GRANDY, Massachusetts –The journey to compete in the 35th Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship has begun for the nearly 500 competitors who will be vying for a qualifying spot over the next 19 days at one of six qualifying sites located across the state.
The first day of qualifying was held on Monday at Westover Golf Course. A total of 13 competitors advanced from a starting field of 52 and will now advance to the Championship Proper, which will be held on September 12-14 at Plymouth Country Club.
Leading the way and capturing medalist honors with a score of 1-under par 71 was Rick Moreau (Nabnasset Lake CC), who was the only competitor in the field to finish under par for the day. Moreau weathered a roller-coaster front nine in which he carded four birdies and three bogeys to make the turn at 1-under par 35. During that stretch, Moreau made just two pars. He began his round with a birdie on the 1st hole and then found a way to match each bogey with a birdie to keep his round under par through nine holes. He then went on to post nine straight pars on the back nine to cap off his medalist round.
Five other competitors finished two strokes back of Moreau and T2 – Cody Miller (The Ledges GC), Jeff Steckman (Brae Burn CC), Jay McConnell (Miacomet GC), Michael Mertes (Wyckoff CC) and Kelly Slough (Hickory Ridge GC).
Also qualifying in Granby was Dean Godek (Agawam MGC), who last week took time away from his game to serve as caddy for his daughter Alia Godek (Agawam), who advanced to the Championship Flight of match play at the 115th Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Championship.
On this day, Dean Godek and Tyler Cudnik (CC of Wilbraham) both finished with scores of 2-over par 74 and were T7. Five other competitors posted scores of 3-over par 75 to secure the final qualifying spots.
Rick Moreau (Nabnasset Lake CC) – 71
Cody Miller (The Ledges GC) – 73
Jeff Steckmest (Brae Burn CC) – 73
Jay McConnell (Miacomet GC) – 73
Michael Mertes (Wyckoff CC) – 73
Kelly Slough (Hickory Ridge GC) – 73
Dean Godek (Agawam MGC) – 74
Tyler Cudnik (CC of Wilbraham) – 74
James Patterson (Orchards GC) – 75
Paul Ferraro (Blackstone GC) – 75
Sam Locke (Thomson CC) – 75
Keith Albano (GreatHorse) – 75
David Pierce (CC of Halifax) – 75
Anthony Jung (Hickory Ridge GC) – 76
Joe McCarthy (Widows Walk GC) – 76
Joe Wilson (Wyckoff CC) – 76
Andy Drohen (The Ranch GC) – 76
Randy Daniels (Blackstone GC) – 76
Tyler Williams (George Wright GC) – 76
Nick Resor (Black Rock CC) – 76
The 2018 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship will be contested at Plymouth Country Club from September 12-14. Qualifying for the Championship Proper is scheduled to take place at six sites from August 6 to August 27. Additional qualifiers will be held on the following days:
August 13 – The Haven CC
August 14 – Merrimack Valley GC
August 16 – CC of New Bedford
August 21 – Cape Club of Sharon
August 27 – Sandwich Hollows GC
For complete coverage of the 2018 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship, visit massgolf.org or follow Mass Golf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @PlayMassGolf and by using the hashtag, #MassMidAm.
