NORTON, Massachusetts – First established in 1982, the Amateur Public Links Championship aims to honor a championship level golfer who holds membership at a public course. Qualifying for 2021 began this week with two events and the result was 44 competitors playing their way into the competition.
This year’s Championship Proper is being held from August 17-18 at Westover Golf Course in Granby. Entries for the event are open to amateur golfers who are public course players at a public Mass Golf member course and whose handicap index does not exceed 12.0.
There are exceptions for players with an established handicap at a private club, those exceptions include: players competing on a school golf team, provided those privileges are limited to scheduled practices or competitions; or players employed by a private club, provided that their playing opportunities are limited in nature, consistent with those offered to other employees and does not allow participation in any club tournaments.
On Tuesday’s qualifier at Gardner Golf Club, Bob Blackmar (Wachusett CC) led a trio of players shooting under par to earn medalist honors with a mark of 3-under-par 68. Blackmar had a clean card for the day with birdies on holes 1, 11 and 17 as he ran away from the competition.
Coming in just behind him was Tim West (Green Hill GC) who shot 2-under 69. West had three birdies on the back nine and four overall, but a pair of bogeys kept him from pulling even with Blackmar. Stephen Larson (Cyprian Keyes GC) was the final player under par, shooting 1-under 70.
David Holmes (Blackstone National GC) was the only player on the day to shoot even among the 17 players to qualify.
On Wednesday at Hyannis Golf Club, a grand total of 27 players qualified for the Championship Proper. Connor Levesque (Barnstable Golf) was the only player to shoot under par, posting a score of 3-under 68. A strong back nine, including four birdies, helped him earn medalist honors.
Paul Murphy (Dennis Pines GC) and Christopher Harron (Trull Brook GC) finished tied for second place, both shooting 2-over 73. Barnstable Golf was well represented on the day. In addition to Levesque, fellow club members Wayne Malcolm and Kyle Puchol also qualified. Both men shot 6-over 77.
HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIERS AND ALTERNATES FROM THIS WEEK’S AMATEUR PUBLIC LINKS QUALIFYING EVENTS:
TUESDAY, 6/22
QUALIFIERS (Gardner GC – Par 71)
Bob Blackmar (Wachusett Country Club); 68
Tim West (Green Hill Muni Golf Course); 69
Stephen Larson (Cyprian Keyes G C); 70
David Holmes (Blackstone National Golf Club); 71
Mark Dignum (Cyprian Keyes G C); 72
Jesse Morgan (Northfield Golf Club); 72
Mark Waskiewicz (Crumpin-Fox Club); 72
Robert Hawkes (Cape Ann Golf Course); 73
Ian Paskowski (Beverley Golf & Tennis Club); 73
Douglas Hutchenson (The Ledges Golf Club); 74
Chris Menne (Mink Meadows Golf Course); 74
Scott Haggerty (Groton Country Club); 74
Alek Dernalowicz (Gardner Municipal Golf Course); 75
Carter Fasick (Westborough Golf Club); 75
Ryan Pasakinskas (Garnder Municipal Golf Course); 75
Rick Marinelli (Holden Hills Country Club); 76
Zachary Kovat (George Wright Golf Course); 76
ALTERNATES
Jeremy Snyder (Kettle Brook Golf Club); 77
Jason Hagger (Granite Links Golf Club); 77
Derek Orne (Wachusett Country Club); 77
Tim Hubbard (Crumpin Fox Club); 77
David Rixham (Shining Rock Golf Club); 77
Andrew Johnson (Amherst Golf Club); 77
David Falcucci (Cyprian Keyes G C); 77
Robert Downing (Cyprian Keyes G C); 77
Robert Libiszewski (Cold Spring Country Club); 77
Tom Herzig (Country Club of Greenfield); 77
Terry Dunn (Cyprian Keyes G C); 77
Justin Halleran (Groton Country Club); 77
Alex Blake (Quincy TG GC); 77
WEDNESDAY, 6/23
QUALIFIERS (Hyannis GC – Par 71)
Connor Levesque (Barnstable Golf); 68
Paul Murphy (Dennis Pines Golf Club); 73
Christopher Harron (Trull Brook Golf Course); 73
Daniel Otoole (Braintree Municipal Golf Course); 74
Brian Secia (Miacomet Golf Course); 74
Samuel Friedman (Newton Commonwealth Golf Inc); 75
Curtis Merritt (Falmouth Country Club); 75
Chris George (Pinehills Golf Club); 75
Greg Levings (George Wright Golf Course); 76
Tim Healy (Pinehills Golf Club); 76
Mark Duffy (Crnaberry Valley Golf Course); 76
Wayne Malcolm (Barnstable Golf); 77
Kyle Puchol (Barnstable Golf); 77
Ryan Rollo (Chatham Seaside Links); 77
Ben Jenkins (The Ridge Club); 77
Christopher Boyd (Pinehills Golf Club); 77
Dave McCowan (South Shore Country Club); 78
Ethan Blonder (MIAA); 78
David LaPlante (Pine Oaks Golf Club); 78
Matthew Natale (Trull Brook Golf Course); 78
George Deroche (Sagamore Spring Golf Club); 78
Chris Dupee (Dennis Pines Golf Club); 78
Matt Rosenberg (Granite Links Golf Club); 78
Steve Visco (Miacomet Golf Course); 78
Nathan Roberts (Miacomet Golf Course); 78
Mike Walker (Dennis Pines Golf Club); 78
Scott King (Norton Country Club); 78
ALTERNATES
Michael Serijan (Cranberry Valley Golf Course); 79
Ed Riordan (Cape Cod Country Club); 79
Qualifying for the Amateur Public Links will continue next week. Here are the remaining qualifying sites and starting times:
June 28 – Ledges GC (South Hadley)
Starting Times | Player Information
June 29 – Crystal Lake GC (Haverhill)
Starting Times | Player Information
June 30 – Braintree Municipal GC (Braintree)
Starting Times | Player Information
July 1 – Olde Scotland Links (Bridgewater)
Starting Times | Player Information
For the latest updates on all Mass Golf events, visit MassGolf.org or follow Mass Golf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @PlayMassGolf.
