CONCORD, Massachusetts – Wellesley’s John Broderick (Dedham G&PC) started the second round of the 91st New England Amateur on Wednesday like a man — make that teenager — on a mission. Broderick, 16, carded seven birdies, including four out of five from holes 13-17 en route to a 5-under 65 to put him in solo first place (3-under total) by two strokes leading into Thursday’s round of 36 holes at Concord Country Club.
“Leading up to this tournament I felt good; I really like this course,” said Broderick, who has played at Concord as a member of the Belmont Hill School golf team. “Today I had 12 putts inside 12 feet. I was just hitting it great all day. I feel great going into tomorrow.”
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In total, 27 of the top 46 players who made the cut at 7-over are representing Mass Golf Member Clubs, including 2009 champion Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea GC), Day 1 leader Tim Umphrey (Tatnuck CC), Mass Amateur runner-up Nick Maccario (Bradford CC), Mass Junior Amateur champion James Imai (George Wright GC) and defending New England Amateur champion Xavier Marcoux (Nashawtuc CC), who just made it in at 7-over.
The top 40 will play 36 holes of stroke play beginning at 7:30 a.m. Thursday to determine a winner. The victor will get his name on the Harry B. McCracken, Jr. Trophy, named after the longtime NEGA Executive Secretary and figure in the Mass Golf community. It’ll be the first time the trophy is awarded since McCracken passed away in October at age 94.
Broderick, the Pre-Junior Division winner and top match-play seed in last year’s Mass Junior Amateur, finished 3-under on the back nine and brought it home with a bogey-free round (2 birdies). He said the key to playing well Wednesday was setting up makeable putts.
“I haven’t really made any bombs, but I’ve made a lot of 6-to-10 foot range,” Broderick said. “All my putts seem like they have a chance to go in even if they don’t. I’m very comfortable I’d say on the greens.”
Maccario also putted well, carding a bogey-free round of 67 to climb into T2 with four other players, including Tuesday’s co-leaders Caleb Manuel (Brunswick GC; Maine) and Umphrey.
Jack Tegan (TPC Boston) is also in the mix at 1-under total after finishing his round at 2-under 68. Tegan had an early-morning start (8:36) and said the course was much softer than the day prior.
“You could hit your shots the right yardage, and they’d stop or spin,” said Tegan, a rising sophomore at Berry College. “The only hard part is some of those pins you just can’t be on the wrong side. If you put yourself in some good spots and make a couple putts, it’s pretty simple.”
Another teen, Max Hutter (Weston GC), 18, is also in the top 10, as he shot 70-71–141 to place himself four strokes off the lead.
Meanwhile, Parziale played in a group that included 2015 champion Nick McLaughlin (Far Corner GC) and 2016 champion James Turner (Bass Rocks GC) — the latter two didn’t make the cut. Still, Parziale is sitting at even par and said patience is the key to Thursday’s round.
“We’re only halfway through even though it feels like it’s more than that,” Parziale said. “Anything can happen tomorrow. I’m just going to keep trying to hit good shots and hopefully have some putts fall.”
While playing at least 36 holes on the final day will be nothing short of a grind, Broderick said he’s ready for the challenge.
“Last week I played the GolfWeek Junior Open, which is a 36 hole first round,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons I played, to get ready for this tournament. I know it’s gonna be hot tomorrow, but I think I’m ready for it.”
COMPLETE LIST OF MASS GOLF PLAYERS WHO MADE THE CUT
1 John Broderick (Dedham C&P Club); -3
T2 Jack Tegan (TPC of Boston); -1
T2 Timothy Umphrey (Tatnuck CC); -1
T2 Nick Maccario (Bradford CC); -1
T7 Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea GC); E
T7 Christian Emmerich (Kernwood CC); E
T9 Max Hutter (Weston GC); +1
T13 Liam Gill (Marlborough CC); +3
T13 Brian Bassett (Oyster Harbors); +3
T13 Max Ferrari (Framingham CC); +3
T13 Brian Higgins (Franklin CC); +3
T20 James Imai (George Wright GC); +4
T20 Ryan Riley (Thorny Lea GC); +4
T20 Colin Brennan (Indian Ridge CC); +4
T20 Jonathan Elkins (Springfield CC); +4
T26 Will Frodigh (Dedham C&P Club); +5
T26 Brett Krekorian (Indian Ridge CC); +5
T26 Chris Francoeur (Amesbury G & CC); +5
T32 Dillon Brown (Country Club of Halifax); +5
T32 Jack O’Donnell (Boston GC); +6
T32 Jason Temel (Charles River CC); +6
T32 Charlie Dubiel (Old Sandwich GC); +6
T32 Ryan Tomaso (Kohr Golf Center); +6
T32 Steven DiLisio (Salem CC); +6
T40 Mike Calef (Pine Oaks GC); +7
T40 Jordan Burke (Needham GC); +7
T40 Xavier Marcoux (Nashawtuc CC); +7
For more coverage of the New England Amateur, visit negagolf.org.
