York, Maine – It was a dramatic finish on a banner day at The Ledges Golf Club. Patrick McGuiness (Keney GC, CT) trailed leader John McNeill (Amateur Golf Tour of NE, MA) by four shots entering the final round of play at the New England Senior Amateur Championship,but he stormed up the leaderboard with a 3-under round of 69 to nab the win and end a streak of five consecutive Massachusetts victors. This marks the first win for the Nutmeg State since 2014.
ONLINE: RESULTS | PAST CHAMPIONS | EVENT HOMEPAGEKnowing full well that he'd need plenty of early birdies to put the pressure on the leaders, McGuiness came out of the gates hot. He fired a front nine 33, which included a stretch of four birdies in the span of six holes. He added a fifth birdie on the par-5 12th to push it to 3-under for the Championship, before giving one back on the 15th.
The 16th and 17th at the The Ledges Golf Club present a daunting final gauntlet, playing as the first and third most difficult holes on the day. A par-par-par finish was a welcome flourish for McGuiness, affording him the clubhouse lead at 2-under. McGuiness was in the fifth-to-last group of the day, which meant he spent plenty of anxious post-round time with an eye on the leaderboard.
Donald Reycroft (Poquoy Brook GC, MA) looked to be the most substantial threat when a birdie on the 14th around the same time that McGuiness bogeyed the 15th left both players at 2-under. Alas, bogeys on the 16th and 17th snuffed out Reycroft's championship hopes.
Day one leader John McNeill endured a tumultuous round, which included 4 birdies, 4 bogeys and a double. Still, the past champion gave himself a chance down the stretch with a birdie on the difficult par-4 17th. Needing another birdie on the 18th to force a playoff, McNeill settled for par and a T2 finish.
Chris O'Neill (Pawtucket CC, RI) claimed the Super Senior division title with a clutch birdie on the par-5 18th, following up his opening round of 70 with a 73, 1-under overall, good for a tie for second. O'Neill's fellow Rhode Islander Jeffrey Dantas (Button Hole GC, RI) matched O'Neill and McNeill at 1-under, powered by a stretch of four birdies in six holes en-route to a day two round of 2-under 70.
Final Leaderboard
1- Patrick McGuiness (Keney GC, CT); -2, 73-69
T2- Jeffrey Dantas (Button Hole GC, RI); -1, 73-70
T2- Chris O'Neill (Pawtucket CC, RI); -1, 70-73
T2- John McNeill (Amateur Golf Tour of NE, MA) -1, 69-74
5- Donald Reycroft (Poquoy Brook GC, MA); E, 71-73
Super-Senior
1- Chris O'Neill (Pawtucket CC, RI); -1, 70-73
2- Donald Reycroft (Poquoy Brook GC, MA); E, 71-73
3- Craig Steckowych (Portsmouth CC, NH); +1, 76-69
4- Dan Arvanitis (Derryfield CC, NH); +3, 76-71
Top Scores from Each State
Massachusetts – T2- John McNeill (Amateur Golf Tour of NE, MA) -1, 69-74
Rhode Island – T2- Jeffrey Dantas (Button Hole GC, RI); -1, 73-70, Chris O'Neill (Pawtucket CC, RI); -1, 70-73
Connecticut – 1- Patrick McGuiness (Keney GC, CT); -2, 73-69
Vermont – T95 - Kim Perry (West Bolton GC, VT); +17 78-83
New Hampshire – T6- Craig Steckowych (Portsmouth CC, NH); +1, 76-69
Maine – T19 (+4); Scott Dewitt (Biddeford-Saco CC, ME), Keith Patterson (Biddeford-Saco CC, ME), Kevin Doherty (Cape Neddick CC, ME)

York, Maine – Maine may bill itself as Vacationland, but John McNeill (Amateur Golf Tour of NE, MA) is traveling for business, and that business is the dogged pursuit of a second New England Senior Amateur Championship title. The leaderboard is bunched up, nine players found their way into red figures on day one at The Ledges Golf Club, but McNeill stands alone at the top after a three-under round of 69. The 2021 champion set the tone on his very first hole of the day (the 10th) with a birdie. McNeill would pile on another five birdies the rest of the way.

If McNeill manages to outpace the field again tomorrow, he’ll join a limited group of repeat victors. In the event’s 28-year history, only two players have managed to win twice: Phil Pleat (2016, 2017) and Dave Szewczul (2010, 2011). Should McNeill prevail, it would also mean six consecutive Massachusetts winners.
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​The path to victory is far from clear. Three players from three different states trail McNeill by one narrow shot. Ralph Michaud (Presque Isle CC, ME), representing the host state, is the low-Mainer by four strokes. Michaud was one of just two players to finish their round bogey-free, though his two birdies bested his fellow square-averse competitor, Rob Parsi (NH Golf e-Club, NH), by one.
Rick Moreau (Vesper CC, MA) went out in 1-over 37, but caught fire when he made the turn, birdieing three of the first four holes on the back-nine. He gave one back on the 14th, but finished strong with a birdie on the par-5 18th, which ranked as the most difficult hole on the day. Chris O’Neill (Pawtucket CC, RI) had it going early with a one-under opening nine, but a double on the 10th quelled the momentum…or did it? O’Neill fought back, birdieing holes 12, 13 and 14, then parred his way in from there to get in the house at 2-under, which also puts him atop the Super Senior leaderboard.
There are plenty of interesting names lingering within a few shots of the lead heading into tomorrow’s final round. 2022 Champion Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich GC, MA) is three shots back after an even par round of 72. Recent Massachusetts Super Senior Amateur Steven Tasho (Thorny Lea GC, MA) birdied the 18th to get into the red. He’s one shot back of O’Neill in the Super Senior standings, alongside Don Reycroft (Poquoy Brook GC, MA).
Day 1 Leaderboard1- John McNeill (Amateur Golf Tour of NE, MA); -3, 69
T2- Ralph Michaud (Presque Isle CC, ME); -2, 70
T2- Rick Moreau (Vesper CC, MA); -2, 70
T2- Chris O’Neill (Pawtucket CC, RI); -2, 70
Super-Senior
1- Chris O’Neill (Pawtucket CC, RI); -2, 70
T2- Steven Tasho (Thorny Lea GC, MA); -1 71
T2- Donald Reycroft (Poquoy Brook GC, MA); -1, 71
Top Scores from Each StateMassachusetts – 1 (-3); John McNeill (Amateur Golf Tour of NE, MA)
Rhode Island – T2 (-2); Chris O’Neill (Pawtucket CC, RI)
Connecticut – T5 (-1); Jason Zaniewski (Watertown GC, CT)
Vermont – T69 (+6); Kim Perry (West Bolton GC, VT)
New Hampshire – T5 (-1); Rob Parsi (NH Golf e-Club, NH)
Maine – T2 (-2); Ralph Michaud (Presque Isle CC, ME)