Overnight leader Keith Smith (Franklin CC, MA) outfoxed a field that was in hot pursuit throughout the second and final day of the New England Senior Amateur Championship, securing the win with rounds of 67 and 68 (-7). This marks the fourth consecutive victory for Massachusetts golfers in the event. He also claimed the Super Senior division title by six shots.
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 He called it the biggest win of his life and one that he wasn’t expecting entering the week. “It’s really been a challenging year, frustrating. I have not really played that well this year. I’ve taken more lessons, have given more practice, and just last week, I found a tempo that…you know, when the tempo is right everything kind of falls together,” said Smith.
 Smith entered Tuesday’s play with a two-stroke lead and kept the pedal to the metal, carding four birdies and one bogey on the front nine. When asked about that stretch, Smith said, “I had some good iron shots in there and I made some really good putts…It was kind of scary, you know, because it was just not what’s been going on this year. So, you kind of have to harken back to when you used to play well.”
 While the field tallied six total under par rounds on day one, day two saw 16 red figures. The final four stroke margin doesn’t quite tell the whole story.
 Smith explained that it never quite felt like a runaway victory: “The other two in our group were both under par on the front nine as well. So even though I turned at three under, I think I only picked up one stroke, so you just have to keep grinding and I was just fortunate that it went my way.”
 After a birdie on the par-3 11th, Smith stumbled a bit with back-to-back bogeys on 12 and 13 to give David Marshall (Quinnatisset CC, CT) and Dean Parziale (Agawam Hunt, RI) a glimmer of hope. Suddenly, the lead was just one. However, Smith quickly bounced back with a birdie on 15.
 After the birdie and some bogeys from his competitors, Smith’s lead stretched back to four: “Then we’re just hanging on and don’t do anything stupid.” Which he didn’t, carding three pars to seal the win.
 “It’s the biggest tournament I’ve won, so you know, there’s a lot of butterflies. But you just have to take deep breaths and stay slow, and it’s going to work out.”
 Marshall went on to finish in second at 3-under, while John Hadges (Thorny Lea GC, MA) and past champion John McNeill (Amateur Golf Tour of NE, MA) tied for third at 2-under.

​EAST HADDAM, Connecticut – With an afternoon threat of thunderstorms, this would be the third consecutive New England Senior Amateur Championship effected by rain. Making it through the full field without a rain delay during the first day, there is a collection of low scores at the top of the leaderboard.

With a smooth finish from their morning rounds Dean Parziale (Agawam Hunt, RI) and David Marshall (Quinnatisset CC, CT) tied for the initial lead at 2-under.

With a later start in the day, Keith Smith (Franklin CC, MA) made his way to the top of the leaderboard, with a 2-stroke lead over Parziale and Marshall. With a finish at 4-under, Smith is not stranger to the top of the leaderboard. Smith is a previous Massachusetts Senior Amateur Champion and Player of the Year. 

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Keith Smith had his ups and downs during the day, starting with a bogey-free first-9. Starting on hole 3, his 12th, Smith went bogey-bogey and took himself out of the lead. With an eagle on the par-4 6th, his 15th, it put him back in a position to have the solo lead after day 1.

"I hit the ball solidly with a couple wayward swings, but avoided big damage. I got up-and-down numerous times to keep the round going, and the 88 yard hole-out for 2 really helped the score. The course will punish poor shots and the greens are challenging, but it gives you opportunity as well.  I’ve struggled this year with consistency so I’ll have to play well again tomorrow" said Smith. 

Dean Parziale is no stranger to the top of the leaderboard. Winning back-to-back Rhode Island Senior Four-Ball Championships, the Senior Division of a Rhode Island Mid-Amateur, and the Senior Division of a Rhode Island Stroke Play Championship, however, this is his first chance at a New England Senior Amateur title.

David Marshall is turning heads to the top of the leaderboard during his debut in the New England Senior Amateur. His low profile in the amateur circle will keep things interesting going into a second round and a chance to stay on top.
With more Massachusetts representation among the top five, Ed Garbacik (Westover CC, MA) and Todd Ezold (Twin Hills CC, MA) are tied for 4th at 1-under, 70 with Randy Millen (The Aquidneck Club, RI).
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After completing the first round of stroke play, the Super-Senior Championship is being led by Keith Smith, trailed by Ed Garbacik.

Day 1 Leaderboard
1- Keith Smith (Franklin CC, MA); -4, 67
T2- Dean Parziale (Agawam Hunt, RI); -2, 69
T2- David Marshall (Quinnatissett CC, CT); -2, 69
T4- Ed Garbacik (Westover CC, MA); -1, 70
T4- Todd Ezold (Twin Hills, MA); -1, 70
T4- Randy Millen (The Aquidneck Club, RI); -1, 70
Super-Senior
1- Keith Smith (Franklin CC, MA); -4, 67
T2- Ed Garbacik (Westover CC, MA); -1, 70
T2- Randy Millen (The Aquidneck Club, RI); -1, 70
T4- Kim Perry (Links @ Land Farm, VT); E, 72
T4- Michael Arter (Segregansett CC, MA); E, 72
Top Scores from Each State
Massachusetts - 1 (-4); Keith Smith (Franklin CC, MA)
Rhode Island - T2 (-2); Dean Parziale (Agawam Hunt, RI)
Connecticut - T2 (-2); David Marshall (Quinnatissett CC, CT)
Vermont - T7 (E); Kim Perry (Links @ Land Farm, VT
New Hampshire - T11 (+1); John Flynn (Cochecho CC, NH)
Maine - T18 (+2); Keith Patterson (Biddeford-Saco CC, ME)

About Fox Hopyard
Once voted a top public course for the region, Fox Hopyard is Connecticut's newest private golf club as they make a transition to dedicate themselves to their members. Sitting on 530 acres of rolling hills. With various natural conditions on the course, they seamlessly create a championship level golf course just 30 minutes off the coast of Connecticut.
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