HYANNISPORT/WEST YARMOUTH, Massachusetts – This year’s Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship might go down as one of the most competitive in its 42-year history. With more than a dozen teams finishing with double-digit scores under-par on a raw spring day on Cape Cod, sitting on a lead wasn’t going to cut it.
Steve Tasho Jr. and Thomas Harrison recognized this and knew they couldn’t take their foot off the gas coming down the stretch. In fact, they epitomized the balance needed to win a four-ball competition. Thomas made 10 birdies over two days, highlighted by a 30-footer off the green on the 3rd hole (12th of the day). Meanwhile, Tasho poured in eight more, including the final one on the 7th hole (16th of the day) followed by a par save on the 8th, to finish the two-day competition with a 17-under 126.
Their total score of 126 matches the 2017 winning mark from Matt Parziale and Herbie Aikens when the event took place at Haverhill Country Club and Renaissance. No team had ever finished 17-under in this championship.
“I came into the week with no expectations, and it feels pretty surreal,” Harrison said after the victory. “We both felt comfortable as the day went on. Steve was keeping an eye on the score, I was trying to turn a blind eye to it, but he had us sorted out with our scorekeeping.”
Kevin Blaser and Ricky Stimets, made their own late charge up the leaderboard at Hyannisport Club but finished runner-up with a 15-under 128.
In addition to their championship plaques, Tasho and Harrison are guaranteed a spot in the Mass Four-Ball for the next 10 years. The low 30 teams and ties are also guaranteed a spot in next year’s championship (must be the same two individuals to qualify).
🏆 Four-Ball Champions 🏆
An afternoon 61 helped Thomas Harrison & Steven Tasho win the 42nd Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship.#MassFourBall | #MassGolf pic.twitter.com/gh2Hwsy4Ob
— Mass Golf (@PlayMassGolf) April 26, 2023
When it comes to this win, all roads come back to Brockton’s Thorny Lea Golf Club. Harrison joined the club when he moved to the Bay State two years ago, and Tasho became one of his closest friends. Harrison, who’s originally from Texas and plays winter golf in Florida, has since joined Old Sandwich Golf Club where he works as a part-time caddie.
In addition, Tasho joined his father, Steve Sr., as the past winner of the event. The elder Tasho won this event in 1988 and 1994 with his brother-in-law Bruce Chalas, who coaches Boston University’s women’s golf team.
“It’s really special, and I’m glad I could win something like this,” said Tasho, a former Bryant University standout. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it to all the coaching and preparation [my dad] has given me for these events.”
Blaser (Fall River Country Club) and Stimets (Worcester Country Club) got themselves back in the lead after Stimets went off for birdies on holes 12-14, followed by a successful eagle putt on the 16th and a difficult downhill birdie putt on the 17th.
However, Harrison and Tasho made the turn at 13-under, and Harrison’s birdies on the 3rd and 5th holes, followed by Tasho’s back-to-back shots on the 6th and 7th gave them a firm grasp on the lead. They said they didn’t feel comfortable until both their tee shots were in play on the final hole.
“The last four holes were a grind; we weren’t taking our foot off the pedal,” Tasho said.
They both said clinching the title at a historic and prestigious venue like Hyannisport made it all the more special.
“I thought Hyannisport was such a beautiful setting to do it,” Harrison said. “It exceeded expectations for sure.”
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NOTABLES
Visit MassGolf.org and follow @PlayMassGolf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest information on this week’s Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship at Hyannisport Club and Bayberry Hills Golf Course. To join the conversation, use the hashtag #MassGolf and #MassFourBall.
