NORTON, Massachusetts – With the calendar year coming to a close, we took a look back at some of the top moments from the 2021 Mass Golf Championship Season.
Following a unique 2020, it was encouraging to see the full slate of Mass Golf events back on the schedule in 2021. From May to October, the fine play across Massachusetts grabbed headlines across the state, and at times, across the nation.
(Listed Chronologically)
MAY 12, 2021
The final round of the 40th Massachusetts Amateur Four-Ball came down to a clash between two former champions and two young, newfound partners. Ultimately, the 17-year-old high schoolers won out as John Broderick (Dedham Country & Polo Club) and Weston Jones (Charter Oak Country Club) became the youngest duo to win the title. A three-birdie stretch with a two-day score of 13-under 131, for a two-stroke edge over Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea GC) and Herbie Aikens (Old Sandwich GC), the 2016 and 2017 champions.
JUNE 14, 2021
Seul-Ki Hawley (Winchester CC) became the first female to compete in the Massachusetts Open in the history of the event. Hawley earned her spot by finishing fourth at the PGA Section Championship in 2019. She also had the unique distinction of competing while pregnant, as she was 20 weeks pregnant at the time of the opening round. Tough weather conditions knocked Hawley out of contention on day 1, but she battled back nicely in round 2, shooting 76 to finish on a high note.
JULY 17, 2021
The 36-hole final match of the 113th Massachusetts Amateur Championship featured plenty of firepower as it was the first time two former USGA champions were paired in a state amateur final. But it was Michael Thorbjornsen (Wellesley CC) who shined brightest as the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur champion executed one of the most spectacular performances in the history of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship by capturing the title with an 8&6 victory over 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea GC).
Of Note:
JULY 30, 2021
Chris Francoeur (Amesbury G&CC) controlled the Championship for the duration of the three days. He put an exclamation point on his final round with a spectacular shot on hole 15 (par-3, 225 yards) at Woodland GC. Francoeur pulled his tee shot left of the green and found himself pin high, sitting in thick rough. He used a wedge and was able to chip in for a birdie that all but sealed his fate as back-to-back champion. “It was kind of a tough shot,” Francoeur said. “My caddie just told me give yourself a look at par and it rolled in. It’s a lucky shot, but I’ll take it, doesn’t matter how it goes in.” The shot moved Francoeur to 5-under for the tournament and put him three strokes ahead of Dillon Brown (Country Club of Halifax).
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AUGUST 12, 2021
Down 1 through 16 holes, Catie Schernecker (The Country Club) salvaged her semifinal match against Jennifer Keim (Bayberry Hills GC) at the Mass Women’s Am with two must-have putts, each one more clutch than the next. She first drained a 16-footer on the 17th hole to remain 1-down. Then, on the 18th green, Schernecker delivered the shot of the championship, knocking home a 75-footer for birdie to force a playoff.
“It’s crazy,” Schernecker said. “I knew I had to get it to the hole. I had a similar putt this morning so I knew the line, and it went in.”
Schenecker went on to win the semifinal match on the first playoff hole, then cruised in the championship match, winning 5&4, to become the Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Champion.
WOWWWW!
This 💣 from Catie Schernecker just forced a playoff! Schernecker and Jennifer Keim will head to extra holes for a spot in tomorrow’s #MassWomensAm Championship Match. #MassGolf pic.twitter.com/lEhJAfkTEW
— Mass Golf (@PlayMassGolf) August 12, 2021
SEPTEMBER 11, 2021
For the second time in her career, Shannon Johnson (Thorny Lea GC) teed it up as the lone female competitor in a Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship. In the Championship Proper, she was T12 after a first round 74, easily making the cut. She went on to finish T37, which is her best finish in the event. She played her way into the field by shooting 72 at the Tekoa CC Qualifier. In total, there were 818 entries for the event.
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SEPTEMBER 28/29, 2021
On the national stage, two Mass Golfers took it deep in their respective Championships. At the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship down in South Carolina, Shannon Johnson made another memorable run. Having won the event in 2018, Johnson leaned on her experience to advance all the way to the semifinals. She made a heroic charge on the back-9 from a 4-down deficit to take the semifinal match to extra holes, but fell to eventual champion Blakesly Brock.
With the 2021 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship being held in Massachusetts (Sankaty Head GC, Miacomet GC; Nantucket), Nick Maccario (Bradford CC) rode the hometown cheers to the semifinals of the prestigious event. During the run, Maccario’s showed some serious grit along the way. He survived a 13-for-7 playoff to advance to match play. In match play, he trailed in his first 3 matches, battling back to win each. And in his semifinal match, he fought back from a 4-down deficit, pushing the match to the 17th hole, and forcing Mark Costanza to make a birdie to win the match.
Visit MassGolf.org and follow @PlayMassGolf on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest information on Mass Golf championships and events. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #MassGolf.
