CONCORD, Mass. – Winchester CC’s Eric Barlow carded a 4-under 68 to claim the second NEPGA Stroke Play Series event Monday at Nashawtuc Country Club, edging three professionals by a single shot.
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Barlow fired a bogey-free round with four birdies coming on holes 5, 9, 14, and 15. Two of those birdies came on par-5s.
Matt Arvanitis (Southern New Hampshire University), Rich Berberian, Jr. (Vesper CC), and Liam Friedman (Nashawtuc CC) each finished with 69 to claim a share of second place. Arvanitis posted two front nine birdies and another three on the back nine with bogeys on 12 and 15 to finish 3-under.
Berberian rattled off six birdies in his round, including four on the front nine, but three bogeys pushed his score above Barlow to finish second. Friedman birdied the ninth hole to move to 1-under and added a birdie on 13 and eagle on 14 to move to 4-under before bogeying 17 to finish at -3.
Only four additional professionals finished in red figures: Dan Venezio (Portland CC) finished 2-under while Bob Bruso (Blackstone National GC), John Hickson (Cape Neddick CC), and Rico Riciputi (Wentworth by the Sea CC) all finishing 1-under par.
In the senior division, Hickson’s 1-under was good enough to beat Kirk Hanefeld (Salem CC) and Michael Elliott (PGA Member), who both finished at even par.
The Avidia Bank Stroke Play Series continues next month with a trip to Presidents GC (Quincy, Mass.) on Tuesday, July 6. Click here for more information and to register.
Thank you to Nashawtuc Country Club host General Manager Chris Carpenter, head professional Brian Smith, Superintendent Troy Noble as well as the entire NCC staff for hosting the Stroke Play Series event. The NEPGA would also like to thank its presenting partners: AHEAD, Avidia Bank, Bushnell Golf, Harbor Hemp Company, Tag Marshall, and its supporting partners: 1st Tee 10th Tee, New England Golf Cars, and the PGA TOUR.