DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Shawn Warren (Falmouth CC – Maine), claimed his fifth New England PGA National Car Rental PGA Assistant Professional Championship title by a two-stroke margin at the Country Club of New Bedford on Tuesday, September 27th. He shot a two-under 68 in round one and shot six-over in round two to clinch the victory with a four-over 144.. Warren added 2022 to his list of Assistant Championship victories as he also claimed the trophy in 2011, 2016, 2017 and 2020.
Chan Longfellow (Falmouth CC – Maine) and Liam Friedman (Wollaston GC) shared second place shooting six-over, 146 through the two rounds. Marcus Oliver (Weston GC) and Evan Rhodes (Oyster Harbors Club) tied for fourth place overall finishing nine-over and Peter Ruymann (Oyster Harbors Club) took solo sixth place with one more stroke.
Warren headed into round two at two-under and started the final round with a birdie on the par-4 first hole. He carded another birdie on the par-5 fourth hole, but two bogeys and a double bogey on the front put him at +2 making the turn and even overall. Warren’s back nine was highlighted by a birdie on the par-4 16th hole as he finished +4 for the victory. He carded a total of six birdies over the two days.
“Yesterday I was able to hit the ball really well and put the ball in the right positions,” said Warren. “Shooting two-under yesterday, it was really clean and felt effortless… and then today was kind of the complete opposite,” he continued. “The wind picked up and I was in the wrong position too many times today. I was able to hang on there in the end and was happy to get the W”.
Longfellow had the low score of round two with a two-under 68 to finish tied for second with Friedman at six-over. He shot eight-over on day one and was able to turn it around with two birdies and two eagles on the card in round two. Longfellow started the day with a birdie on the first hole. He went on to eagle the par-5 fourth hole after a bogey on the third hole. Another birdie on the par-4 sixth hole put him at three under, but bogeys on seven and eight brought him to one-under at the turn. A bogey on the par-4 13th brought him to an even score, but another eagle, this time on the par-4 16th hole clinched the two-under 68 and a share of second place.
Friedman, who was five under entering today’s round, shot just one-over to tie for second place at six-over, 146. Bogeys on the par-4 fifth and sixth holes put Friedman at two-over making the turn. He clinched a long put on the par-4 18th hole for birdie to finish one-under on the back nine and one-over in round two.
As the top six finishers of the NEPGA National Car Rental Assistant Championship, Warren, Longfellow, Friedman, Oliver, Rhodes, and Ruymann all gained entry into the National Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL. on November 15-20, 2022:
The following NEPGA Professionals have been established as the designated four alternates following the completed of the 2022 NEPGA National Car Rental Assistant Championship:
Chris Houston (Laconia CC)
Patrick Kowker (Portland CC)
Samuel Cody (Stonebridge CC)
Rob Neaton (North Andover CC)
A tremendous thank you goes out to host professional Vince Forte, superintendent Neil Wendell and the entire Country Club of New Bedford staff for serving as host of the Championship.
The National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship is presented by National Car Rental, Vineyard Vines, Srixon, Cleveland, XXIO and ASICS.