FITCHBURG, Massachusetts – On the fifth day of qualifying for the 2019 Massachusetts Amateur Championship, being contested from July 15-19 at The Country Club in Chestnut Hill, eight competitors who carded scores between 1-under 69 and 2-over 72 at Tuesday’s qualifier at Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg will advance to the Championship Proper next month. Oak Hill most recently hosted the 2015 Massachusetts Amateur Championship.
ONLINE: RESULTS | MASSACHUSETTS AMATEUR HOMEPAGE
Granite Links GC’s James Pleat, of Cambridge, and Michael Riley, of Worcester and Sterling National GC, each carded matching 1-under 69’s on Tuesday to secure co-medalist honors and a spot in next month’s Championship Proper. In total, 73 competitors were in the field on Tuesday.
Pleat, who started on the 10th tee Tuesday, rebounded from a 4-over 39 through his first nine holes by tallying three straight birdies to begin his second nine, then added an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole to jump up the leaderboard.
Riley recorded four birdies on his front nine, including three in a four hole sequence, and added a fifth on the par-5 10th hole to go along with four bogeys on the day.
An additional two competitors who finished one spot below the final qualifying spot, earned alternate status and will be placed on a priority list per the Alternate Policy, which can be found on the Mass Golf Policies and Procedures Page.
Celebrating its 111th year in 2019, the Massachusetts Amateur Championship remains the oldest Mass Golf Championship open to men and women alike. Entries were open to amateur competitors with a 4.4 Handicap Index who were either exempt based on previous performance in Mass Golf competition and/or USGA events, or who advanced from one of 12 qualifying sites held across the Bay State between May 29 and June 26.
QUALIFIERS
James Pleat (Granite Links) 69
Michael Riley (Sterling National) 69
Jake Peer (Winchester CC) 71
Eric Lifson (Nashawtuc CC) 72
Michael Sosik (GreatHorse) 72
Brandon Parker (Worcester CC) 72
Keith Erickson (Oak Hill CC) 72
J.C. Guthrie (Oak Hill CC) 72
ALTERNATES
Sam Parella (Wachusett CC)
Damon Lusk (George Wright GC)
UP NEXT
The 111th Massachusetts Amateur Championship will begin on July 15 at The Country Club in Chestnut Hill. The Championship Proper will consist of two days of stroke play for all competitors, before the field is cut to the top-32 players, who will compete in three days of match play before crowning a champion. The remaining qualifiers for the state amateur will be held at the following sites:
• June 19 – Indian Pond CC
• June 24 – Brookline CC
• June 26 – Cummaquid GC
SOCIAL MEDIA
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