By Steve Derderian
sderderian@massgolf.org
PITTSFIELD, Massachusetts (September 30, 2026) – By the time John McNeill (Amateur Golf Tour of NE) spoke at Wednesday’s awards presentation at Country Club of Pittsfield, Keith Smith (Franklin Country Club) and Jack Kearney (Westover Golf Course) had already covered much of what he wanted to say. Both thanked Mass Golf and the familiar, competitive faces who make this late-season championship worth circling on the calendar, with a few sharing a house for the week and picking up the conversation over happy hour.
When McNeill’s turn came, he had a new trophy in hand and the same appreciation for the company he’d kept. Three weeks after turning 65, he won his first Super Senior appearance and his first Mass Golf championship, keeping his composure to hold off several championship contenders despite leaking some oil down the stretch. Preserving the lead with a clutch up-and-down par save on the 17th, followed by a sand wedge to 2 feet for birdie on the 18th, he finished with a two-day total of even-par 142, two stroke above Smith, and three ahead of Kearney, who claimed the Legends Division title for competitors 70 and older.
To add to the excitement, watching along was McNeill’s 88-year-old mother, Mary, who had traveled up from South Carolina. A past Vermont state champion herself, she understood both the satisfaction of winning and the pull of a game she has been unable to play for the past couple of years.
“I think having her see how much I enjoy the competition, enjoy the game, that means a lot,” McNeill said.
The 2021 New England Senior Amateur champion arrived after a frustrating season, including struggles at the recent New England and Massachusetts Senior Amateur championships. He considered putting his clubs away for a few days, but sensing his putting was coming together, he had believe that things could turn this week.
“I mean, the names in this field are really tremendous, and just to compete with them is a privilege,” McNeill said. “And then being able to play as well as I think I’m capable of is nice.”
Though he entered the day with a share of the lead with defending champ Steve Tasho (Thorny Lea Golf Club), Wednesday required more than just good ball-striking. He held the lead at the turn, and despite surrendering some cushion around the turn with three consecutive bogeys, McNeill steadied himself on the 12th and 13th, ironically one of the biggest ups and downs, so to speak, on the course. After hitting a 6 iron to the first cut just shy of the green, he saved par with a nifty bump and run, then birdied the extreme downhill the 13th for the second consecutive day.
His birdie on 14 was considerably less predictable. A poor, pop-up drive left him 207 yards away, but a recovery with a 6 iron caught the downslope and trundled (his words) onto the green. He then buried a 30-footer.
“That was crazy,” he said plainly.
Back-to-back bogeys on the par 5s tightened the race again. With a birdie on the par-4 14th, Smith carded a 71 with a bogey-free back nine to finish 2-over. McNeill knew pars on the final two holes would be enough. The 7 footer on the 17th just trickled over the edge, maintaining a one-stroke lead, however, he said he wasn’t comfortable until his final approach shot nearly nestled right up to the cup.
“Two putts to win from two feet. I can handle that,” he said. “That was the first time I felt comfortable all day.”
McNeill will have a few more people to show the trophy to at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he has spent 32 years and is back in the classroom after previously serving as dean of engineering. After the ceremony, he texted a photo to one of his former students, Douglas Shirakura, with whom he partnered with in the 2024 Mass Four-Ball Championship. McNeill also advises the club golf team, while an understanding department head has kept his fall teaching schedule compatible with tournament golf.
However, McNeill said academics are front and center the rest of the calendar year.
“This is a good way to cap off the season,” he said.
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Taking a page from ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, this week gave us a tremendous story outside the top contenders. Robert Woodbury (Pleasant Valley Country Club) arrived at the Super Senior Amateur just days after celebrating a birthday doctors once told him he wouldn’t reach. Diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer and leukemia nearly eight years ago, Woodbury went from competing regularly to struggling to hit his driver 150 yards. Cancer had already taken his first wife, but he was determined to keep fighting it by any means necessary.
He’s taking daily chemotherapy, and on Saturday, he turned 70. On Tuesday, he sank a 6-foot par putt on the final hole to make the cut and earn a place in next year’s championship. Choked up at times reflecting on the week, Woodbury says it’s another thing that will help motivate him to press forward.
“I’m not slowing down over this thing. I will not slow down.”
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