Headline: Matt Parziale Continues Strong Play; Wins 2017 Amateur Invitational Title By Three Strokes at New England Country Club

For Immediate Release: June 30, 2017

Matt Parziale captured the 2017 Amateur Invitational title at New England Country Club this past week.

Bellingham, MA — Reigning MGA Richard D. Haskell Player of the Year Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea GC) has added another accomplishment to his growing and already impressive resume.

This past week, the Brockton resident captured 2017 Amateur Invitational title at New England Country Club. Parziale, a member at Thorny Lea Golf Club and the defending Massachusetts Mid-Amateur and Massachusetts Four-Ball Champion, finished the 36-hole, two-day tournament at 7-under par 135 to hold off Duke freshman Steven DiLisio (Salem CC) by three strokes for the title. 

CLICK HERE for final results from the 2017 Amateur Invitational.

The 21st Annual Amateur Invitational Tournament, which brings together a collection of the top junior, collegiate and amateur golfers from the Bay State, saw a mixture of the top 48 players, many of whom are past MGA champions, compete at New England Country Club – which has recently hosted two U.S. Senior Amateur Sectional Qualifiers.

As one of the top regional events during the competitive season, the Amateur Invitational allows the top finishers to receive MGA Player of the Year points, which are annually calculated to determine the Richard D. Haskell Player of the Year.

With the victory Thursday, the 30-year old Brockton firefighter Parziale netted 85 points for the tournament and has now amassed 373 points in six events on the season.

In addition to the MGA Championship events, he has earned 2017 Player of the Year points at the 2017 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Sectional Qualifying, 2017 U.S. Open Championship Local Qualifying and the Norfolk County Classic, an event he won on May 20-21 at Presidents Golf Course in Quincy.

Entering Thursday’s final round in sole possession of sixth on the leaderboard following an even par 70 mark in Wednesday’s first round, Parziale registered five birdies and an eagle on the par-5 11th hole – the longest hole of the course at 534 yards, to jump the leaderboard for the victory.

In addition to Parziale and DiLisio, the top-five on the leaderboard included Matt Cowgill (Wayland CC), the 2016 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Champion, Max Ferrari (Framingham CC) and Mike Calef (Pine Oaks GC).

On the senior side, David Pierce (CC of Halifax) claimed the Legends division with rounds of 68-79. Recent Maryland commit Dillon Brown (CC of Halifax) was the low junior with a pair of 73s.

For more information on the MGA Richard D. Haskell Player of the Year Points or to lead the point standings as of June 30, visit: /championships/player-of-the-year.html.