EAST SANDWICH, Massachusetts – On the final day of qualifying for the 2018 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship, being contested from September 12-14 at Plymouth Country Club, 15 competitors from Monday’s qualifier, held at Sandwich Hollows Golf Club in East Sandwich, earned entrance into the Championship Proper.
Included in that list of qualifiers was reigning Massachusetts Women’s Amateur champion Shannon Johnson (Thorny Lea GC), who placed T7 on the leaderboard after shooting a 4-over par 75.
An additional five 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.
Less than a month after defeating Claire Sheldon in the final match of the 115th Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Championship at George Wright Golf Course in Hyde Park, the 35-year old Norton resident Johnson finished at 4-over par 75, four strokes off the lead of medalist Bobby Dattero (Harmon GC).
“It’s always fun to compete, and I wanted to see where my game is at before the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur,” said Johnson. “The timing of this was great. We have one event, the Keyes, that is on my schedule but I wanted to get as much prep as I could before St. Louis.”
Johnson, who is already exempt to the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship next month in St. Louis, becomes the first women to advance to the state mid-amateur championship since online records began in the early 2000’s.
After making bogey on the par-4 2nd hole at Sandwich Hollows, Johnson made par on the next five holes before registering a birdie on the par-4 8th hole.
“You have to get in those pressure situations to see what you need to work on,” said Johnson.
On her back nine, Johnson – also winner of the 2018 Edith Noblit Baker Trophy, the 2018 NEWGA Amateur Championship and the 2018 Cris Eaton Foursome Tournament – carded six pars to one bogey and a double, which still allowed her to finish amongst the top scorers in the field.
The 28-year old Dattero, of Mansfield, made birdie on two of his first three holes en route to four on the day to finish atop the leaderboard with a two-stroke margin of victory.
Bobby Dattero (Harmon GC) 71
Bud Schultz (Black Rock GC) 73
Luke Marchand (Fresh Pond GC) 73
Shawn Scott (Long Meadow GC) 74
David Walde (Granite Links GC) 74
Brian Wolgast (Brookline GC) 74
Eric Daniel (Presidents GC) 75
Tim O’Connell (Cranberry Valley GC) 75
Shannon Johnson (Thorny Lea GC) 75
David Marseglia (Framingham CC) 75
Steve Bruce (Plymouth CC) 75
Mark Shay (Pinehills GC) 76
Brett Pimental (Franklin CC) 76
David Sullivan III (Vesper CC) 76
Matt Bonica (Tour Greater Bos) 76
Michael Deady (Presidents GC)
David Schreiner (The Cape Club)
Charlie Rozanitis (Hatherly CC)
Tim Mooradian (Hopedale CC)
Dan Maceachern (Wampatuck CC)
The 2018 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship will be contested at Plymouth Country Club from September 12-14.
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.
