Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Qualifiers Begin at Puquoy brook, Gardner Municipal and New England CC
The Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championships remain among the most sought-after events on the Mass Golf calendar, annually drawing full fields of public-course golfers from across the state.
The Championship Proper will be held August 17-18, returning to Waubeeka Golf Links in Williamstown for the first time since 2016. Entries are open to amateur golfers who hold an active Mass Golf Membership at a public golf course or a course/club that provides playing opportunities for the general public seven days a week, and who have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 8.0 at the time of registration.
Originally set to be the first of three qualifiers this time around, the Poquoy Brook qualifier was postponed a week due to a rainstorm that came through. Starting on Thursday the 25th at Gardner Municipal, the top 15 & ties would advance. The field from Gardner Municipal would be led by Dave Carvara (Heather Hill Country Club), who shot an even-par 71 to earn medalist honors. His round would include Bridies on the Par-4 2nd and 12th holes. Another notable would be Greg Cavanagh (Unicorn Golf Club), who, despite triple-bogeying the par-5 15th and double-bogeying the par-3 16th, would birdie 18 to sneak just inside the cutline.
The following Monday, New England CC would be next, where another 15 & ties would earn their spot at Waubeeka. The Medalist would be David Spitz (South Shore Country Club), carding a pretty uneventful even par 71 that included one bogey on the par-4 6th hole and a birdie on the par-5 11th hole. Also making the cut would be Jake Goldberg (1929 Club), who would overcome a 9th-hole double bogey to sneak into the last qualifying spot.
David Spitz Teeing off at the 2023 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship (David Colt)
Finally, after a week delay, the Poquoy Brook Qualifier was able to be completed. Beating the heat and leading the field, carding a 1-under 71 would be Kevin Shea (Braintree Municipal GC). Shea would get hot on the back-9 of his round, birdieing the 14th and 18th holes. Ben Mullaney (Blissful Meadows Golf Course), a friend and former coworker of NECC Qualifier Goldberg, would make the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links a potential carpool trip when he would use late-round heroics to get back above the cut line. After putting his tee shot on 18 in the water, Mullaney would dig deep into his bag, getting up-and-down for birdie en route to his qualification.
HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIERS AND ALTERNATES FROM THIS WEEK’S MASS AMATEUR PUBLIC LINKS QUALIFYING EVENTS:
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
QUALIFIERS (Gardner Municipal GC-Par 71)
Dave Carvara, Heather Hill Country Club; 71
Eric Windler, Holden Hills Country Club; 72
Tommy Murphy, Bradford Country Club; 72
Richard Tonner, USGA/Mass Golf GC; 72
Randy Parker, Red Tail Golf Club; 72
Mark Millay, Kettle Brook Golf Club; 72
Peier Li, Student Member/MIAA; 73
Jonathan Bell, George Wright Golf Course; 73
Jake Damiani-Lessard, Chelmsford Country Club; 73
Cooper Harris, 1929 CLUB; 73
Max Doane, 1929 CLUB; 73
Greg Cavanagh, Unicorn Golf Club; 73
Jesse J Morgan, Northfield Golf Club; 74
Michael Reily, The Tour; 74
Jason Ortolano, Green Hill Muni Golf Course; 74
Adam Litchfield, Pembroke Country Club; 74
Mark Delaney, USGA/Mass Golf GC; 74
Matt Bardsley, Country Club of Greenfield; 74
Max Byerley, Bradford Country Club; 74
ALTERNATES
Matthew Dunn, Wachusett Country Club; 75
Connor Gebhart, Shining Rock Golf Club; 75
Jordan Walker, Blackstone National Golf Club; 75
Ross Anderson, Stow Acres Country Club; 75
MONDAY, JUNE 29
QUALIFIERS (New England CC-Par 71)
David Spitz, South Shore Country Club; 71
Shane Walsh, George Wright Golf Course; 72
Ryan Derosier, Olde Scotland Links; 73
Ethan Blonder, George Wright Golf Course; 73
Sean Keogh, George Wright Golf Course; 73
Nathan Bernen, New England Country Club; 73
Drew London, Chatham Seaside Links; 74
Christopher Leary, Juniper Hill Golf Course; 74
David Russell, DW Field Golf Course; 75
Daniel Campbell, Crosswinds Golf Club; 75
Tanner Burson, Five Iron Golf – Boston; 75
Aidan Guild, Student Member/MIAA; 75
Brian Strzempek, Crumpin-Fox Club; 76
Tim Sweeney, USGA/Mass Golf GC; 76
Jake Goldberg, 1929 CLUB; 77
Jeff Augustyn, Brookline Golf Course; 77
ALTERNATES
Gregory Hammond, Presidents Golf Course; 78
Nick Morgan, Sandy Burr Country Club; 78
Veo Robert, George Wright Golf Course; 78
Zachary Brown, New England Country Club; 78
Michael Ferullo, USGA/Mass Golf GC; 78
John Fiorito, Farm Neck Golf Club; 78
Jake McKenzie, Dennis Pines Golf Club; 78
Derek Pinciak, The Ledges Golf Club; 78
TUESDAY, JUNE 30 (RESCHEDULED FROM JUNE 23)
QUALIFIERS (Poquoy Brook-Par 72)
Kevin Shea, Braintree Municipal GC; 71
Peter Duckett, Shaker Hills Country Club; 72
Matthew O’Brien, Poquoy Brook Golf Association; 72
Andrew Dipetrillo, 1929 CLUB; 73
Joe Powers, Olde Scotland Links; 74
Jonathan Whitaker, Granite Links Golf Club; 75
Ben Mullaney, Blissful Meadows Golf Course; 75
Geoffrey Holt, Red Tail Golf Club; 75
Richie Thayer, Olde Scotland Links; 75
John Lynch, The Tour; 75
Jonathan Sanders, Olde Scotland Links; 75
ALTERNATES
Sean Dugas, Cape Cod Country Club; 76
Dennis R Konary, Barnstable Golf; 76
Up Next
Qualifying for the Mass Amateur Public Links will continue on July 15. Here are the remaining dates and locations on the schedule:
