In a new twist for this year’s Tri-State matches, the opening portion featured a timed four-ball match that began at 8:45 a.m. and ended with air horns sounding at exactly 1:15. Ricky Stimets (Oyster Harbors Club) and Mike Calef (Pine Oaks Golf Course), who played in the lone group that finished all 18 holes, earned a pair of points for Team Mass Golf. A birdie from Stimets on the par-3 6th gave them the edge over the formidable Rhode Island duo of Bobby Leopold, the reigning state amateur champion, and 2022 RI state amateur winner Kevin Blaser.
However, the rest of the Mass Golf squad did their part, as each tallied at least 1 point to rack up 11.5 points total in the morning. Joe Harney (Charles River Country Club) and Matt Cowgill (Granite Links Golf Club) won both their matches, as did the senior squad of Kevin Daly (Salem Country Club) and Andy Drohen (The Ranch Golf Club), the 2024 New England Senior Amateur champion.
John Hadges (Thorny Lea Golf Club) and Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich Golf Club) earned 1.5 points, winning two of their last three holes to earn a split against Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Patrick Frodigh (Dedham Country & Polo Club) and Mass Mid-Amateur winner Jake Ratti (Wollaston Golf Club) rallied late by winning four of their last six holes to earn a point against Connecticut.
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After a well-needed reprieve from the chilly air, Team Mass Golf picked up where it left off in the morning, earning 11 more points toward the team total.
Worcester member Brandon Parker and Daniel Schwartz (George Wright Golf Course) rallied over their final nine holes, winning the 5th with an eagle, while Schwartz hit his shots in close on 8 and 10 (both par-3s) as they rallied for two crucial points in the afternoon. Finishing on the 13th, the duo closed out the match when Parker hit a 25-foot par putt from the front of the green.
Shuvam Bhaumik (Thorny Lea Golf Club) Jake Ratti also cruised to an 8&7 win over Connecticut, while eking out a 2&1 victory over Rhode Island’s Tom McCormick and Mike Carparco.
As for the seniors, Doug Clapp & Andy Drohen also notched a pair of points with a 6&5 win over Connecticut and a 5&4 victory over Rhode Island, while Frank Vana & John Hadges earned a 2&1 win over Connecticut and split with Rhode Island.
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Each team selected 10 of its top mid-amateur players, plus six of its top senior amateur players. Player selection for Team Massachusetts is primarily based on Mass Golf Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year Standings.
In the first two legs of the competition Tuesday, teams/competitors competed in two simultaneous matches against the other associations in the Four-Ball and Foursomes matches. Halved matches resulted in half-points being awarded.
On Wednesday, singles matches will be contested in “Nassau Style” (1 point for winning the front nine, 1 point for the back nine & 1 point (overall match). A competitor’s first 9-consecutive holes will constitute as their “front 9” and their next 9-holes their “back 9”. Halved matches will result in half-points being awarded.
The first Tri-State Matches event took place in 1907 when the team from Massachusetts won at the Agawam Hunt Club in Providence, Rhode Island. Ever since 1928, teams from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut have competed for the title over a two-day period to compete for the regional title. Individual amateur golfers are selected each year by their state’s respective golf associations.
Mass Golf will have coverage of the 90th Tri-State Matches at Worcester Country Club. Visit MassGolf.org and follow @PlayMassGolf on Facebook, X, and Instagram for the latest news and content.
