For Immediate Release: September 22, 2009
Headline: Shawn McLoughlin and David Szewczul Share First Round Lead at 2009 New England Senior Amateur Championship
Great Barrington, MA – They may only represent a quarter of the field, but the competitors from Connecticut are certainly making their presence felt at the 2009 New England Senior Amateur Championship which is being held this week at Wyantenuck Country Club in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. (Story Continues Below)
Day 1 Quick Links
The duo of Shawn McLoughlin (Ridgewood CC – CT) and David Szewczul (Tunxis Plantation CC – CT) both posted scores of 1-over par 71 this afternoon to share the lead at this two-day New England Golf Association (NEGA) event.
Both players have enjoyed stellar amateur careers as youngsters, mid-amateurs and now as senior competitors. Holding the torch for the elder statesmen today was McLoughlin who is 66 years old and eligible to win the overall championship as well as the Super Senior division title (see more below).
Following a rocky start which saw McLoughlin suffer two bogies and one double bogey to make the turn at 4-over par 39, the veteran competitor maintained his composure and turned what could have been a disappointing round into one that placed him atop a leaderboard that features some of the best senior amateurs in the Northeast
"I hit it really good," said McLoughlin. "I didn't miss a lot of shots out there. I was in the fairway and on the greens for the most part. I didn't putt particularly well except at the end."
On the 10th hole, McLoughlin righted the ship immediately when he drained a 12-foot birdie putt. Although he found the next three greens, it was as if he was punished for every bad shot as he was unable to get up and down from the bunker on the 184-yard, par 3 14th hole.
"I would rather have the bogies early in the round rather than later in the round," said the McLoughlin. "When you have them late in the round after you work hard all day it's really deflating. It you can come back late in the round you feel so much better."
That is exactly what McLoughlin did today. Following a bogey on the 14th hole, McLoughlin played 3-under par golf through his final four holes.
"I played exceptionally well," said McLoughlin who won this title in 2000. "To tell you the truth I played well the entire round and had a couple of bad breaks. I talked to myself and I kept hitting it good and sometimes when you do that good things happen."
A key part of his game today was the putter which came through during that three-birdie stretch beginning on the 16th hole. Two solid 5-iron shots on the 435, par-4 16th and 401-yard, par 4 17th holes left him with 8-foot and 3-foot birdie putts, respectively. He then finished with gusto by hitting a soft 9 iron to 15 feet on the finishing hole and sinking what was his fourth birdie on that back nine.
"I was pleased today but then again I thought that I could play well," said McLoughlin. "My bugaboo is putting and it comes and goes in the middle of the round and it all of a sudden came around. I am getting older, but I just love playing against these young guys. It helps me feel young."
Although he may feel old at times, McLoughlin seems to have no problem keeping up with even the best senior amateurs. One year ago, he advanced to the first round of match play at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship. He will no doubt tap into his experience – both past and recent – during tomorrow's final round.
"I try not to get too excited if I hit a good shot and too depressed if I hit a bad shot," said McLoughlin. "If I am playing good golf and I can keep it even keel I'll be fine. If I play well and somebody beats me, that is fine. It's not so much about winning and losing, it's about whether or not I play good or not."
Challenging McLoughlin for the title will no doubt be the56-year-old Szewczul, who carded two bogies and one birdie during his 1-over par 71 round. The lone birdie came at an opportune time – on the 356-yard, par 4 6th hole and just two holes after he had posted his second bogey of the day. Szewczul made par on his final three holes to earn a share of the lead.
Szewczul is no stranger to being in contention as he was a five-time low amateur at the Connecticut Senior Open Championship. He is also a three-time Connecticut Public Links Champion and captured the Connecticut State Amateur and Connecticut State Mid-Amateur Championships over the course of his career.
A pair of Bay State golfers - Claude Hoopes (The Kittansett Club – MA) and Robert Linn (Berkshire Hills CC – MA) – stand within striking distance after posting scores of 2-over par 72.
Super What?
Although one New England Senior Amateur Champion will be crowned on Wednesday afternoon, there is another honor which will be bestowed on one very deserving competitor.
In addition to battling for the rights to the Harry B. McCracken Senior Amateur Trophy, all competitors who are 65 years and older are in the running for the Super Senior Division title. One year ago, Dick Weigold (Torrington Country Club – CT)posted a score of 1-over par 72 which was good enough to capture the Super Senior Division title.
All Super Seniors have an asterisk placed next to their name on the results page.
Alistair Catto (The Orchards GC – MA) – Just two years ago, Catto was crowned the George M. Cohen MGA Senior Player of the Year following a sensational season that was capped off by a quarterfinals appearance at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship. It marked the first time that Catto had advanced to Championship Proper. Although the Scotland-native and Amherst College graduate had previously competed in three U.S. Amateurs (1987, 1990, 1995) and the 1990 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, his quarterfinal performance in 2007 at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship stands as his best result to date.
Cy Kilgore (Tedesco CC – MA) – If momentum means anything, Kilgore should compete well this week since the 56-year-old from Marblehead is coming off a T3 finish at the 2009 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship. Over the past two decades, Kilgore has won his club championship 14 times, was a two-time Tournament of Club Champion and partnered with long-time friend Bill Jenks to win the 1995 Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship.
Jim Ruschioni (Monoosnock CC – MA) – The wily veteran is looking for his second championship victory of the season this week. Ruschioni, the 2006 Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship, was victorious at the 2009 Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship with fellow competitor Paul Nunez, Jr. (Ludlow CC – MA). In total, Ruschioni has captured a total of 11 MGA Championship titles over the course of his impressive amateur golf career.
Robert Linn (Berkshire Hills CC – MA) – The longtime Berkshire Hills Country Club member is continuing his strong play as he advanced to the second round of match play at the 2009 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship. Linn was the only Bay State golfer to compete in the match play portion of that USGA Championship. Earlier this season, Linn qualified for and competed in the Massachusetts Amateur Championship held at The Country Club. Among his amateur highlights was a big win at the 2008 Worcester County Amateur where he became the oldest winner and the first champion from outside Central Massachusetts in the tournament's then 22-year history.
Paul Quigley (Metacomet CC – RI) – Coming from a family of golfing greats, Quigley brings an impressive resume to this event. Quigley is a three-time Rhode Island State Amateur Champion (1986, 1987, 1991) and three-time Rhode Island Golf Association Player of the Year. Just a few weeks ago, Quigley captured his record-setting fifth RIGA Senior State Amateur Championship title by defeating another NEGA competitor – Jon Fasick (New England CC – MA) – on the third sudden death playoff hole at Triggs Memorial Golf Course in Providence, RI.
Romeo Laberge (Biddeford-Saco CC – ME) – In addition to competing in top local and regional events, Laberge spends his days during the summer working for the Maine State Golf Association. Laberge serves as the tournament director and golf historian for the association based in Cumberland, Maine.
George Pirie (Valley CC – RI) – The 2006 RIGA Senior Amateur Champion has a rich history of success in local, regional and national events. Five years ago, Pirie qualified for the U.S. Senior Open Championship by winning a three-man sudden death playoff. He has also represented Rhode Island in the 2003 USGA State Team Matches, was the 2002 Rhode Island Mid-Amateur Champion, won the Rhode Island Amateur Championship two times (1989, 1994) and is a three-time Rhode Island Player of the Year.
William Lee (The Course at Yale – CT) – The reining Connecticut State Amateur Champion (the 2009 event is scheduled for later this month), Lee was named the Connecticut State Golf Association Senior Player of the Year last season. Over the course of his career, Lee captured the Connecticut State Amateur Championship three times and was the 1990 Connecticut State Golf Association Player of the Year. As a result of his consistent, stellar play, Lee was inducted into the Connecticut State Hall of Fame last season.
- 110 – the total number of competitor's in this year's field
- 58 – the number of competitors in this year's field from Massachusetts
- 55 – the minimum age of competitors allowed to compete in the event. All competitors must have reached their 55th birthday by September 22, 2009.
- 36 – the minimum number of holes that will be played by each competitor over a two-day period, barring any weather issues.
- 29 – the number of competitors in this year's field from Connecticut
- 12 – the number of New England Senior Amateur Championships that have been held since the event's debut in 1998
- 9.4 – the handicap index requirement for all competitors ages 65 and up
- 8 – the number of competitors in this year's field from Rhode Island
- 8 – the number of competitors in this year's field from Vermont
- 7.5 – the handicap index requirement for all competitors between the ages of 55 and 64
- 6 – the number of New England states represented at NEGA championships (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont)
- 5 – the number of competitors who hold membership at the host club Wyantenuck Country Club… this represents the most of any other club
- 5 – the number of competitors in this year's field from New Hampshire
- 3 – the number of competitors in this year's field from Maine
- 1- the number of New England Senior Amateur Champions that will be crowned on Wednesday
Schedule of Events
Here is a schedule of events for this year's championship. Spectators are welcome to attend the event free of charge.
Tuesday, September 22
First Round, 18 Holes.
Wednesday, September 23
Second Round, 18 Holes.
Lowest scorer for 36 holes will be Champion. There will be winners in Senior and Super Senior divisions. If a tie for first place occurs, play will immediately continue hole-by-hole until a winner is determined. If ties for other positions occur, duplicate
