David Pastore Leads, John Broderick Two Back After Two Rounds At 113th Massachusetts Open
For Immediate Release: June 13, 2023
NORTON, Massachusetts – Much like the early-morning mist Tuesday at TPC Boston, figuring out who will earn the title after 36 holes at the 113th Massachusetts Open Championship is far from clear. Too many players have sniffed the lead for there to be any evidence of a runaway victor.
The top of the leaderboard heading into Wednesday’s final round has its fair share of almost-wons, including current leader David Pastore. After finishing T2 a couple years ago at Oak Hill Country Club, the Stamford, Connecticut, pro has taken the overnight lead at 10-under 134 after knocking down a 5-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th.
Vanderbilt University’s John Broderick (Dedham Country and Polo Club), of Wellesley, struggled on the 18th, but an early four-hole birdie stretch got him to solo second at 8-under, one ahead of 2011 champion Kyle Gallo, as well as past contenders Mike Van Sickle (Wexford, PA) and Rhode Island native Brad Adamonis.
A total of 53 players made the cut at 2-over 146. Play resumes Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. for the final 18 holes. A sudden-death playoff will follow, if needed.
David Pastore may have started his round Tuesday with a bogey, but the rest was smooth sailing. He answered with four birdies on the front nine to get to 7-under total and added another on 12. With about 220-yards to go after his drive on the 18th, Pastore hit a beautiful iron into the green, leaving him with a makable eagle putt to finish out the round.
John Broderick was champing at the bit entering this year’s Mass Open after redshirting his first year at Vanderbilt University.
Starting on the front nine, he looked like a golfer unleashed. He made birdie on holes 2-5, setting himself up with tap-in birdies on holes 4 and 5 to get to 8-under early in his second round, which he said helped take off some of the pressure.
“I could freewheel a bit, which was awesome,” said Broderick, winner of both the 2022 Mass Junior Amateur Championship and 2020 New England Amateur Championship.
Broderick, currently the low amateur, got his lead to 10-under by the time he reached the 18th, however, he sliced his drive into the woods on the left side of the closing hole. Taking backline relief to the 17th fairway, Broderick hit his recovery into the first cut of rough and then miss the green short on his fourth stroke, eventually settling for double-bogey. Still, Broderick chalked it up as a learning experience.
“I haven’t played a golf tournament in a while, and I think it was great,” Broderick said. “Down the back nine I felt more nerves. I kind of failed the last three holes, but it was good experience, and I think I’ll be just right for tomorrow.”
Journeyman pro Berk Harvey (San Jose, CA) also had some trouble with 18 but recovered in tremendous fashion to keep his title hopes alive. Hitting a 4-iron into the closing green, his second shot came up short, but retired on the top of the rough patch placed in the middle of the bunker. Playing a tough lie below his feet, he got it to land right on line, and it trickled into the cup for an eagle, getting his score to 5-under total.
“I landed it right where I was looking,” said Harvey, a former Santa Clara University standout. “I knew it was going to be close, but I didn’t think it was going to be in.”
Those following along Wednesday would be wise not to count out 2011 champion Kyle Gallo, 48 of Berlin, Connecticut, or BradAdamonis, 50, a Rhode Islander now living in Florida. A three-hole deficit is hardly anything Gallo will fret over. After all 12 years ago, he overcame a 4-hole deficit with five remaining to earn the title at Oak Hill.
“I’ve won tournaments my whole life, it’s just a matter of getting in the situation and being in the hunt the last 3-4 holes, then it’s anybody’s game,” said Gallo, after saving par with a 15-footer on the closing 9th Tuesday.
Gallo, who is priming up for senior events in the next couple years, started strongly with an eagle on the 12th and a birdie on the 13th, making up for a double he made on the latter the day prior. Though he plays sparingly, Gallo said he likes how his game has come together over the past couple days.
“Everything seems to be clicking,” Gallo said. “I’m familiar with being in these situations. The golf course is pretty much right in front of you, and I’m putting well. A lot is going to happen, and there will be ebbs and flows. When there was an issue, I got it and was able to come right back.”
Adamonis, who has five top-10 finishes over the past decade, knocked down six birdies Tuesday, and despite stumbling in with a pair of bogeys still has a puncher’s chance, as do many others in the field.
Round 3 begins at 7:30 Wednesday morning. Admission and parking is open and free to the public.
Round 2 Notables
This year’s cutline of 2-over-par 146 is the lowest its been in the past decade the Mass Open has been contested. The closest in recent history was Vesper Country Club in 2019 when the cut was at 3-over 147 on the par-72 layout.
John Clare (Camillus, NY) sank the lone hole-in-one of the championship so far, as his 7-iron strike on the par-3 3rd (183 yards) hit right near the cup and hopped down. For Clare it was his first ace in a competitive event and third lifetime. In its 17 years hosting a PGA Tour event, there have been several aces. However, Kevin Stadler was the only one in that span from 2003-2020 to make one on the 3rd, doing so in 2005. Unlike Stadler, Clare made the cut, shooting 4-under 68 to sit at 3-under overall.
Tyler Ott, a Harvard graduate and NFL long snapper, has carried the bag for Liam Friedman the past two days. Ott, 31, was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots in 2014, but most recently played for the Seattle Seahawks from 2016-2022.
Frank Dully, the head golf professional at Kernwood, didn’t make the cut when he played in the 2006 Deutsche Bank Classic at TPC Boston. But 17 years later, he will play on the final day after tallying a 1-over 145 over two days. Fran Quinn (Worcester Country Club), who played in the U.S. Open just about a year ago, made his second straight Mass Open cut, shooting 1-under 143 over two days and sitting at T25.
Playing in his second straight Mass Open Berk Harvey is just one of several journeymen in the Mass Open. With his girlfriend living in Boston, the Bay State has almost become a second home for the San Jose, California, native. Harvey estimates he has played in nearly 40 states, including Hawaii, competing their during his tenure playing for Santa Clara.
Sean Magarian (Pleasant Valley Country Club) and his older brother Zach Magarian, an assistant golf professional at TPC Boston, were both hoping to make the cut. Sean got through with consecutive even-par 72s. Despite going 2-over on Monday, Zach shot 83 on Tuesday and fell short of the cutline.
Mike Van Sickle, a teaching pro from Pennsylvania known for his colorful, sports-themed golf pants, shot 66 on Tuesday to finish the day T3. Rocking a pair of blue and black Toronto Maple Leafs pants on Tuesday, Van Sickle made seven birdies, including a bogey-free 32 on the front nine.
“It’s peaceful, it’s a good course. I have so many memories of the [PGA Tour] tournament, watching Tiger, watching Phil.” — David Pastore, on his past couple days playing TPC Boston.
“I just try to embrace being uncomfortable and look at it as a way to get better and manage adversity. I’m looking forward to tomorrow, so hopefully I’m somewhat close to the lead.” — Max Theodorakis on his approach to the final round.
“A lot of the feelings and memories came back. I got up on 10 yesterday and I remembered how nervous I was the first time. The course was much better, way more playable and more risk-reward. It’s much more fun. There were so many 470-480-yard par-4s. It’s nice to have two solid rounds, and maybe tomorrow if I’m around I might get hot and make a run or something.” — Frank Dully II on playing two rounds at TPC Boston, following his 2006 appearance in the Deutsche Bank Classic.
“I love coming to the Northeast and playing Northeast golf. My uncle [Eric Egloff] and I talk all the time. He told me what a great tournament and a great course this was. You feel like you’re playing a big championship, whereas mini-tour it feels more like a money game.” — Maryland native Morgan Egloff on playing in his first Mass Open, which his uncle Eric won in 2005.
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