Ouimet Memorial Senior Division Round 3 Scores
Ouimet Memorial Championship Division Round 3 Scores

Ouimet Memorial Women's Division Scores

Vana Wins 5th Ouimet Memorial

Frank Vana, Jr. of Marlboro shook off a challenge from Mike Dunham with a two under par 34 on the final nine and hung on for a two under par 70, a two shot victory and his fifth title in the 43rd Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament at Woodland Golf Club on Friday. The 47 year old automobile dealer finished with a one-under par 215 total. The first two rounds were played at The International’s Oaks Course (Wednesday) and Pines Course (Thursday) which played 6,950 and 6,899 yards respectively. The final round is always played at 6,741 yard Woodland Golf Club, Mr. Ouimet’s home course. Vana, a nine time Massachusetts Golf Association Player of the Year, won his previous Ouimet Tournaments in 1998, 2001, 2002, and 2006. The most anyone else has won the Ouimet is twice.

Dunham, of Concord, a 38 year old former NHL goalie who now is Goalie Coach of the NY Islanders, had a two shot lead going into the final round of the prestigious 54 hole amateur invitational. He held the lead through nine with an even par 36, but saw it dissipate when he played the 12th and 13th holes in three over while Vana was two under par. Ryan Riley of Norton, the first round co-leader, finished with a 73 for a 218 total for third place.

Jack Kearney of Elmcrest continued his near flawless golf with a final round 70 for a seven under 209 total and a seven shot victory over Dick King of Hyannis. Kearney, the 1992 Ouimet Memorial champ, became the first to win both Ouimet divisions in his senior amateur debut. Kearney is a Delta airlines pilot. Joe Keller of Oyster Harbors finished third after a final round 71.

Nicole Scola of Winnipaug and Westerly, Rhode Island, a 15 year old who qualified through winning the girl’s division of the Ouimet Junior Tournament, won the women’s division. Scola shot a 75 to win the one round women’s competition by a stroke over Kristin MacDonald of Thomson Country Club and Meredith Kotowski of Kittansett.

2009 Ouimet Memorial Tournament Winners (L-R) Wallace Hamerton of Olde Barnstable, Carter Fasick of Indian Meadows, and Matt Parziale of Thorny Lea pose at Woodland Golf Club in West Newton. 2009 Highlights click here

Dunham Takes Two Shot Lead to Ouimet Finale

Mike Dunham of Concord, a former NHL goalie and now NY Islanders Goalie Coach, proved that he is also adept on the golf course yesterday, as he shot a one under par 71 for a one under par two round total of 143 and a two shot lead after the second round of the 43rd Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament. The round was played at the 6,899 yard Pines Course at The International. The final round of the 54 hole invitational is today at Woodland Golf Club.

Dunham, who has only been playing competitive golf for six years, credited a 40 foot birdie putt at the 6th hole and several critical par saving putts including a seven footer at the 18th hole for keeping his round going. Trailing Dunham are the trio of four time champion Frank Vana, Jr., of Marlboro, Ryan Riley of Norton, and Chris Congdon of Foxboro.

Jack Kearney of Elmcrest added a two under par 70 for a five under par 139 and a four shot lead over Dick King of Hyannis in the Eddie Lowery Senior Division. Kearney, the 1992 Ouimet Memorial champ, is bidding to become the first to win both Ouimet divisions in his senior amateur debut. Kearney is a Delta airlines pilot. King knocked in a 100 foot chip on the 540 yard par 518th for eagle for a 69 and a 143 total.

Friday’s play will also include a women’s division featuring six invitees in an 18-hole competition.

A total of 41 players made the cut, which stood at 157.

Riley, Sherman shoot 70 to lead Ouimet at International

Ryan Riley of Norton and Hans Sherman of The Country Club both posted two-under par 70s to share the first round lead at The International’s 6,944 yard Oaks Course in the 43rd Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament. The 54-hole amateur invitational continues today at The International’s Pines Course and concludes on Friday at Woodland.

Riley, a 29 year old computer consultant, continued a hot summer with four birdies in his first time at The Oaks. He earlier in the year won the MGA Fourball Championship and was recently 2nd in the Worcester County Amateur Championship. He described the greens as “phenomenal,” and had his fourth birdie at the par three 17th off a 60 foot “snake that broke 6-7 feet.” Sherman is trying competitive golf again after a seven year break. He is also 29 and will be attending an MBA program at UCLA in the fall. He said he drove it well, hit 16 greens, and had three birdies.

Taylor Fontaine, a junior at URI, is in third one stroke back. His round was highlighted by knocking in an 80 yard wedge for eagle at the par 4 5th. A trio is tied for fourth at even par 72 - Chris Congdon of Foxboro, Mike Dunham of Concord, and Joe Toland of Hanover (NH).

Former (1992) Ouimet Memorial Champ Jack Kearney of Elmcrest made his senior golf debut with a three under par 69 as he tries to be the first to win both the Ouimet Championship and Eddie Lowery (Senior) divisions. Four players including Joe Kelley of Oyster Harbors, Cy Kilgore of Tesesco, Dick King of Hyannis, and Paul Nunez of Ludlow are in a tie for second at 74. The senior players competed from senior tees and are not eligible for the overall championship.

Ouimet Memorial Senior Division Round 3 Scores
Ouimet Memorial Championship Division Round 3 Scores

Ouimet Memorial Women's Division Scores

Ouimet Memorial Senior Division Round 2 Scores
Ouimet Memorial Championship Division Round 2 Scores

Ouimet Memorial Senior Division Rd 1 Scores
Ouimet Memorial Championship Division Rd 1 Scores

43rd Ouimet Memorial Set for July 28-29-30

The 43rd Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament will start on Wednesday, July 28th at  The International’s Oaks Course, continues at The International’s Pines Course on Thursday, July 29 and concludes at Woodland Golf Club on Friday, July 30.

The field of 120 competitors will feature seven former champions including four time champion Frank Vana, Jr. of Marlboro. Vana is the only four-time Ouimet winner and only person to ever successfully defend the 54-hole prestigious amateur invitational title.

The tournament also features the “Lowery Division” for players 55 years and older.  Carter Fasick of Indian Meadows won in 2008 and 2009 and will attempt to tie former women’s champ Alison Walshe (2004-2006) as the only to win any Ouimet division three straight times. The women’s division is a one-day tournament on Friday at Woodland. Wallace Hamerton of Olde Barnstable will attempt to defend.    

“We’re thrilled to be at The International for our first two rounds and to go back to Woodland for our traditional finale. We have superb players in our Ouimet, Lowery Seniors, Junior and Women’s Divisions. The player that emerges as the winner over three days and three great courses is a great champion, and our leaderboard is always one of the best of the year in New England amateur golf,” remarked Richard F. Connolly, Jr., Tournament Chairman. Mr. Connolly is celebrating his 32nd year as chairman. Arnold Palmer serves as Honorary Chairman. 

Mr. Connolly went on to explain that the last time the Ouimet Tournament was at the two courses at The International was in 2003 and produced some of the best golf in Ouimet tournament history. Frank Vana, Jr. opened the event with an amateur course record 67 at The Pines and eventual champion Jim Renner set an overall course record 65 at the Oaks in the second round. Renner went on to shoot an eight under par 208 total, and eight under is the lowest total in Ouimet history.  

In addition to Vana (1998, 2001, 2002 and 2006), and recent Massachusetts Amateur winner John Hadges of Thorny Lea (1981), the field includes five other former Ouimet Memorial champions - Bill Jenks (1991) of Brae Burn, Jon Fasick (1983) of New England CC John Gilmartin (2004) of Indian Ridge, Jack Kearney of Elmcrest (1992) and Joe Keller (1997) of Oyster Harbors.  Carter Fasick is one of five former Lowery Division champions in the field.

The 2010 field includes several other former MGA Amateur, Mid-Amateur, Publinx, and Junior champions as well as past winners of other top invitationals such as the Southeast, Hornblower, Norfolk County, and North Shore Amateurs.  It also features some top players from other New England and Eastern states.

Also included are several special junior qualifiers. One group is the top finishers in the Francis Ouimet Junior Tournament, which is conducted by the United States Junior Challenge Cup Foundation.  Qualifying through the Francis Ouimet Junior Championship are Nicole Scola of Winnipaug GC (RI) in the women’s division and men’s division players Alex DiClemente of Timberlin GC (CT), Michael Masso of Lake of Isles CC (CT), and Joe Toland of Hanover CC (NH).     

Over the years the Ouimet Tournament has drawn some of the best players in the East and the region.  Top nationally ranked champions included Ed Tutwiler (1969) and Jerry Courville, Sr. (1973).  Champions who went onto the PGA Tour are Bill Mallon (1972), Bruce Douglass (1976), Brad Faxon (1980) and Fran Quinn, Jr. (1987).  Peter Teravainen (1978) has also had an outstanding European Tour career. 

The Ouimet Memorial is a 54-hole stoke play event.  The 2010 tournament has 120 entries and there is a cut to low 40 and ties after the second round.  Proceeds of the tournament benefit the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund.