Nov 24, 2021

Competition corner

Khang maintains consistency

She has yet to break through for that first LPGA victory, but Megan Khang has appeared to figure out something that will serve you well in professional golf – uncanny consistency. Khang – who grew up in Rockland and has ties to The Harmon Club and the Boston Golf Club – recently concluded her sixth year with her best-ever finish in the CME Group Tour Championship, a tie for fifth, to close out a season in which she had her best standing on the money list, 26th ($723,799). Since her second season, 2017, Khang had ranked between 30thand 43rd on the money list so at the still-tender age of 24, she is clearly established on Tour. Her T-5 in the CME was her third strong performance in a big-stage tournament in 2021; previously she had finished T-10 and T-4 in a pair of majors, the ANA Inspiration and U.S. Women’s Open.

James stays on a roll

The AJGA’s Rolex Tournament of Champions is scheduled to conclude on Thanksgiving Day at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., but it appears that Ben James of Milford, Conn., is showing the sort of form that has had him on a torrid stretch this year. Entering the Rolex T of C, James had won his previous three starts (PING Invitational, Junior Players, and New England Junior Amateur). In three tournaments before that, James had finished second twice. So, it’s not a huge surprise to see him off to a 69-70 start to sit in a share of second, four off the lead. No matter which ranking you choose (James is No. 1 in the Junior Golf Scoreboard, No. 2 with the AJGA, and No. 3 with Golfweek), James is a considered an elite talent who has committed to the University of Virginia after he graduates in the spring.

Rank has been filed

Here’s a look at some locals who hold lofty positions in the latest amateurgolf.com rankings: Amateurs – Michael Thorbjornsen, Wellesley, 22nd; Patrick Welch, Providence, 105th. Mid-Ams – Nick Maccario, Bradford, 17th; Cody Paladino, Conn., 21st; John Hayes, Maine, 50th; James Pleat, N.H., 52nd; Brad Tilley, Conn., 71st; Andrew DiRamio, 82nd; Matt Parziale, Easton, 103rd. Seniors – Frank Vana, Boxford, 67th . . . . . At the Society of Seniors Founders Cup at Sandpiper GC in Goleta, Calif., Rick Cunha competed in the Legends Division, placing seventh with rounds of 81-79-81.