By: Stephen Hanjack
shanjack@massgolf.org
FALMOUTH, Massachusetts (May 7, 2024) – On Tuesday, 72 players teed it up at U.S. Open Local Qualifying at Sacconnesset Golf Club (Falmouth, MA) with hopes of advancing one step closer to the 2024 U.S. Open.
For Raymond Dennehy (Oak Hill CC) and Arthur Zelmati (George Wright GC), the day – and golf for that matter – appeared to be stress free. Dennehy earned medalist honors with a stunning 67 (-5), while Zelmati posted 70 (-2).
In a playoff, Will Frodigh (Dedham Country & Polo Club) and Nick Maccario (GreatHorse) both advanced, taking widely different routes in doing so. Frodigh was the lone professional to advance through Local Qualifying at Sacconnesset.
Tuesday’s qualifiers will now compete in U.S. Open Final Qualifying, which is 36 holes and is contested at 13 different sites. The 2024 U.S. Open will be contested at Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, NC.
On a day that could only be described as perfect, UConn’s Raymond Dennehy looked, well, perfect. Dennehy is no stranger to the Mass Golf scene, but comes into 2024 looking like a new man. Having just wrapped up his junior year at UConn, one has to wonder if there is something in the water out in Storrs, and perhaps the success of the UConn Basketball team is infectious.
Playing for the UConn Golf Team, Dennehy is fresh off a T16 finish in the Big East Tournament, the best of the Huskies. However, it was the ability to play for himself, and not have to worry about letting down teammates, that freed him up on Tuesday.
“It was going to be 66 or 82, there was no in-the-middle” said Dennehy. “It was one of those where I was like, ‘I’m gonna hit driver just about everywhere and aim at every flag stick, and see if I can get away with it today.'”
That he did.
This will not be the first time Dennehy has been at U.S. Open Final Qualifying, but it’s the first time he’ll be there as a player. He caddied for fellow Oak Hill member Ethan Whitney previously, but looks forward to seeing how his game stacks up with the best of the rest.
“It’s awesome. It’s super surreal. But the job’s not done.” added Dennehy. “It will be cool to see how my game matches up with the other guys.”
With a purse of $20 Million, life-changing money is up for grabs at the U.S. Open. One of those no longer interested in the money is Arthur Zelmati, who is designated to regain his amateur status in August and is officially competing in this championship as an amateur.
No longer playing for his livelihood, it appeared that Zelmati was enjoying a stress-free day on the Cape. Not the case.
“Absolutely not.” said Zelmati when asked if Tuesday’s round was as enjoyable as it looked. “The greens were so fast, it made the putting so defensive.”
The calm demeanor and steady play will do Zelmati well as he makes his third appearance (’09, ’18) at Final Qualifying.
Watching Will Frodigh in the playoff, you would have never known he was coming off of a 5-hour wait. Being in the second group of the day, Frodigh finished his round at approximately 12:30 p.m. The playoff did not start until 5:50 p.m.
Competing against Nick Maccario and Ryan Brown (Cape Cod National) in the 3-for-2 playoff, Frodigh was far-and-away the sharpest of the three. A perfect drive on the first playoff hole (Hole 17, Par 4) was followed by a beautiful high draw to 6 feet. The birdie putt failed to fall, but the focus never wavered.
On the second playoff hole (Hole 18, Par 5), Frodigh hammered his drive up the right side of the fairway. His second shot was also struck well, nearly reaching the putting surface in two. He then nipped a wedge from a tight lie to three feet. He then easily negotiated the birdie putt – the only one in the group to do so – punching his ticket into Final Qualifying.
Nick Maccario also had to sweat out a 4-hour wait of his own. Unlike Frodigh though, Maccario found trouble early in the playoff, and was forced to lean on his experience and patience to stay alive. His tee shot on the first playoff hole hung out left and found the trees. From the middle of the trees, and 141 yards away, Maccario showed off his elite scrambling skills. A low hooking shot landed just short and bounded up onto the green. A two-putt was enough to survive and advance.
On the second playoff hole, Maccario again found trouble, this time in the fairway bunker. Unable to reach the green in two, he was forced to play back, and made a par, matching Brown.
With Frodigh having advanced, Maccario and Brown headed back to 17 for a third playoff hole. This time Maccario took the more conventional route, splitting the fairway and wedging it onto the green. Brown again found the left greenside bunker, but was unable to get it up-and-down, setting the stage for Maccario. A simple two-putt effort was good for a par and will send Maccario to Final Qualifying for a third-straight year.
COMPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIERS AND ALTERNATES FROM SACCONNESSET GC
QUALIFIER (Names; Cities)
Raymond Dennehy (a), Princeton, MA; 67 (-5)
Arthur Zelmati (a/r), France/Boston, MA; 70 (-2)
Will Frodigh, Westwood, MA; 71 (-1)*
Nick Maccario (a), Haverhill, MA; 71 (-1)*
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Ryan Brown (a), Boston, MA; 71 (-1)
Kevin Gately (a), Pembroke, MA; 72 (E)*
*Advanced in a playoff (Frodigh 2nd playoff hole, Maccario 3rd playoff hole, Gately 1st playoff hole)
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Situated less than 10 miles from the Bourne Bridge, Sacconnesset offers a fine test of golf, stretching to over 7,000 yards from the championship tees. The club proudly boasts its design and layout by world-class golf course architect Rees Jones. The course is picturesque, meticulously maintained, and stays true to the land offered to many of the great Cape Cod layouts.
Sacconnesset is one of just four Rees Jones original designs in Massachusetts (Nantucket GC, Pinehills GC, Blackstone National GC). Jones has also done restoration/remodeling work at 5 other Massachusetts clubs (Marshfield CC, Nashawtuc CC, New Seabury Dunes, New Seabury Ocean, and The Country Club).
The course has played host to several Mass Golf events over the years, including the 2017 Massachusetts Open (won by Jason Thresher) and the 2016 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship (won by Matt Parziale).
For the latest updates on all Mass Golf events, visit MassGolf.org or follow Mass Golf on Facebook, X and Instagram at @PlayMassGolf.
