CRANSTON, R.I. – The 2023 New England PGA National Car Rental PGA Assistant Professional Championship was held on Tuesday, September 26th at Alpine Country Club in Cranston, Rhode Island. The Championship was originally scheduled as a 2-day, 36-hole event, but due to continued rain over the weekend and into Monday, the opening 18-hole round was canceled early Monday morning. The event moved to a solo round on Tuesday. Six qualifying spots for the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port Saint Lucie, Florida in November were up for grabs today. Four alternate spots were also determined.
Liam Friedman, PGA (Wollaston Golf Club), claimed his first NEPGA National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship title in playoff fashion. After finishing at 2-under, 70 and holding the lead for most of the day, Chris Houston (Laconia Country Club) also finished with a 2-under, 70, turning his scorecard in with the last group of the day and forcing a playoff.
After bogeys on the opening two holes of the day, and making the turn at 1-over, Friedman went on to play lights out on the back nine. He carded birdies on the par-5 10th hole and par-4 14th and 17th holes, to finish 3-under on the back and 2-under overall. In the playoff, Friedman hit a beautiful drive to the edge of the green on the par-4 1st hole. He parred the hole to secure the victory.
Houston had a steady day on the course, putting up two birdies and parring the rest. His only bogey of the day came in the playoff with Friedman.
Greg Kelly, PGA (Myopia Hunt Club), the 2019 NEPGA National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Champion, claimed solo 3rd place, just one stroke behind Friedman and Houston, at 1-under, 71. Kelly opened the round with a birdie on the par-4 first hole. He moved to 2-under with a birdie on seven, but a bogey on nine put him at just 1-under making the turn. Kelly moved back to 2-under with his third birdie of the day, this time on the par-3 12th hole. A late bogey on 16 finished him at 1-under overall for second place.
Matthew Daley, PGA (Marshfield CC) and Matt Maloney, PGA (Brae Burn CC) tied for fourth place overall, shooting 1-over, 73s on the day. Daley carded three birdies on the front and made the turn at 1-under. A double-bogey on 10 and a bogey on 12 moved him to 2-over, but one final birdie on the par-4 14th hole finished him at 1-over for a share of third place. Maloney carded three birdies on the day, including two on the front nine. He made the turn at an even-par 37, but bogeys on the par-4 13th and 16th holes moved him to two-under with just two holes to play. One final birdie on the par-4 18th hole gave him the final 1-over, 73 for a share of third place.
Aaron Walker, PGA (Worcester CC), 2004 and 2012 Assistant Champion, Brian Owens, PGA (North Kingstown GC), and Pete Scrimgeour, PGA (Vermont National CC) all tied for sixth place at 2-over 74. Nate Myers, PGA (Ipswich CC) and Brendan Bond, PGA (Wannamoisett CC) earned the 5th and 6th qualifying spots in a 6-way playoff to finish the day.
Congratulations to the six NEPGA Assistant PGA Professionals who gained entry into the 47th National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL. on November 16-19, 2023:
Liam Friedman (Wollaston GC)
GregKelly (Myopia Hunt Club)
Aaron Walker (Worcester CC)
Brian Owens (North Kingstown GC)
Nate Myers (Ipswich CC)
Brendan Bond (Wannamoisett CC)
The following NEPGA Professionals have been established as the designated four alternates following the completion of the 2023 NEPGA National Car Rental Assistant Championship:
Michael Bandoni (Dedham Country & Polo Club)
Rob Neaton (North Andover CC)
Timothy Corrigan (Duxbury Yacht Club)
Eric Wilson (The Aquidneck Club)
A tremendous thank you goes out to Director of Golf, Nate Adelson and the entire Alpine Country Club staff for serving as host of the Championship.
Thank you to our title sponsor, National Car Rental, and our presenting partners, Vineyard Vines, Srixon, Cleveland, XXIO, ASICS, Avidia Bank, and PGA Tour.