By Stephen Hanjack
shanjack@massgolf.org
BOYLSTON, Massachusetts (July 30, 2025) – At a course that demands precision, every player who teed it up at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club as part of the 44th Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship had the same plan in mind. Fairways and greens. It’s no surprise, then, that the player to hit every single green in regulation over the two days is the one taking home the hardware.
Sean Fitzpatrick (George Wright GC) lapped the field by hitting 36-straight greens in regulation, shooting a two-day total of 10-under-par, to win by a touchdown.
“I’m very excited, and the APL, specifically, I’ve wanted for a while,” said Fitzpatrick after the round. “I did lose a playoff in 2018 to Owen Quinn, so it’s good to finally get some payback.”
Mark Waskiewicz (Crumpin-Fox Club) shot 69 on Wednesday to finish at 3-under-par and earn solo second place, three strokes ahead of anybody else.
The Amateur Public Links is open to any amateur golfer who has an active Mass Golf Membership at a public golf course, has a Handicap Index® not exceeding 8.0, and does not have playing privileges at a private club. Due to incredible demand, the handicap limit was changed from 12.0 to 8.0 for the first time this year.
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Prior to the final round, Sean Fitzpatrick sat quietly on a bench, by himself, collecting his thoughts. But behind the vibrant smile, charming Boston Accent, and occasional crack of a joke was a man on a mission.
Seeking to finish the job this time after a playoff loss in 2018, he started the day with a 4-shot lead, and from the jump, it felt inevitable. This was Sean Fitzpatrick’s tournament to win.
“My goal when I came out yesterday was basically focus on my ball striking. This golf course really penalizes misses,” said Fitzpatrick. “I did hit all 36 greens in regulation this week, so I am very proud of that and the way I hit the ball this week.”
Hitting all 36 was clearly the difference. And while that is a feat to celebrate, the most important test to pass at Cyprian Keyes is one of patience. With a score of 10-under, it’s quite clear that Fitzpatrick had no issue with that examination.
“My mindset was just to play solid. I wasn’t trying to play aggressive. I played a little passive,” added Fitzpatrick. “There’s a lot of holes out here that can really penalize you, but no more than the one you’re on at the moment.”
From a scoring perspective, Fitzpatrick snagged an early birdie on No. 3 before three-putting his way to bogey on No. 6. From there, he went on a tear, making five 3’s over the next six holes, good for four birdies during the stretch.
And with the lead never in jeopardy, the final explanation point on the round came via with a wedge to three feet on No. 17, his final birdie of the day.
Finishing runner-up at 3-under-par was Mark Waskiewicz, who made four birdies of his own, including a very similar one to Fitzpatrick’s on 17.
“I’m very excited,” said a smiling Waskiewicz. “My best Mass Golf finish, played very well, kept it in play, made a few putts, just played very consistent.”
No surprise that greens in regulation was also the name of the game for the runner-up.
Speaking about his back nine 33, Waskiewicz added, “[I] was really good off the tee. I think I hit 8 of 9 greens and was just really solid.”
Finishing solo 3rd was another familiar name, Dean Godek (Agawam Municipal GC), who made an early surge, shooting 2-under on the front nine, but couldn’t muster enough to hunt down the flawless Fitzpatrick. It was certainly nothing the senior standout could hang his head about this week.
Rounding out the top of the leaderboard was the group at 2-over-par, all finishing T4. Past champion Bill Drohen (Bradford CC) shot 70 (-2) in the final round to join Bryan Adkison (Granite Links GC) and Michael Dinoia (Cyprian Keyes GC).
Recent Champions
- 2024 – Joseph Lenane (The Ledges GC)
- 2023 – Ben Spitz (Olde Scotland Links)
- 2022 – Zachary Miller (Sandy Burr CC)
- 2021 – James Imai (Westover GC)
- 2020 – Bill Drohen (Gannon Municipal GC)
Twisting your way through the property of Cyprian Keyes Golf Club, it becomes quite clear that the Mark Mungeam-design is not only a great test of golf, but a compelling show of uniqueness. A dogleg right to start, followed by the dogleg left at no. 2, both with forced carries, and already you’ve been introduced. But ask any first time visitor, ‘what hole do you remember most?’, and they’re likely to say no. 13.
It’s a hole that requires you to ask some honest questions of yourself. Do I have enough pop to take on the trees? Do I really want 165 into this green?
With a waste area dividing the teeing area and fairway, the hole works its way left, guarded on both sides by a small collection of trees . The prudent play is out to the right, to the fat of the fairway, which calls for a shot of approximately 185 yards off the tee, then a shot of 165 yards into a shallow, sloping green. The aggressive play is to take driver and let it rip, across the waste area, over the trees, directly at the green.
This risk-reward proposition helps explain why the 13th offered up the second most birdies among par-4s, but also the one that dished out the most double-bogeys or worse on the back nine.
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