2018 New England Amateur Championship - First Round Summary (7/18)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2018
FALMOUTH, Maine -- The first round of the 89th New England Amateur Championship came to an end on Wednesday at 2:25 p.m. at Portland Country Club. After play was suspended midday on Tuesday due to inclement weather, the field returned to Falmouth on Wednesday to complete the first round and begin the second round.
While some players, like defending champion Bobby Leopold (Wannamoisett CC–RI), had completed all but five holes of his first round when the horn sounded on Tuesday at 12:20 p.m., others like Reese McFarlane (Purpodock Club – ME) had not even hit his first drive.
Despite the non-traditional start, both players had no issues getting off to a fast and impressive start on the 6,476-yard Donald Ross layout. McFarlane led the way with a 5-under par 65, while Leopold was one back following round one after posting a 4-under par 66
“I think that it helped that I didn’t start my round yesterday,” said McFarlane, who just completed his junior season at UNC Wilmington. “It is tough when you start a round and get pulled off the course and have to go back out there and stay in a good state of mind. Today it felt like the beginning of the tournament for me.”
With an 8:36 a.m. starting time on Wednesday, McFarlane reached the green with his tee shot on the 295-yard, par 4 1st hole and converted the two-putt birdie opportunity. He would go on to make six pars and a second birdie – on the 375-yard, par 4 5th hole – to make the turn at 2-under par 33.
“That was a great way to start,” said McFarlane . “I was steady for the rest of the front nine and then birdied 11 and 12 which were really good birdies. Those are really tough holes.”
McFarlane’s only blemish on his scorecard during that first round came on the 392-yard, par 4 13th hole. He quickly more than made up for that miscue with an eagle on the 510-yard, par 5 16th hole where he drained a 12-foot putt from below the hole.
“I putted really well,” said McFarlane. “Ryan Collins a buddy of mine was caddying for me and plays here a lot so he was giving me some great reads. I just kept the ball in front of me and didn’t miss too many fairways.”
McFarlane, who last week was disqualified from the Maine Amateur Championship after signing for the wrong scorecard on day two, is looking to continue his momentum in what is his third career appearance at the New England Amateur Championship.
“The greens were really soft today,” said McFarlane. “All of the rain made it a lot easier to shoot a good score. Some of the shorter chip shots and wedge shots you could go right at the pin where normally you might have to play away from it because you might get a hard bounce. You were able to be pretty aggressive with the soft greens. I think that it will get harder as the week goes along.”
Nipping at McFarlane’s heels during round one and no doubt throughout the 54-hole event will be Leopold, the defending champion who was one of 54 competitors who started but did not finish their first round on Tuesday. Only 12 competitors completed the first round on Tuesday
“I left for a few hours and went to Portland and then came back here,” said Leopold, who began his title defense on Tuesday at 9:28 a.m. “I am glad yesterday that I got to play some. I feel sorry for the guys who didn’t play anything yesterday.”
Before the rain found its way to Falmouth, Leopold had made three birdies and one bogey to make the turn at 2-under par 33. He then proceeded to then make birdie on the 346-yard, par 4 10th hole and then the 392-yard, par 4 13th hole.
It was then when the storms neared and the competitors were removed from the course and not to return until the following morning at 7:30 a.m.
Leopold is one of only three past champions in this year’s field. He is joined in that category by Craig Steckowych (Portsmouth CC – NH) who won in 2001 and Mark Plummer (Augusta CC – ME), the champion from 1994. If successful, Leopold will become the first competitor since 2004 to successfully defend this title. Mike Welch of Massachusetts and a current mini-tour professional was the last to repeat as a New England Amateur champion.
Sitting in a tie for third place with rounds of 3-under par 67 are Patrick Frodigh (Dedham C&PC – MA) and Drake Hull (Rutland CC – VT), who are two of five competitors who won their respective state amateur championships last week.
FALMOUTH, Maine -- The first round of the 89th New England Amateur Championship came to an end on Wednesday at 2:25 p.m. at Portland Country Club. After play was suspended midday on Tuesday due to inclement weather, the field returned to Falmouth on Wednesday to complete the first round and begin the second round.
While some players, like defending champion Bobby Leopold (Wannamoisett CC–RI), had completed all but five holes of his first round when the horn sounded on Tuesday at 12:20 p.m., others like Reese McFarlane (Purpodock Club – ME) had not even hit his first drive.
Despite the non-traditional start, both players had no issues getting off to a fast and impressive start on the 6,476-yard Donald Ross layout. McFarlane led the way with a 5-under par 65, while Leopold was one back following round one after posting a 4-under par 66
“I think that it helped that I didn’t start my round yesterday,” said McFarlane, who just completed his junior season at UNC Wilmington. “It is tough when you start a round and get pulled off the course and have to go back out there and stay in a good state of mind. Today it felt like the beginning of the tournament for me.”
With an 8:36 a.m. starting time on Wednesday, McFarlane reached the green with his tee shot on the 295-yard, par 4 1st hole and converted the two-putt birdie opportunity. He would go on to make six pars and a second birdie – on the 375-yard, par 4 5th hole – to make the turn at 2-under par 33.
“That was a great way to start,” said McFarlane . “I was steady for the rest of the front nine and then birdied 11 and 12 which were really good birdies. Those are really tough holes.”
McFarlane’s only blemish on his scorecard during that first round came on the 392-yard, par 4 13th hole. He quickly more than made up for that miscue with an eagle on the 510-yard, par 5 16th hole where he drained a 12-foot putt from below the hole.
“I putted really well,” said McFarlane. “Ryan Collins a buddy of mine was caddying for me and plays here a lot so he was giving me some great reads. I just kept the ball in front of me and didn’t miss too many fairways.”
McFarlane, who last week was disqualified from the Maine Amateur Championship after signing for the wrong scorecard on day two, is looking to continue his momentum in what is his third career appearance at the New England Amateur Championship.
“The greens were really soft today,” said McFarlane. “All of the rain made it a lot easier to shoot a good score. Some of the shorter chip shots and wedge shots you could go right at the pin where normally you might have to play away from it because you might get a hard bounce. You were able to be pretty aggressive with the soft greens. I think that it will get harder as the week goes along.”
Nipping at McFarlane’s heels during round one and no doubt throughout the 54-hole event will be Leopold, the defending champion who was one of 54 competitors who started but did not finish their first round on Tuesday. Only 12 competitors completed the first round on Tuesday
“I left for a few hours and went to Portland and then came back here,” said Leopold, who began his title defense on Tuesday at 9:28 a.m. “I am glad yesterday that I got to play some. I feel sorry for the guys who didn’t play anything yesterday.”
Before the rain found its way to Falmouth, Leopold had made three birdies and one bogey to make the turn at 2-under par 33. He then proceeded to then make birdie on the 346-yard, par 4 10th hole and then the 392-yard, par 4 13th hole.
It was then when the storms neared and the competitors were removed from the course and not to return until the following morning at 7:30 a.m.
Leopold is one of only three past champions in this year’s field. He is joined in that category by Craig Steckowych (Portsmouth CC – NH) who won in 2001 and Mark Plummer (Augusta CC – ME), the champion from 1994. If successful, Leopold will become the first competitor since 2004 to successfully defend this title. Mike Welch of Massachusetts and a current mini-tour professional was the last to repeat as a New England Amateur champion.
Sitting in a tie for third place with rounds of 3-under par 67 are Patrick Frodigh (Dedham C&PC – MA) and Drake Hull (Rutland CC – VT), who are two of five competitors who won their respective state amateur championships last week.
