With the final three qualifiers for the 2024 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship now complete, the field is nearly set for this year’s championship, which will be held July 30-31 at Ledges Golf Club in South Hadley. The club is hosting the event for the first time since it began in 1982.
Entries are open to any amateur golfers who have an active Mass Golf Membership at a public golf course, a course/club that provides playing opportunities for the general public seven days a week, and a Handicap Index® not exceeding 12.0 (at the time of registration).
On Tuesday, July 16, at Cyprian Keyes, Colin Gleason (Barnstable Golf) led 17 qualifiers by shooting 2-under 70. Gleason, the Pre-Junior Division winner in the 2023 Mass Junior Amateur, pulled off a remarkable turnout, shooting 6-under 30 on the back nine, following a 4-over 40 on the front. One stroke back was Nic Gebhardt (Wachusett Country Club), who aced the par-3 9th (172 yards) to help him finish 1-under 71. Daniel Brooks (Dudley Hill Golf Club) made a pair of late birdies to finish even-par.
Typically well-represented in the Championship Proper, Cyprian Keyes members Brett Malboeuf (74), Mark Lemons (75), and Terry Dunn (76) all advanced. Golf writer Sean Melia (Maynard Golf Course) also made birdie on the final two holes to advance with a 76. Steven Dixon (Green Hill Muni Golf Course) made birdie on the final hole and was one of six to qualify on the number with a 77. Though he didn’t qualify, Nick Belel (Sagamore Spring) also aced the par-3 9th.
On Thursday at Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds, 18 players advanced, including home club member Chaz Merritt and Kyle Buschmann (Granite Links Golf Club), who each finished even-par 71. Mark Fusco (Bayberry Hills/Bass River) made five birdies and was among four players to shoot 72, including senior standout Joe Walker (Dennis Pines Golf Club).
Jim Forsgard (Widows Walk Golf Course) rallied with three birdies over the final seven holes to shoot 73, tied with several players, including Richard Longueil (Barnstable Golf). Timothy Rollins (Country Club of Halifax) made eagle on the opening hole, helping him make the cut at 74.
On Tuesday, July 9, at Poquoy Brook, Andrew Paul (Maplegate Country Club) made five birdies, including on his opening hole of the day, to take the top spot of 14 qualifiers with a score of 2-over-par 74. John Mills (Newton Commonwealth Golf Course) made a pair of birdies to finish one back at 75. Playing out of the first group, Poquoy Brook member Matthew O’Brien also got through with a 76, as did Michael May (Norton Country Club) and David LaPlante (Pine Oaks Golf Club). Also, Matthew Minichiello (USGA/Mass Golf GC) rallied from a 43 on the front nine to shoot 35 on the back nine with two birdies and an eagle.
HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIERS AND ALTERNATES:
QUALIFIER (Poquoy Brook Golf Club-Par 72)
Andrew Paul, Maplegate Country Club; 74
John Mills, Newton Commonwealth Golf Course; 75
Matthew O’Brien, Poquoy Brook Golf Club; 76
David LaPlante, Pine Oaks Golf Club; 76
Michael May, Norton Country Club; 76
Ryan Sturma, Brookline Golf Course; 77
Chris Doyle, Furnace Brook Golf Club; 77
Nick Diprizio, Pembroke Country Club; 77
Michael Cox, Atlantic Country Club; 78
Matthew Minichiello, USGA/Mass Golf GC; 78
Matt Ross, Green Harbor Golf Club; 78
Joseph Caico, Wachusett Country Club; 78
Thomas Hurley, Student Member/MIAA; 78
Michael Barrett, Braintree Municipal GC; 78
ALTERNATES
Jim Kennedy, Pinehills Golf Club; 79
Chris Lynch, Butter Brook Golf Club; 79
Derek Phillipe, Olde Scotland Links; 79
Chung Nguyen, Swansea Country Club; 79
Rich Bracker, Swansea Country Club; 79
QUALIFIER (Cyprian Keyes GC-Par 72)
Colin Gleason, Barnstable Golf; 70
Nic Gebhardt, Wachusett Country Club; 71
Daniel Brooks, Dudley Hill Golf Club; 72
Tim Searles, Brookline Golf Course; 73
Nick Morgan, Sandy Burr Country Club; 74
John Fiorito, Farm Neck Golf Club; 74
Brett Malboeuf, Cyprian Keyes Golf Club; 74
Jacob Carlson, Youth on Course/Mass Golf; 75
Mark Lemons, Cyprian Keyes Golf Club; 75
Sean Melia, Maynard Golf Course; 76
Terry Dunn, Cyprian Keyes Golf Club; 76
Shane Walsh, George Wright Golf Course; 77
Jake Ruder, Holden Hills Country Club; 77
Mario Wilson, Green Hill Muni Golf Course; 77
Chris Menne, Mink Meadows Golf Club; 77
David Yurek, Segregansett Country Club; 77
Steven Dixon, Green Hill Muni Golf Course; 77
ALTERNATES
Bud Copeland, The Meadow at Peabody; 78
John Salerno, Five Iron Golf – Boston; 78
Scott Henning, Pinehills Golf Club; 78
Kyle Buschmann, Granite Links Golf Club; 71
Chaz Merritt, Barnstable Golf; 71
Nader Fotouhi, George Wright Golf Course; 72
Mark Fusco, Bayberry Hills / Bass River; 72
Joe Walker, Dennis Pines Golf Club; 72
Jack McDonald, Allendale Country Club; 72
Brett Pimental, Cape Cod Country Club; 73
Matthew Cornuet, Holly Ridge Golf Club; 73
Jim Forsgard, Widows Walk Golf Course; 73
Luke Grebinar, Green Hill Muni Golf Course; 73
Tyler Araujo, USGA/Mass Golf GC; 73
Richard Longueil, Barnstable Golf; 73
Anthony McIntyre, Cranberry Valley Golf Course; 73
Timothy Rollins, Country Club of Halifax; 74
Kevin Bagge, Westover Golf Course; 74
Ben Kepley, The Tour; 74
David Rixham, Shining Rock Golf Club; 74
Erik Robinson, Sandwich Hollows Golf Club; 74
ALTERNATES
Jeff Johnson, Barnstable Golf; 75
Brady Chin, Student Member/MIAA; 75
Jon Meunier, The Tour; 75
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