For Immediate Release: July 22, 2008
Headline: Rhode Island’s Matt Broome Captures 2008 New England Amateur Championship
Newton Centre , MA – It may not have been the storybook tale that he envisioned, but Matt Broome (Barrington, RI) can officially call himself a New England Amateur Champion. Following what turned out to be a rain-shortened, 36-hole event, Broome finished with a low score of 3-under par 137 to claim the 2008 title at Charles River Country Club. This marks the first time that Broome has captured an NEGA title in his career.
The New England Amateur Championship is normally a three-day, 72-hole event that features a final 36 holes of play during the third day. Mother Nature took hold of the tournament, however, and forced several postponements of play on Wednesday and Thursday. The second round of play was completed on Thursday morning, but torrential rain in Newton forced the tournament committee to call the event after just 36 holes.
That decision was just fine with Broome, who had catapulted to the top of the leaderboard following a second round score of 4-under 66. Broome was one of the fortunate players who was able to complete his second round on Wednesday prior to the rain delay which began at 2:00 p.m. that day.
His round was certainly one to remember as it featured three birdies, one eagle and one bogey. His back nine was especially impressive as he was flawless through his final nine holes with an eagle and a birdie. Broome edged fellow Rhode Island competitor David McAndrew (Barrington, RI) and round-one leader Keegan Fennessy (Minot, ME) by one stroke. It was payback for Broome as he was defeated two weeks prior by McAndrew in the semifinals of the Rhode Island Amateur Championship. McAndrew went on to win that event.
This is just another feather in Broome’s golf cap as he is a former Barrington High School standout who claimed three state titles.
Three players – Cody Larson (Castleton, VT), Cody Paladino (Kensington, CT) and Evan Beirne (North Haven, CT) – finished in a tie for fourth place with scores of 1-under par 139, while 2007 Champion Brent Paladino (Kensington, CT) came in seventh overall.
