May 18, 2022

Competition corner

U.S. AMATEUR FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Unable to find finishing kicks when needed, the teams of Mike Calef and Nick Maccario and Joey Lenane and Aidan O’Donovan were both ousted in the second round of match play in the national tournament at the Country Club of Birmingham in Alabama. From a starting field of 128 two-man teams, Calef (West Bridgewater) and Maccario (Waltham) finished tied for 15th at 9-under 132, as did Lenane (Dedham) and O’Donovan (Somerville) as only 32 pairings advanced to match play. The first round went swimmingly for both Mass Golf teams: Calef-Maccario won, 4 and 3; Lenane-O’Donovan came back to prevail, 1 up. The Round of 16 was a different story as Torey Edwards and Bret Parker jumped to a 2-up lead through five holes and never trailed, defeating Calef-Maccario, 3 and 2. Lenane-O’Donovan trailed by just one hole through 10 when they struggled at the par-3 11th and made double-bogey to fall 2 down. They would cut it to a one-hole deficit with a win at the 12th, but they lost the par-3 13th and got beat, 2 and 1, by Chip Brooke and Marc Dull. A substantial playoff at 133 – 10 teams for the final 9 spots into match play – nearly involved Patrick O’Leary of Milton and his former teammate at Pennsylvania, Ben Cooley. But their 66-68 effort for 134 missed the playoff by one.

QUINNS SHINE AT TACONIC: It was eight years ago when Fran Quinn Jr. played in the last of the 71 PGA Tour tournaments currently on his resume. But what a memory it was as Quinn opened the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 with a 68 to sit in second place. He shared the spotlight with his caddie, then 15-year-old son, Owen. “My friend, my buddy,” Fran smiled as he spoke to reporters. OK, so there’s a long way to go, but on Tuesday, Fran, now 57, and Owen, now a professional golfer himself, planted the seed to a possible reunion for them at this year’s U.S. Open at The Country Club – only as competitors. Tossing down contrasting rounds (32 then 40 for Owen; 39 then 33 for Fran), father and son had 1-over 72s to earn two of five spots that were available in a U.S. Open Local Qualifier at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown. Sam Goldering of Florham Park, N.J., Class of ’20, returned to his alma mater and a course where he played for the Ephs to shoot level-par 71 for medalist honors. Adding even more Quinn flavor to the mix, Ethan Whitney of Westminster, who plays at Temple for coach Brian Quinn, Fran’s brother, eagled the first playoff hole to get through a 5-for-4 affair. The fifth spot went to CC of Pittsfield head professional Eric Mabee when he made par against three bogeys. Mabee and Whitney had finished in that logjam at 73.

MORE U.S. OPEN TRACKING: If you’re thinking the name sounds familiar, there’s good reason. Roland Massimino is the grandson of the famed Villanova hoops coach and he’s trying hard to make a name for himself in golf. Massimino shot 71 to earn second alternate honors at a U.S. Open Local Qualifier in Cherry Hills, N.J. Massimino, 25, play his golf at Kansas State and will be playing this summer on the PGA Tour Canada . . . . . At Hammock Dunes in Florida, Steve Marino shot 69 for medalist honors. Skip Kendall (76) and Luke Guthrie (76) failed to advance . . . . . David Pastore of Stamford, Conn., shot 70 and got through at Manhattan Woods GC in West Nayack, N.Y. His brother, Paul, shot 76 and didn’t advance. Neither will Brookline native James Driscoll get a chance to play in a real “hometown” U.S. Open as he shot 77. Ron Philo Jr. also shot 77 . . . . . In Orlando, Manny Villegas, brother of Camilo, was among those who shot 67 for medalist honors as they led the advance. Daniel Chopra lost in a playoff at 68, Will Dickson of Rhode Island missed with a 71, and Ian Poulter’s son, Luke, came home in 78 . . . . . In Albany, N.Y., among those getting through were Bryan Adkison, who plays out of Granite Links GC in Quincy. He shot 71. Matthew Cowgill of Weston (74), Herbie Aikens of Pembroke (76) and Eric Boulger of Walpole (76) failed to advance . . . . . In Maricopa, Ariz., Preston Summerhays advanced with a 69 . . . . . In Mesa, Ariz., former PGA Tour competitor Charlie Beljan shot 64 to make it through . . . . . Among those who failed to qualify at a site in Tenafly, N.J., was Golf Digest staff writer Daniel Rapaport, who shot 76.

U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN TRACKING: Breaking free from a close battle at the end, Yale University junior Ami Gianchandani used a pair of clutch birdies to shoot 71-69 and earn the one available spot at the qualifier at Worcester CC. The young woman from Watchung, N.J., will now be in the field at the national championship, to be held June 2-5 at Pine Needles in Southern Pines, N.C. Molly Smith of Vesper CC (70-72) edged Kaitlyn Lee of Scarsdale, N.Y. (69-73) in a playoff to earn first alternate status after they had tied for second at 142. Shannon Johnson of Thorny Lea GC in Brockton shot 145 and was fifth . . . . . Notable names who failed to get through at a site in Morristown, N.J., were Brittany Lincicome (75-75) and Megha Ganne (75-75) . . . . Former U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Gabriela Ruffles of Australia shot 139 to get through a qualifier in Madera, Calif. As an amateur, she finished T-13 at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open.

U.S. SENIOR OPEN TRACKING: Billy Andrade shot 73 in a qualifier in Ball Ground, Ga., and won’t be part of the field at Saucon Valley June 23-26. John Huston posted 65 for medalist honors and Omar Uresti also qualified. Besides Andrade, the list of those who didn’t qualify at Ball Ground included Paul Claxton (69), Tim Herron (70), and Cliff Kresge (70) . . . . . At a site in Alabama, former PGA Tour winners Ted Tryba (74) and Jose Coceres (75) failed to get through.

CONDOLENCES: When Francis Ouimet enthusiastically gave his blessing to a scholarship fund in his name in 1949, there were 13 scholars honored. Bob McDonald of Needham was among them and it’s hard to imagine a more appreciative honoree than he. For the remainder of his life, which came to an end May 14 with his death at the age of 90, McDonald was an avid supporter of the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund. He is warmly applauded by his many friends and greatly appreciated by a legion of Ouimet supporters.