UXBRIDGE, Massachusetts – It was a cold and wet day with periods of heavy rainfall for the first round of the Super Senior Amateur Championship at Blissful Meadows Golf Club. The best of those battling the elements was Robert Linn (Berkshire Hills CC), who shot a 2-over-par 74 and will sleep on the overnight lead.
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Linn, last year’s runner-up in this event, leaned on consistent play throughout the day. He made 3 birdies (9, 10, 14) with just a handful of bogeys, and most importantly no big numbers. “The greens were rolling very good with consistent speed. They didn’t seem to slow down any when it rained either.” said Linn. Even with a shaky start on the greens, Linn was able settle things down as the round progressed. “I’ve been struggling with little putts all year. Even two footers I’m like shaking like a leaf. I whiffed one on the first hole, but then made everything after that.” Looking ahead to tomorrow, he said “The plan is to just keep it in play and try to make some putts.”
Sitting just one shot off of the lead is Tom Fox (Farm Neck GC), who shot 3-over-par 75. Fox got off to a hot start with 4 birdies on his first 9 holes. “It was a great start. Getting off to a good start was key, I made a big putt on my first hole. I made some putts and just kept hitting it close.” Talking about the tough weather he (and the rest of the field) faced, Fox added “I tried to just keep a good attitude, it was raining pretty hard when we started, and it helps you just focus on one shot at a time.” And as for his plan tomorrow, he echoed what Linn said earlier in the day “It’s all about keeping the ball in play here.”
Also shooting 75, and sitting one shot back, is Rick Marcos (Sagregansett CC). Marcos started his day in a torrential downpour, making double-bogey on his first hole. But he bounced back nicely with a birdie on 11, his second hole of the day. After making the turn, he then fired a 1-under-par 35 over his final 9 holes to jump into a tie for second.
Rounding out the top of the leaderboard, William Heffernan (Dedham C & PC) and Steve Camara (Ferncroft CC) both shot 76 and are just two shots back.
Holding the lead the Legends Division is Paul Nunez (Ludlow CC) who shot an opening round (+5) 77 in the morning wave of play. He is being chased by a group of players at (+6): Claude Hoopes (The Kittansett Club), Thomas Mone (Hatherly CC), and Alexander Lindsey (Nahant GC). And two shots back of them is a pair of players at (+8): Doug Crawford (KOHR Golf Center) and Dick King (Hyannis GC).
Right in the mix of both the Senior Amateur Championship and the Legends Division Championship is 81-year-old Alexander Lindsey (Nahant GC). On Wednesday, Lindsey did something every golfer dreams of, beating his age. His 78 beat his age by 3 and and when asked about it, said it was pretty easy (with a laugh) “I just told the group that I played with it, it gets easier and easier to shoot your age the older you get. I love the game, it’s great passion. I played in my first senior event in 1995 at 55 years old.”
It’s no surprise to see Lindsey in the mix this week. He has competed in 3 U.S. Senior Amateur Championships (1996, 2000 and 2003) and was a runner up in the Massachusetts Senior Amateur when it was held in Springfield.
Looking ahead to tomorrow, he added “Oh yeah, I got another 78 in there.”
Entries were open to amateur golfers who have reached their 65th birthday by September 2, 2020 and who have an active Mass Golf/GHIN Handicap Index at any public, private, semi-private, municipal or non-real estate Mass Golf member course/club not exceeding 12.0 (as determined by the July 9, 2020 Handicap Revision) or have completed their handicap certification. New for 2020, a Legends Division has been added for competitors ages 70+. All Legends Division competitors are also competing for the overall championship.
The Super Senior Amateur Championship was first contested in 2014. Four of the past champions are in this year’s field.
Peter Brumme (’14) – (+15) 87
Doug Crawford (’15) – (+8) 80
Dick King (’16) – (+8) 80
Don Foberg (’19) – (+8) 80
Blissful Meadows is a beautiful and challenging 18 hole championship golf course located in Uxbridge. The course was designed by Golf World magazine’s 2000 “Architect of the Year”, Brian Silva. While the course is very young (first opening in 1991), there is a bit of history out on the 13th hole. The site of the old Scadden Silver Mine sits just below the green. As the sign reads at the site of the mine: “Silver was discovered at this spot in 1837. Kyland Tucker, the owner, found the vein when lighting struck the land. New York Capitalists mined the silver with 70 men, working 2 shifts. A 20 foot deep shaft was first dug, (under #13 sand bunker) and then the main shaft (now gated) followed with a depth of 60 feet. The project was abandoned after 1 year when the investors realized it was costing them $100 for every $1 made.”
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