, with PGA TOUR player Brad Faxon serving as a consultant. The result is a compelling par-72, 7,241-yard masterpiece named by Golf Digest the “Best Private Remodel of 2007.”

Crafted to fit seamlessly into the natural New  England landscape, lush fairways and Bentgrass greens traverse gently rolling hills, with stands of mature trees, chocolate-drop mounds, numerous wetland areas, fescues and native grasses, and 92 deep bunkers creating a stunning

backdrop for this superb test of golf in Norton’s Great Woods. While challenging enough for the best players in the world during the Deutsche Bank Championship, five sets of tees on each hole make the course enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels.

At TPC Boston, remarkable golf is just the beginning of an outstanding PGA TOUR experience.