BROCKTON, Mass. — Rusty Gunnarson, PGA, and his three amateur partners carded a 9-under par total to take top honors at the New England PGA Thorny Lea Pro-Am on Monday. Meanwhile, Nicholas Jagoe, PGA (Allendale CC) made a birdie on the 18th hole to post 1-under 69 to win the individual professional competition.
Gunnarson and his amateurs made the turn in 2-under par before catching fire on the back nine, going 7-under in the two-best-ball-of-four (one gross, one net) format to get to 9-under par.
Jeffrey Monteleone (Bellvue Country Club) and his amateur partners fired a 6-under par 134 to finish second in the team Pro-Am competition. The group was even through nine holes before going 6-under par on the back.
After Jagoe birdied the 11th and 12th holes he got to 1-under par for the day, but a bogey on the par-3 17th hole had him back a level-par before closing in style to seal a three-stroke victory over Jeff Wojtusik.
Wojtusik made two birdies on the front to make the turn in 1-under 34 and played the back-nine three over par to finish solo second at 2-over 72.
Todd Scarafoni, PGA (Bass Rocks GC) and Scott Hickey (Cyprian Keyes GC) tied for third, each shooting 3-over 73. Scarafoni made 15 pars and three bogeys along the way while Hickey made two bogeys on each side, and rolled in a birdie on the seventh hole.
Dana Smith, PGA (Presidents GC) and Monteleone who each shot 74 to tie for fifth and John Paesani, PGA (Bay Club at Mattapoisett) and Frank Dully, PGA (Kernwood CC) each shot 75 to tie for seventh. Paesani weathered a 4-over through four storm by playing his final 14 holes one over. Dully’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the 11th hole that got him back to even par for the day, but played his final six holes 5-over.
The NEPGA would like to thank partners Cutter & Buck, Lincoln and Mohegan Sun for supporting Monday’s event. Cutter & Buck was on-site to ensure every golfer left with new shirt, and Lincoln was also on hand offering a lease on a brand new Nautilus to anybody who aced the Par-3 third hole in addition to raffling off $500 in golf shop credit. The NEPGA would also like to extend a special thank you to Thorny Lea Golf Club and PGA Professionals Jeff Wojtusik, Time Watroba and Paul Rezuke.