FULL LEADERBOARDIPSWICH, Mass. – Liam Friedman, PGA (Nashawtuc CC) rattled off four back-9 birdies to shoot 5-under par at Ipswich CC on Thursday and claim the 2020 New England PGA Massachusetts Chapter Championship.
Friedman was unconscious from the start and found himself 3-under par through four holes. A double-bogey on the fifth and a bogey on the eight – sandwiched around his fourth birdie of the front-9 on the sixth – left him at 1-under at the turn with just three pars on his opening nine. His final nine, however, brought the same birdie count as the front, without the setbacks. Friedman birdied the 10th, 11th, 14th and 18th without dropping a shot to post 67 and finish two strokes clear of the field.
Seul-Ki Hawley, PGA (Winchester CC) finished alone in second at 3-under par. After three straight birdies on the fifth, sixth and seventh holes she was 4-under par, but played her final 11 holes 1-over to come up just short of the Chapter Championship.
Robert Bruso, PGA (Blackstone National GC) finished third at 2-under with four birdies and just one blemish – a double-bogey on the par-3 fifth hole – on the card. Ipswich CC’s own assistant professional, Aaron Harper, finished fourth at even-par.
Stephen Clancy, PGA (Granite Links) finished tied for fifth at 1-over after a roller coaster round. He was 4-over through six holes before beginning a three-hole stretch in which he played 4-under par, with birdies on the eighth and ninth holes followed by an eagle on the 10th. He made seven consecutive pars from there before finishing with a bogey on the 18th.
Thank you to Ipswich Country Club, head professional Dan Dwyer, PGA, and general manager Frank LaVacca for hosting the Mass Chapter Championship, and to partners Avidia Bank and Tournament Solutions for supporting the event.