By: Steve Derderian
sderderian@massgolf.org
FALMOUTH, Massachusetts (June 10, 2025) – Hazy skies and a dense fog hung over Sacconnesset Golf Club on Tuesday morning, but it wasn’t the marine layer that brought Round 1 of the 115th Massachusetts Open to a halt. A thunderstorm just after noontime delayed play for about three hours, and when play finally resumed, the fog lifted, only for a steady, soaking rain to take its place and causing a suspension in play.
One round is rarely enough to forecast a winner, especially when just over half of the 144-player field has teed off. Still, a handful of contenders made strong opening statements.
Among them was former University of Maryland standout Peter Knade (St. Simons Island, GA), who finished T2 in 2022, nearly erasing a six-shot deficit with a final-round course record 64 at Longmeadow Country Club. On Tuesday, he made another splash (the good kind) by one-hopping a wedge from 100 yards for eagle on the par-4 14th. It helped him surge to the overnight lead at 4-under through 17 holes, with just one bogey on the card.
He holds a slim margin over local pros Steven DiLisio (Salem Country Club) and Brendan Hunter (Red Tail Golf Club), who each sit at 3-under on the rain-shortened day. DiLisio, the 2019 Massachusetts Amateur winner, placed top 10 last year, while Hunter, the 2016 Massachusetts Amateur winner, is seeking his best finish since placing T12 in 2022.
When Owen Quinn (Worcester Country Club) stood on the first tee at Sacconnesset eight years ago, he admitted the moment overcame him a bit. Coming off his first year at Lehigh University, Quinn made his Mass Open debut that year as an alternate. But it wasn’t the original plan. By coincidence, it came courtesy of his father and Champions Tour standout Fran Quinn, whose clubs were lost in transit while flying back from a tour event in Iowa.
“I had just about no chance, but it was nice getting out there and playing,” Quinn said of the 2017 experience.
Still navigating life as a professional, Quinn spent this past winter working on his game at the Dye Preserve in Florida, keeping competitive play to a minimum. That payoff, he hopes, is coming soon, as he said he’s tuned up his game the past month or so in preparation. His work has shown so far. After making a short birdie putt on the par-3 16th, Quinn’s greenside bunker shot on the 18th stopped on a dime and nearly spun back into the cup for an eagle. Not to be outdone, he holed out from the bunker on the par-4 1st and added a birdie on the short par-4 2nd to move to 4-under.
Though he gave back a couple shots back on the 3rd, Quinn has strong conviction he can make something special happen this week.
“I feel like I’ve been playing solid this past three weeks or so,” Quinn said. “I was really excited to get to Sacconnesset; the place is awesome. The course is awesome. It’s a shame we’re getting this weather right now, but the next few days will be great, and I’m looking forward to it.”
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Ethan Whitney (Oak Hill Country Club) is making a debut of a different kind at Sacconnesset this week as he turned professional after graduating from Temple University. Whitney, who was in the final group in 2022, won’t be alone. His best friend and 2022 Mass Amateur champion, Conner Willett (Charles River Country Club), also declared pro this year after finishing up at Georgetown, and the two plan to play a similar schedule.
“Having my best buddy with me every day is going to be great and learning how things are going to work,” Whitney said. “That’s the goal this year is get the feet wet and play Korn Ferry Q School in the fall, go down to Florida for the winter and just see what happens.”
As for this week: “I always feel like if I’m showing up to a tournament, I feel like I have a chance to win,” Whitney said. “That’s the goal this week. I’m not here to finish second; I’m here to get a win. The game feels good, and I’m ready to rock.”
As for the leader in the clubhouse, GreatHorse’s Director of Instruction Christopher Tallman finished with a steady round of 2-under 70 but will have a gap of over 24 hours before continuing play. Tallman, who made birdies on holes 10, 11, and 13, will begin Round 2 at 5:11 p.m. Wednesday, which, in all likelihood, will continue into Thursday morning. Last year, Tallman finished in the top 20 with consecutive rounds of even-par 70 to close out the tournament.
Play will resume at 7 Wednesday morning. The field of 144 will be trimmed to the low 50 scorers and ties and any player within 7 strokes of the lead after Round 2 concludes. Admission and parking throughout the week are open and free to the public. Overflow parking with a shuttle service will be made available at The Cape Club.
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While the weather hardly cooperated, Rees Jones, “The Open Doctor,” made a house call to Sacconnesset Golf Club on Tuesday. Known for crafting championship venues, Jones expressed admiration for what he called “one of the most undulating properties on the Cape” and a site he was “lucky to find.”
Now hosting the Mass Open for the second time, Sacconnesset showcases Jones’ signature blend of old-school finesse and modern challenge.
Jones discussed several standout features like the short par-four 2nd, reminiscent of the Valley of Sin at The Old Course, and the 7th, a nod to the famous Road Hole. More than just nostalgic, these elements serve strategy: “Green contours are much of a hazard as anything in the game of golf,” Jones explained. “If you go on one of these little terraces, you get birdie opportunity. If you play away from it, there’s a good chance you could three putt, especially if you go over the green.”
Reflecting on the design process, Jones has long called Sacconnesset “an architect’s dream”; natural land, sandy soil, and mature trees made for a rare canvas on Cape Cod. The 2nd hole, for example, would not have drained without the sandy subsurface, and the trees that remain make this place the epitome of a parkland golf course.
“We built a classic course on a classic site,” he said. “This almost looks like a pre-depression golf course, and it does have a really chance to make some really good scores, and it has a couple of chances, like on 6 and 17, to take your lunch.”
Hear more from Jones in our Five Big Things video from Day 1.
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For complete coverage of the Massachusetts Open Championship, visit MassGolf.org or follow Mass Golf on Facebook, X and Instagram at @PlayMassGolf and by using the hashtag, #MassOpen
