LINCOLN, R.I. — After shooting a 3-under par 68 on Monday in the second New England PGA Stroke Play Series event, Greg Farland, PGA picked up his second NEPGA win in as many years at Kirkbrae Country Club.
Farland, who teamed up with Kirk Hanefeld to win the 2019 NEPGA Pro-Pro Match Play Championship at Kirkbrae, made five birdies and just two bogeys on Monday to grab the early lead, which he held throughout the day. Farland was the only player in the 69-person field to break par.
Farland made bookend birdies on the 1st and 18th holes, went back-to-back with birdies on the 5th and 6th, and also birdied Kirkbrae’s 12th hole, offset only by bogeys on the 8th and 10th.
Six players tied for second at even-par 71. Nick Jagoe, PGA (Allendale CC) was among that group after making birdie on all three par-5s.
“That’s one of my strengths so anytime we’re out there we’re trying to take advantage of those par 5s,” Jagoe said of his distance. “Last week we didn’t really do it. This week obviously a little bit better. I made up for some little mistakes that were made out there. It’s always a great equalizer when you can take advantage of the distance.”
It’s the second-consecutive strong finish for Jagoe in the Stroke Play Series, after finishing T-5 at Newport National GC last Monday.
“So far so good. I’m just trying to keep the momentum,” he said of his play early in the tournament season. “For a lot of guys with the craziness, practicing has been on the back burner. It’s good to get out here and compete again and just peg it up and go and see how you make out.”
Brendon Ray, PGA (Point Judith CC), Robert Tramonti, PGA (Triggs Memorial GC), Steven Hausmann, PGA (Amherst CC), Liam Friedman, PGA (Nashawtuc CC) and Mark Cunningham, PGA (New England Golf Cars) joined Jagoe in the tie for second at even-par 71.
The Stroke Play Series and race for the Avidia Bank Cup continues July 6 at Ledgemont CC.
Thank you to Kirkbrae Country Club host PGA Professional Mike Bradshaw and the entire Kirkbrae CC staff for hosting the tournament. The NEPGA would also like to thank partners Avidia Bank, Bushnell Golf, Cobra Puma Golf, New England Golf Cars, Harbor Hemp Company, Omega and PGA TOUR for supporting the tournament.