GLOUCESTER, Mass. – After an incredible season of competition, Ryan Riley of the Golf Academy of New England won the final New England Assistants’ Association (NEAA) stroke play event at Bass Rocks Golf Club capturing the inaugural NEAA Player of the Year title.
As Riley held the top spot of the season-long points race coming into the Bass Rocks event, he was closely ahead of Malcolm Oliver of Weston Golf Club who was a few points behind him. That would make an interesting day at Bass Rocks.
The field consisted of 17 NEPGA Assistants or Associates from New England. With the blustery winds, the course averaged 79, featuring 22 birdies. The par-3 17th hole proved to be the most difficult, with only three players recording pars on the hole and averaging a stroke over par throughout the field.
Riley began his round making par on the first seven holes, but fell two strokes after carding two bogies to round out the front nine with a 2-over, 37. He would then respond back with four straight pars. Riley went on to post two birdies on 14 and 15, bringing him back to even on the day as he headed into the final three holes. Two bogies and a double bogey on the last three holes put him at 2-over, 36 on the back 9. Riley finished the day with a 4-over 73 for the victory.
Oliver looking to beat Riley, traded a bogey with a birdie on the 2nd and 4th holes. He would finish the front nine with a 2-over, 37. Oliver changed the momentum with a birdie on the par-4 10th hole. He then wrapped up the day with four pars and two bogies to card a 3-over 37, earning a 5-over 74. Oliver finished second place overall, just one shot back from Riley.
Congratulations to the six skins’ winners, Ryan Small of Bass Rocks Golf Club (1st Hole), Brandon Singer of Abenaqui Country Club (16th Hole), Austin O’Rourke of Pine Brook Country Club (11th Hole), David Hache of Ferncroft Country Club (13th Hole), Oliver (10th Hole), Tyler Adair of Abenaqui Country Club (12th Hole).
A big thank you to everyone who participated and battled the intense wind, and a special thank you to Todd Scarafoni, PGA for hosting the NEAA for this event. He donated all of the carts along with fees and food, putting it all to the purse. Due to Scarafoni’s kindness, we were able to pay the top 5 with ties.
Another thank you for the NEAA board throughout the season for their outstanding hard work and efforts.