HYDE PARK, Mass. – The New England PGA hosted the first round of the 2024 Section Senior Championship on Monday, July 22 at George Wright Golf Course. 86 PGA Professionals took on the 18-hole, par-70 Donald Ross designed public golf course in Hyde Park, Massachusetts to compete for the cup.
In recent years, George Wright has again gained notoriety by being chosen as Golf Digest’s Best Municipal Course in Massachusetts and the 14th Best Municipal Golf Course in The U.S. by Golfweek in 2009.
Ed Kirby, PGA (The Aquidneck Club) shot an impressive 2-under, 68 to take the lead through Round 1. He started the day strong with birdies on holes 1, 2, 3, and 5. A pair of back-to-back bogey on 6 and 7 put him at 2-under at the turn. Kirby moved to 4-under again with birdies on the par-4 10th and 12th holes before bogeys on 13 and 14 gave him the final 2-under, 68, and the top spot on the leaderboard.
“I got off to a great start today,” said Kirby. “I birdied the first three holes today which is a great way to start a golf tournament… I haven’t played a lot of golf lately, so to get off to that kind of start, I was relaxed. The golf course is in super condition and the Senior Championship for the New England PGA Professionals is always a pleasure to play in. All-in-all I am very happy with the round of golf”.
Dave Tiedemann, PGA (Shelter Harbor GC) shot an impressive 1-under, 69 to take solo second place through round 1.
“Today was a good steady round,” said Tiedemann. “My day turned around when I eagled the 15th hole… I was able to birdie 17 and hang in there”. He continued, “This golf course is phenomenal. I knew it was tough, I knew it was rugged. You have to be on your toes out there because disaster awaits anywhere”.
After two early bogeys on holes 1 and 6, Tiedemann made a birdie on the par-4 7th hole to make the turn at 1-over. A bogey on 14 put him at 2-over, but he followed up with an eagle on the par-5 15th hole. One final birdie on the par-3 17th hole secured the top spot, bringing him to 1-under.
Jeff Martin, PGA (Wollaston GC), Frank Dully, PGA (Kernwood CC), Tom Tobey, PGA (Sandwich Hollows GC), and 2011 Senior Champion, Rick Karbowski, PGA (Auburn Driving Range) are all tied for third place at an even-par, 70 following Round 1.
Martin made the turn at 3-over before carding 4 birdies and one bogey on the back nine to put him in the third place spot.
Dully made an early birdie on the par-4 second hole, but a trio of bogeys through the front nine put him at 2-over making the turn. Dully carded three birdies on the back nine, all on par-4 holes, 12, 13, and 16 to help lift him to an even-par 70, in a tie for the third place spot on the leaderboard.
Tobey posted a clean scorecard on the front nine. He traded a bogey and a birdie on holes 10 and 11 and again on hole 16 and 17 to finish in the 4-way tie for third place.
Karbowski rounded out the ties for third place. He made the turn at an even par-35 and traded a bogey on 12 for a birdie on 16 to finish at an even-par, 70.
David Dionne, PGA (Beverly Golf & Tennis Club) shot 1-over, 71 to finish the opening 18 holes in solo seventh place. Dionne carded three birdies on the day.
Joe Rocha, PGA (Golf Country), Frank Leja, PGA (The Club at New Seabury), Al Vallante, PGA (Harbor Lights Golf & CC), Cory Mansfield, PGA (Derryfield CC), and Todd Cook, PGA (Haverhill CC) are all currently tied for eighth place, shooting 2-over, 72 through the first 18 holes of the Championship.
For the first time, the NEPGA implemented a Forward Tee option for players 65 years and older. The Forward Tee Division is not eligible for the overall Championship or PPC Qualifying.
Seven qualifying spots at the 36th Senior PGA Professional Championship are up for grabs tomorrow. Hanefeld, the 2008 and 2011 Senior PNC Champion, is exempt from qualifying. Tomorrow’s round will determine the six qualifiers as well as five alternates for the senior PNC to be held from September 24-29 at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, Oregon.
The NEPGA would like to thank George Wright Golf Course Head Professional, Scott Allen, and the entire George Wright GC staff for hosting the two-day Championship.
The 2024 NEPGA Senior Championship is supported by the Golf Channel, RJ Shepherd, Avidia Bank, Mohegan Sun, and the PGA Tour.