ROCHESTER, N.H. – Matt Arvanitis (Southern New Hampshire University) carded a three-under 69 to capture the 2021 NEPGA Teaching Pro Championship Tuesday at Rochester CC.
In the Head Pro Championship, Dan Gillis (Nabnasset Lake CC) finished his round with a five-under 67 for the victory, edging Wollaston GC’s Jeff Martin by a single shot.
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Arvanitis finished one stroke better than Eric Barlow (Winchester CC), Rich Berberian (Vesper CC), and Dan Wilkins (Laconia GC). The trio all carded two-under 70s for a share of second place. Lake Winnipesaukee GC’s Jason Sedan finished fifth with a score of 71 (-1).
After a bogey on hole 3, Arvanitis recorded birdies on holes 5, 6, 7, and 9 with another bogey on hole 8. On the back nine, Arvanitis made birdie on hole 13 and chipped in for birdie on hole 17 with a lone bogey on hole 16 to finish at -3.
Barlow made the turn at -1 after birdie on holes 2 and 9 with a bogey on hole 5. Barlow birdied holes 11 and 17 on the back with a lone bogey on hole 14 for 35-35-70.
Berberian was paired with Arvanitis, and the duo was tied through 16 holes before Arvanitis chipped in for birdie on 17. Berberian barely missed birdie putts on 17 and 18 which would have pulled him into a tie with Arvanitis.
Wilkins began the round with seven consecutive pars before consecutive bogeys on holes 8 and 9. The Laconia pro caught fire on the back with birdies on holes 10, 11, 16, and 18 to move into red figures and a share of second.
Gillis opened his round with consecutive birdies on holes 1 and 2 to quickly get to two-under. The Nabnasset pro bogeyed hole 4 but bounced back with birdies on holes 8 and 9 to make the turn at three-under. Gillis was steady on the back with six consecutive pars before adding birdies on 16 and 18 to jump Martin for the win.
Martin finished a shot behind with a 68 to finish solo second. The Wollaston pro recorded a double bogey on hole 4, but birdies on 6 and 8 and a hole-out eagle on 9 gave Martin a 33 at the turn. He added birdies on 10 and 12 to move to -5 but carded a bogey on 13 to move back to four-under.
Baker Hill CC’s Brad Heninger finished with an even-par 72 to finish tied for third with Cyprian Keyes GC’s Scott Hickey. Heninger began the round with eight straight pars before a bogey on 9. On the back, the Baker Hill pro birdied 10 and 16 and bogeyed 13 for the 72. Hickey recorded three birdies and three bogeys on the day and played each side of the course even.
Marlborough CC’s Greg Farland finished fifth in the Head Pro Championship with a one-over 73. Farland made the turn at +1 with two bogeys and one birdie on the front. He played the back at even par with two birdies and two bogeys.
The New England PGA would like to thank its Head Pro / Teaching Pro Championships partners: Cobra Puma Golf and the PGA TOUR. The NEPGA would also like to thank Rochester CC host professional Mitch Jefferson, superintendent John Clark, and the entire RCC staff for hosting the event.