SEEKONK, Mass. — Frank Dully, PGA (Kernwood CC) used a string of five birdies in an eight hole stretch to pick up a one-stroke victory at the third stop of the New England PGA Stroke Play Series on Monday.
Playing in the final group, Dully birdied Ledgemont Country Club’s 3rd, 5th, 8th, 9th and 10th holes and had just one bogey on the card to post 67, one better than Nick Jagoe, PGA (Allendale CC) and Rich Berberian, PGA (Vesper CC), who each shot 3-under par 68.
“I knew I was five-under for a while and obviously you’re trying to get to six, then you’re trying to get to seven and that’s what your mindset is,” Dully said. “The hole locations were such that you had to either be to the right, you don’t want to short-side yourself out here, so I probably played a little more to the right or to the left on those shots.”
Jagoe, who entered the day in 4th place in the season-long Avidia Cup Standings, made four birdies on the front-9 and was steady on the back, with a birdie and eight pars, en route to a 3-under par 68. Jagoe has finished in the top-5 in all three Stroke Play Series events.
“I’m on a little bit of a heater right now and I’m just trying to keep the momentum going,” he said. “I like the fact that it’s condensed a little bit right now. Going one right after another you can stay in some sort of rhythm as best as we can.”
Berberian, who learned last week he is in the field at the upcoming PGA Championship in early August, made five birdies and just two bogeys to match Jagoe at 68. He heated up early in the back-9 with three-straight birdies on holes 12-14.
“I putted pretty well today,” Berberian said after his round. “I made a couple putts that I probably shouldn’t have and I didn’t miss any short ones. I kept it in play, I used the same ball all day. If I can do that and putt pretty good I’ll be in pretty good shape.”
Greg Farland, PGA (Marlborough CC), who entered the day atop the Avidia Cup Standings, had another strong performance with a 4th-place finish at 2-under par fueled by three front-9 birdies.
Defending Avidia Bank Cup Champion Robert Bruso, PGA (Blackstone National GC) shot 1-under par to tie for fifth.
The top 54 players in the Avidia Bank Cup Standings after the five regular-season tournaments will advance to the season-ending Avidia Cup Finals, Sept. 28 at Portland CC. The Stroke Play Series continues August 3 at Cohasset GC (Cohasset, Mass.) before the regular-season finale Sept. 8 at Haverhill CC (Haverhill, Mass.).
Thank you to Ledgemont CC head golf professional Troy Pare, PGA, and the rest of the Ledgemont staff for hosting the tournament. A big thank you also goes to NEPGA partners Avidia Bank, Bushnell Golf, New England Golf Cars, Omega and the PGA TOUR for supporting the Stroke Play Series.