Archived News & Events
7/29/09
Parziale Holds on to win Ouimet
Matt Parziale of Thorny Lea held off a charging Frank Vana, Jr. of Marlboro in a rain-delayed final for a one-stroke victory in the 42nd Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament on Saturday. The 22-year-old recent college graduate finished with a three-over par 75 for a three round even-par 212 total. The final round was played at Woodland Golf Club, the traditional final round site and Francis Ouimet’s home course. The prior two rounds of the prestigious 54-hole amateur invitational were played at Wellesley and Charles River Country Clubs.
Parziale had won the New England Amateur Championship the prior week and is the current MGA Player of the Year Points leader. Vana, runner up in the recent Massachusetts Amateur Championship and a seven time MGA Points Champ, is second in the points total. He is also a four-time Ouimet Tournament champion. Parziale is 22 years old and a recent graduate of Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL who is considering a professional golf career. Vana is a 47-year-old automobile dealer.
Heavy rains and unplayable course conditions forced the tournament to be delayed to an early Saturday morning finish. Parziale struggled somewhat coming down the stretch, finishing two over for his last four holes while Vana birdied the 18th to play the last three holes one-under and tighten things. He had opened at Wellesley with a five over par 75 and then played the final 36 holes in four under par to close the gap. It was the fourth time he was second in the Ouimet Tournament. John Hadges of Thorny Lea, the 1981 Ouimet champ, shot a final round 73 to finish third two shots behind club mate Parziale. It was his third straight year in the Ouimet’s top five.
Carter Fasick of Indian Meadows became the first to win the Eddie Lowery senior division two straight years. The 56-year-old carpet installer had a final round 81 and a 224 total. Tom Bergeron on Crumpin Fox, a 60 year old retired conductor for the B&M Railway, closed with a 75 to finish second two shots behind.
The women’s division saw its first playoff as 48-year old Wallace Hammerton of Olde Sandwich outlasted 11-year old phenom Megan Khang of Harmon Golf. Khang had shot a 75 on Friday and had to come back and watch while Hammerton came back to finish her delayed round with a difficult 45-foot uphill putt on the 18th green. Ms. Hammerton three putted, forcing a playoff. Ms. Hammerton parred the 18th hole the second time around, and Ms. Khang nearly forced an extension of the playoff as she rimmed out on her par attempt after a bunkered second shot. Ms. Hammerton was the recent runner up in the Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts Championship. Ms. Khang is in the 7th grade at Rockland’s Rogers Middle School. Both Hammerton and Khang had finished regulation with 75 while third place finisher Tracy Welch of The Country Club posted 77.
The Ouimet Memorial Tournament benefits the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund.
Ouimet Tournament Rained Delayed – Saturday Finish
Two extended rain delays forced the 42nd Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament to stop play Friday afternoon and schedule a conclusion for this morning at Woodland Golf Club, the traditional final round site and Francis Ouimet’s home course. The prior two rounds of the prestigious 54-hole amateur invitational were played at Wellesley Country Club and Charles River Country Club.
Severe rains caused play to be halted with the leaders on the 16th tee. Matt Parziale of Thorny Lea had overcome a three shot deficit and held a three-shot lead over Bill Drohen of Bradford when play was called. Parziale won the New England Amateur Championship last week while Drohen won the Massachusetts Amateur Championship two weeks ago.
In the senior division, defending champ Carter Fasick of Indian Meadows appeared to still hold a commanding lead despite faltering with a final round 81 for a 224 total. One group of seniors has a hole remaining. In the women’s division, recent WGAM Championship runner-up Wallace Hammerton of Olde Barnstable holds a one shot lead over 11 year old Megan Khang of Harmon Golf. Hammerton has one hole remaining, while Khang has already finished with a 75.
The Ouimet Memorial Tournament benefits the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund.
Drohen Holds on to Second Round Ouimet Lead
Bill Drohen of Bradford continued his stellar play, adding a two under par 68 to his first round 66 for a six-under 134 total and a three shot lead over Matt Parziale after the second round of the 42nd Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament at Charles River Country Club on Thursday. The two have been paired together the first two days with both shooting 68 on Thursday. Drohen won the Massachusetts Amateur Championship two weeks ago while Parziale, the MGA Player of Year points leader, won the New England Amateur Championship last week. The final round of the 54 hole invitational is today at Woodland Golf Club.
Drohen started by chipping in for birdie on the first hole, and again enjoyed strong putting. He had seven up and down saves to go along with four birdies. The 36 year old teaches math at Southestern Regional Vocation Technical School. He will be paired again with Parziale, and says he is very comfortable with him. He also said he has a deep appreciation of Woodland’s history. “I’m a history buff so I’m looking forward to Woodland where Francis Ouimet played,” he said.
Parziale overcame a near disastrous triple bogey seven on the 337 yard 12th. He said his second shot spun off the green and rolled about 20 yards down the hill and he chunked two wedge attempts enroute to the seven. He had six birdies, however, including on 16 and 17. Parziale, of Thorny Lea, just graduated from Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL.
Taylor Fontaine of Pleasant Valley and Cohasse Country Club, a University of Rhode Island sophomore, has a second straight 70 for a 140 total to be alone in third, while 1981 Ouimet Champ John Hadges of Thorny Lea is fourth after a 71 for 141.
Carter Fasick of Indian Meadow had a second round 74 for a 143 total to lead the Eddie Lowery Senior Division by seven strokes. The 56 year old carpet installer won the senior group title last year and is bidding to become the first to win two straight years. Dick King of Hyannis Golf Club and Joe Gilmore of Wollaston Golf Club are tied for second at 150. Friday’s play will also include a women’s division featuring six invitees in an 18-hole competition. A total of 44 players made the cut, which stood at 151. The Ouimet Memorial Tournament benefits the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund.
Drohen’s 66 Leads Ouimet Memorial After First Round
Bill Drohen of Bradford continued his torrid summer with a course record four-under par 66 to take a three shot lead after the first round of the 42nd Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament at Wellesley Country Club on Wednesday. The 36 - year old won the Massachusetts Amateur Championship two weeks ago. The 54-hole amateur invitational continues today at Charles River Country Club and concludes on Friday at Woodland.
A group of three players were tied for second at one under par 69 - Matt Parziale of Thorny Lea, Joe Cunningham of The Country Club, and Carter Fasick of Indian Meadows. Parziale is 22 years old and the recent New England Amateur Champion. Cunningham is a 28 year old real estate developer who won the club championship at TCC last week, a few days after becoming a member. Fasick is a 56 - year old carpet installer and the defending Eddie Lowery Senior Division Champion of this event. He’s hoping to be the first senior to win the overall championship and first to win the Senior Division two years in a row. He holds a six shot lead in the senior competition.
It was Drohen’s first time at Wellesley and he credited veteran Ouimet competitor Eric McPhail of Oakley for his good score. McPhail prepared a full report on the course that Drohen followed to the letter enroute to making five birdies. “The putter’s been great, and I feel like I can make everything I look at,” he said. Drohen is a math teacher at Southeastern Regional Vocational High School who’d had serious shoulder surgery last winter. Drohen’s 66 is considered the new course record as new tees allowed the course to play at 6,844 yards, approximately 150 yards longer than the course on which pro Phil Fecteau shot a 64 on in 1999.
Ouimet Memorial Alpha Tee Times…read more
Ouimet Memorial Tournament Rd 1 & 2 Pairings…read more
First Round Scores…read more
42nd Ouimet Tournament at Wellesley, Charles River and Woodland
The 42nd Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament opens at Wellesley Country Club on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, continues at Charles River Country Club on Thursday, July 30, and concludes at Woodland Golf Club on Friday, July 31. read more
As summer approaches, the highly competitive amateur golf scene in New England heats up, with 6 months of qualifiers and championships at some of the best courses the region has to offer. Right in the middle of it all is the Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament, which will have its 42nd annual playing this July 29th - 31st.
This mid-summer staple is traditionally held at three different courses in the Bay State over three days, with the final round always played at Woodland Golf Club in Auburndale, MA – which happened to be Francis Ouimet’s home course. This year’s event will be played at Wellesley Country Club and Charles River Country Club over the first two days, two of the finer courses in the greater Boston area.
While the Ouimet Memorial has only been around for 42 years, its list of past champions is impressive to say the least. Names like Bill Mallon (1972), Brad Faxon (1980), Fran Quinn (1987), John Salamone (1993), R.D. Haskell (1995), Jim Salinetti (1999), Frank Vana (1998, 2001, 2002, 2006), and Jim Renner (2003, 2005) have all had the privilege of having their names engraved on the Ouimet Memorial Tournament Trophy.
The Richard F. Connolly, Sr. trophy is one of the most original in all of golf. The trophy was inspired by the Silver Club display at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland. The Putter in the center belonged to Francis Ouimet. In the historic 1913 US Open, Ouimet’s opponents use the flanking clubs. All were gifts to the Ouimet Fund by Dr. Gary Wiren. On the left is Harry Vardon’s brassie and on the right is Ted Ray’s Mills putter. The silver balls are inscribed with the year and name of each champion. The champion is also presented with a silver ball, display stand and a photographic reproduction of the trophy with dates, courses and his daily scores.
Richard F. Connolly, Jr., a Ouimet Scholar, served as The Fund’s President from 1981-1984 and has been Chairman of the Ouimet Memorial since 1979. Francis Ouimet’s close friend Gene Sarazen served as Honorary Chairman from 1968-1999, and Arnold Palmer has served as Honorary Chairman since.
Tournament organizers expect this year’s field to be one of the strongest ever, with a who’s who of outstanding amateur players from Massachusetts and surrounding states. They will be put to the test by three top notch sites, with a chance to have their names associated with one of the greatest amateurs of all time, Francis Ouimet.
For more information on the Ouimet Memorial Tournament, contact The Fund at 774.430.9090.
42nd Ouimet Tournament at Wellesley, Charles River and Woodland
The 42nd Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament opens at Wellesley Country Club on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, continues at Charles River Country Club on Thursday, July 30, and concludes at Woodland Golf Club on Friday, July 31.
“Wellesley and Charles River are two outstanding tests and they have also been great supporters of the Ouimet Fund. Its great to go back to Woodland, where Mr. Ouimet played as a member, for our final round, as we always do,” said Richard F. Connolly, Jr., the Ouimet Memorial Tournament Chairman who is serving in his 31st year in that role.
Mr. Connolly explained that the Ouimet Memorial would again have three divisions in 2009 – the Championship, Eddie Lowery (seniors), and a limited field women’s group.
Mr. Connolly went on to speak of the 2008 championship in which 20 year old Jay Driscoll of Wollaston held off veterans John Hadges and Steve Tasho. Carter Fasick of Indian Meadows took the Eddie Lowery Seniors Division while Brittany Weddell of Sandwich Hollows won the Women’s Division title. The special women’s invitational has one round – the final round at Woodland.
The 2009 tournament has nine former champions in the field and five former winners of the Seniors Division will compete. Recent MGA Amateur champion Bill Drohen of Bradford is playing as is New England Amateur Champ Matt Parziale of Thorny Lea. The field includes 9 of the top 12 players in the most recent MGA Player of the Year Points standings, and 7 of the 8 quarterfinalists from last week’s MGA Amateur Championship. Jeff Evanier of Weston, CT, the champion of the recent Ouimet Junior Championship conducted by the U.S. Challenge Cup Jr. Golf Foundation, will also compete.
The Ouimet Tournament is a 54-hole stroke play amateur invitational, for players with handicaps of three or less. It is played on a rotating series of courses in Eastern Massachusetts with the field cut to low 40 and ties for the final round at Woodland. Proceeds of the event benefit the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund.
The Ouimet Memorial started in 1968 after the death the preceding year of Francis Ouimet. Ben Murphy of Norfolk won the inaugural. Champions over the years have included prominent national-level players such as Ed Tutwiler (1969), and Jerry Courville (1973). Ouimet Champions who went onto the PGA TOUR include Bill Mallon (1972), Bruce Douglass (1976), Brad Faxon (1980), and Fran Quinn, Jr. (1987). Bob Bradley (1985 & 1988), Frank Vana, Jr. (1998 & 2001, 2002 and 2006) and Jim Renner (2003 & 2005) are the only multiple winners.