COHASSET, Massachusetts – A year removed from finishing runner-up at Pine Brook Country Club, Jack Kearney stepped into the winners circle for his second career victory in the Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship. The 64-year old Kearney, of Westover Golf Course, fired a score of 1-under par 139 in the 36-hole Championship Proper at Cohasset Golf Club to edge Don Reycroft by four strokes.
Entering the day, Kearney was one off the lead of fellow competitors, Frank Vana Jr., Don Reycroft, and Tom Bagley who all carded even par rounds on Tuesday. With four birdies in his first round, Kearney looked to capitalize on the momentum he built up from the day prior.
“I kind of got lucky on the first hole today,” said Kearney. “I hit a downhill 30 footer and I hit it too hard, but it ended up going in. If it went six to eight feet by the hole I probably could have made a bogey but it went in and sometimes you need breaks like that to win.”
After the birdie on the first hole, the 2010 Senior Amateur Champion would string together several pars with another birdie on the 120-yard par 3 6th hole before making the turn.
“That’s how you want to play in so many of these events,” said Kearney. “Getting those good breaks gets you relaxed and from there I just kind of kept plugging along.”
A few miscues on holes 11 and 12 would set Kearney back and would open the door for Don Reycroft to take the solo lead.
“On 11 I hit it in the hazard and made a bogey. Then on 12…it is just a tough par 3 and a lot of people were bogeying that one,” said Kearney. “On 13 I knocked it up on the green and two putt for a birdie so that really stabilized the round. From there I was hitting fairways and greens making pars. I didn’t know how anyone else was doing. Everyone has their ups and downs in every round.”
Finishing the day with the only under par round for the Championship, Kearney did not expect to fire as well as he did in the windy conditions.
“I figured if I went out and shot 70 or 71 today, I’d be in good shape,” said Kearney. “I probably couldn’t have shot any lower than I did today with the way I played and the way they were falling. By the end of the round I was just trying to power through the last hole and it just happened to drip in.”
Someone who is all too familiar with the field of competitors and these events, Kearney remarked that every championship is an enjoyable experience for him.
“It’s always a good feeling to win. I’ll be heading up to the New England Senior next week with all these guys and hope to win another one there.”
