HYDE PARK, Mass. – The New England PGA hosted the first round of the 2023 Section Senior Championship on Monday, July 24 at George Wright Golf Course. 87 PGA Professionals took on the 18-hole, par-70 Donald Ross designed public golf course in Hyde Park, Massachusetts to compete for the cup.
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Jason Calhoun, PGA (Brown University) and Webb Heintzelman, PGA (Turner Hill Golf & Racquet Club), and Scott Hickey, PGA (Cyprian Keyes GC) sit tied for first place through round one, shooting 2-under, 68s.
In recent years, George Wright has again gained notoriety by being chosen as Golf Digest’s Best Municipal Course in Massachusetts and the 14th Best Municipal Golf Course in The U.S. by Golfweek in 2009.
Calhoun traded a bogey on the first hole with a birdie on the par-4 sixth hole to make the turn at 2-under. He added three birdies on the back-nine on holes 10, 15, and 18 and finished the round at 68 (-2) for a share of the top spot heading into the final round.
Heintzelman started the round strong with an eagle on the par-4 second hole and made the turn at 2-under. Two birdies on 15 and 16 moved Heintzelman to 4-under, but a bogey on the final hole of the round put him back at 2-under for a share of first place.
Hickey kicked the round off with a birdie on the very first hole. Another birdie on four put him at 2-under, before a bogey on nine gave him the 1-under at the turn. Hickey parred holes 10-17, and clinched a birdie on 18 for the share of first place.
Ed Kirby, PGA (The Aquidneck Club) finished round one in solo fourth place, shooting 1-under, 69. He started the round with a birdie on the par-5 third hole and added another birdie on the par-4 sixth hole to make the turn at 2-under. Bogeys on 12 and 14 evened his score, but an eagle on the par-5 15th hole moved him to 2-under with three holes to play. A bogey on 16 gave Kirby the final 1-under for fourth place after round 1.
Dale Abraham, PGA (Cape Arundel GC), reigning NEPGA Senior Championship winner (2021 & 2022), and Todd Rollins, PGA (Laconia CC) shot even-par 70s in round one, to sit in a tie for fifth place. Abraham parred all holes on the front-nine and traded a bogey and birdie on holes 12 and 17 to finish with the even-par 70 for fifth place heading into the final round. Rollins posted one bogey on the front nine, making the turn at 1-over. Two birdies and one bogey on the back helped boost Rollins to the even-par 70 score, for the share of fifth place in round one.
Bob Guisti, PGA (Allendale CC) and David Dionne, PGA (Beverly Golf & Tennis Club) shared seventh place, shooting 1-over 71s on the day. Guisti carded two birdies on the front and made the turn at 1-under. Bogeys on the par-4 13th and 17th holes put him at 1-over. Dionne also carded two birdies on the front, but a pair of bogeys put him at an even par-35 at the turn. After carding eight pars on the back, Dionne posted a bogey on the par-4 18th hole to finish the round at 1-over, tied for seventh.
Six qualifying spots at the 35th Senior PGA Professional Championship are up for grabs tomorrow. Hanefeld, the 2011 Senior PNC Champion, is exempt from qualifying. Tomorrow’s round will determine the six qualifiers as well as five alternates for the senior PNC in October in PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL.
The 2023 NEPGA Senior Championship is presented by Cadillac and supported by Avidia Bank, the Golf Channel, Mohegan Sun, the PGA TOUR, and R.J. Shepherd.
The NEPGA would like to thank George Wright Golf Course Head Professional, Scott Allen, and the entire George Wright GC staff for hosting the two-day Championship.