NORTON, Massachusetts – The Tri-State Matches has always provided great camaraderie for some of the top amateur players in Massachusetts as they come together as a team to face Connecticut and Rhode Island. But this year, the Bay State men have some unfinished business to take care of. After winning 14 straight titles between 2003-17, Massachusetts placed second in its three-team showdown with Connecticut and Rhode Island last year, losing by just one point to champion Connecticut at Oyster Harbors Golf Club on Cape Cod.
In this year’s edition of the Tri-State Matches, Team Massachusetts is determined to win back the title, as it will face the same neighboring states on Tuesday and Wednesday at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Each team has selected 10 of its top mid-amateur players, plus six of its best senior amateur players to compete in the two-day event that features foursome and singles matches.
ONLINE: MASS GOLF PLAYER OF THE YEAR STANDINGS | EVENT PORTAL | EVENT HISTORY
At Kirkbrae Country Club, Lincoln, Rhode Island
Tuesday, October 15
Round 1 (8:30am shotgun) – Foursome Matches
Round 2 (1:00pm shotgun) – Foursome Matches
Wednesday, October 16
Round 3 (9:00am shotgun) – Singles Matches
Age: 32
City: Brockton
Club: Thorny Lea GC (Brockton)
2019 Accolades: Quarterfinalist in U.S. Four-Ball with Tri-States teammate Herbie Aikens; Qualified and played in U.S. Open, U.S. Mid-Amateur and U.S. Amateur; Won Norfolk County Classic; Runner-up in Massachusetts Four-Ball with Aikens; Quarterfinalist at Massachusetts Amateur.
On Playing In Tri-States: “I always have fun. Sometimes you play good, sometimes you don’t.”
Age: 27
City: Manchester; Club: Bradford CC (Haverhill)
Tri-States Count: Third Year
2019 Accolades: Won the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur (Broke competitive course record [64] at Brae Burn Country Club); Won the Massachusetts Four-Ball with Tri-States teammate Mike Calef; Won North Shore Amateur; Played in the U.S. Amateur, his first USGA event.
On His Play This Season: “Breaking that record and winning the Mid-Am has made me really appreciate what golf has done for me.”
On Playing In Tri-States: “I always seem to get paired with guys who do great things in Mass golf events, and this year I would say would be no different. I think this year we go back to our winning ways.”
Age: 37
City: Kingston; Club: Old Sandwich GC
Tri-States Count: 10th Year
2019 Accolades: Quarterfinalist at U.S. Amateur Four-Ball with Tri-States teammate Matt Parziale; Round of 64 at U.S. Mid-Amateur; Tied for second place at Massachusetts Mid-Am; Medalist for stroke play at Massachusetts Amateur.
On Playing In Tri-States: “Anytime you can represent your state, it’s just incredible. We have a whole new thing to play for. It’s lit a fire under us this year, and I’m going to be very surprised if we don’t make some noise this year.”
Age: 22
City: Hopkinton; Club: Hopkinton CC
Tri-States Count: Debut
2019 Accolades: Tied for second place at NCAA Louisville Regional for UConn, the program’s first golfer to compete as an individual in the NCAA Tournament since 1992; Runner-up in Massachusetts Amateur; Runner-up at Hornblower Memorial; Medalist [68] at Massachusetts Amateur Qualifier at Wahconah Country Club.
On Playing In Tri-States: “I’m very excited. I’m turning pro soon, so this is probably my last chance to play in it. I’m happy to get the opportunity to do it once.”
“We have a pretty good team, and I think we have a pretty good chance to win it.”
On Pursuing A Pro Career: “It’s awesome just being able to play golf. Golf is the only focus now. It is like a job, but it’s still a game.”
Age: 38
City: South Easton; Club: Pine Oaks GC (South Easton)
Tri-States Count: Seventh Year
2019 Accolades: Won Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship; Tied for fifth place at Massachusetts Mid-Amateur; Tied for second place at Norfolk County Classic; Tied for second place at New England Country Club Amateur Invitational.
On Playing In Tri-States: “Once you play in it once, it becomes a goal every single year. It puts a stamp on knowing you had a consistent year. It’s certainly a justification that you’re able to play a high-level of competitive golf for the whole season.”
Top Tri-States Memory: Holing out from the greenside bunker on the 18th hole to win his match in 2016.
Age: 30
City: Methuen; Club: Indian Ridge CC (Andover)
Tri-States Count: Third Year
2019 Accolades: Low Amateur at Massachusetts Open; Stroke play qualifier at Massachusetts Amateur; Third place at Worcester County Amateur.
On Playing In Tri-States: “It’s a blast. It’s a lot of fun. It’s good to get together with some of the guys you compete against all year, and you get to play on the same team for once. I’d love to help the team as much as I can.”
On Being Low Amateur: “It’s nice when you expect to play well and you go out there and do that.”
Age: 39
City: Needham; Club: Needham GC
Tri-States Count: Sixth Year
2019 Accolades: Fourth place at Massachusetts Mid-Amateur; Stroke play qualifier at Massachusetts Amateur; Third place at Tarlow Invitational.
On Playing In Tri-States: “One of the unique parts of making Tri-States is the opportunity to be on a team with seniors, guys you’ve always looked up to, and also guys just out of college, such as Jimmy [Hervol]. It’s really about the camaraderie and a great two-day format at the end of the season. This is why it’s always a goal to make this team.”
Age: 40
City: Portsmouth, Rhode Island; Club: Pine Oaks GC (South Easton)
Tri-States Count: Seventh Year
2019 Accolades: Won Massachusetts Four-Ball with Tri-States teammate Nick Maccario; Quarterfinalist at Massachusetts Amateur.
On Playing in Tri-States: “This is the event that is probably the most fun for me throughout the whole season because you spend the whole year trying to beat these great players.”
“Every single time we play this event, the golf course is spectacular. It’s pretty rare to have the best golf courses in New England and to have it to yourself for two days.”
On Last Year’s Event: “To lose it last year, it hurt. I know the team this year will be very excited to start a new winning streak.”
Age: 38
City: Weymouth; Club: South Shore CC (Hingham)
Tri-States Count: Third Year
2019 Accolades: Tied for second place at Massachusetts Mid-Amateur; Sectional qualifier (first alternate) at U.S. Amateur Four-Ball; Won Dave Adamonis Sr. Players Championship in Rhode Island.
On Playing in Tri-States: “It’s pretty cool the state organizations are able provide an event that offers top competition from their top players from the year, a great course, hotel, gear and dinner. It’s a privilege to be a part of the state team and to able to enjoy in the camaraderie with the other players.”
On The Alternate Shot Format: “With the amount of golf we play, alternate shot is rarely if ever is played so it’s so cool to be able to play that type of golf.”
Age: 26
City: Cambridge; Club: Far Corner GC (Boxford)
Tri-States Count: Debut
2019 Accolades: Quarterfinalist at Massachusetts Amateur; Won Seacoast Amateur Golf Championship in New Hampshire
On Playing In Tri-States: “I don’t have any Tri-State memories yet, but I am sure I will leave Wednesday afternoon with plenty.”
Age: 57
City: Boxford; Club: Marlborough CC
Tri-States Count: 25th Year
2019 Accolades: Round of 32 at U.S. Senior Amateur Championship; Senior Division winner at New England Country Club Amateur Invitational; Senior Division winner at Norfolk County Classic; Third place at Massachusetts Senior Amateur; Tied for fifth place at Massachusetts Mid-Amateur.
On Playing In Tri-States: “It’s kind of a carrot at the end of the season. If you have a good year, it’s something to look forward to. Mass has played very well. We didn’t win last year, but we’ve been winning our share of them lately and that’s just icing on the cake.”
On Team Massachusetts: “I think we have a really good team this year. A lot of guys are playing well on the Mid-Am side, and the six guys in the senior side are solid as well.”
Age: 60
City: North Easton; Club: Thorny Lea GC
2019 Accolades: Won Ouimet Memorial Tournament; Won Senior Division of Tarlow Invitational; Qualified for U.S. Senior Amateur Stroke Play.
On Playing In Tri-States: “When you get the call to make it, it’s an honor. It means you’ve played well through the season and not just one tournament. You get to bond with the guys. It’s a great way to end the year.”
Age: 64
City: Peachtree City, Georgia; Club: Westover GC (Granby)
Tri-States count: 16th Year
2019 Accolades: Won Massachusetts Senior Amateur; Tied for second place at Senior Hornblower Memorial.
On Playing In Tri-States: “In the beginning of the year, the Tri-State team is what I want to make. It’s so much fun seeing all the other state guys. It’s good to see the younger guys come up and meet them.”
Age: 65
City: Pembroke; Club: Plymouth CC
Tri-States count: Debut
2019 Accolades: Won Massachusetts Super Senior Amateur; Won Senior Hornblower Memorial; Third place at Ouimet Memorial Tournament; Tied for fourth place at Massachusetts Senior Amateur; First Alternate at U.S. Senior Amateur Sectional Qualifier.
On Playing In Tri-States: “I’m looking forward to playing with the best golfers in the state, and hoping to perform well while representing Massachusetts Golf. I love match play. I’ve also lived in Connecticut and grew up in Rhode Island and played on the URI golf team years back, so I’m familiar with some of the other state’s competitors.”
Age: 63
City: Norfolk; Club: Bayberry Hills GC (West Yarmouth)
Tri-States Count: Fourth Year
2019 Accolades: Runner-up at Massachusetts Senior Amateur; Tied for second place at Senior Hornblower Memorial; Tied for second place in Senior Division of New England Country Club Amateur Invitational; Tied for third place in Senior Division of Tarlow Invitational.
On Playing In Tri-States: “We have a strong group. I put our senior group up against any in the country.”
Age: 61
City: Franklin; Club: Franklin CC
Tri-States Count: Fourth Year
Accolades: Round of 64 at U.S. Senior Amateur; Runner-up at Ouimet Memorial Tournament; Tied for fourth place at Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball with R.J. Foley.
Best Tri-States Memory: Capturing six points during a close team match at first Tri-State event. “You always want to contribute to the team success, and hopefully we’ll be victorious again this year.”
CONNECTICUT ROSTER RHODE ISLAND ROSTER
| Justin Beal | Bob Murphy, Jr. | Bobby Leopold | Richard Audette |
| Glen Boggini | Dan Murphy | Tyler Cooke | Kolby Simmons |
| Richard Dowling, III | Randy Rizy | Jamie Lukowicz | Bruce Heterick |
| Patrick Griffin | James Sheltman | Seamus Fennelly | Jon Fasick |
| Bill Hermanson | Richard Stevens | Ryan Pelletier | Paul Quigley |
| Mike Kennedy | Mike Thompson | Jason Kalin | Darren Corrente |
| Rick Malafronte | Peter Tomlinson | Michael Philipp | George Pirie |
| Mark Vasington | Nick Waddington | Austin Cilley | Mike Arter |
TRI-STATES HISTORY
The first Tri-State Matches event took place in 1907 when the team from Massachusetts won at the Agawam Hunt Club in Providence, Rhode Island. Ever since 1928, teams from Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut have competed for the title over a two-day period to compete for the regional title. Individual amateur golfers are selected each year by their state’s respective golf associations.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Mass Golf will keep you updated on the Tri-State Matches at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Visit MassGolf.org and follow @PlayMassGolf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest information.
