27 July, 2015
Full Score Sheet Above!
A little home-course knowledge goes a long way and two hopefuls – Jimmy Hervol (Hopkinton CC) and Connor Henderson (Hopkinton CC) – are looking for that advantage this week as they compete at the 2015 Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship
Hervol and Henderson represent a total of six competitors who call Hopkinton Country Club their home. All six are looking forward to competing well and representing a place that they all call home.
MGA Junior Day 1 Quick Links
* Andrew O’Leary Has Two Division Titles in His Sights
* James Imai - From Bluffton to Hopkinton
* Eligibility & Schedule of Play
“It was a bit weird at the start because I am not used to playing competitive golf here,“ said Hervol. “It is definitely an advantage and hopefully I can take advantage of it.”
Following the first round of play, Hervol is just one shot back of the overall lead which is held by a trio of players – Andrew O’Leary (Glen Ellen CC), Joey Ciolini (Marlborough CC) and Davis Chatfield (Locust Valley GC) – who posted day-low scores of 1-under par 70.
The top of the leaderboard at this event is a familiar spot for Hervol, who last year held the lead for 36 of the 54 holes before falling back on day three and finishing T6 overall.
“Last year I think that I took my lead for granted and I gave it up,” said Hervol, who will be senior at Hopkinton High School this fall but has already committed verbally to the University of Connecticut. ”This year, I am going to take it one shot at a time and never get ahead of myself and do the best that I can.”
With a healthy gallery following him all morning, Hervol is giving his home club much to cheer about. He made birdie on his first hole of the day – the 397-yard, par 4 10th hole – and then survived the more-challenging back side. He made the turn at 2-over par 37.
He was strong on the front by making eagle on the 497-yard, par 5 3rd hole and then added birdies on the 5th and 8th holes to cap off his even par 71 round.
“Today I was hitting fairways and making some good putts but my irons weren’t so good so I couldn’t go that low,” said Hervol. “I think that I figured them out so tomorrow should be better.”
Hervol was no doubt reviewing his round with Henderson, who is also sniffing the top of the leaderboard after posting a solid 2-over par 73. One point of discussion was no doubt the 438-yard, par 4 17th hole. It was the hardest hole on the course today and it was the site of Henderson’s quadruple bogey. Henderson was 2-under par through 16 holes.
“I picked a club and wasn’t totally confident in it and I didn’t make a very good swing off the tee,” said Henderson. “I hit my second shot a little long right and out of bounds and couldn’t get up and down from there.”
He finished off his round with a solid par and was greeted with friends and club mates who are looking forward to the next two days.
“They are really excited,” said Henderson of his club’s response to this week. “Yesterday I was out here with some of my friends and everyone we passed was saying good luck to us and I know that they are excited about hopefully coming out to watch this week.”
Also representing the club this week are Geoff Holler and Jake Doherty – both of whom posted a 3-over par 74 on Monday – as well as Matt Johnson and Max Ratner.
Andrew O’Leary Has Two Division Titles in His Sights
He is playing as a pre-junior but O’Leary has ever right to set his sights on the larger prize – the overall Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship title – after he posted a day-low score of 1-under par 70.
He currently stands tied for the lead with Ciolini and Chatfield heading into the second 18 holes.
“I was definitely making my 10-foot putts,” said O’Leary, a rising sophomore at Catholic Memorial High School. “I made about four of those for birdie and a couple of them for pars. I also hit a lot of fairways off the tee.”
The solid putting and strong game off the tee was rewarding after a start which saw O’Leary make double bogey on his first hole of the day – the 397-yard, par 4 10th hole.
He recovered nicely from that opening hole by playing 3-under par par golf from that point on with birdies being made on the 2nd, 3rd, 14th and 18th holes.
Two weeks ago, O’Leary competed in the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. Another highlight from this past season came at Pawtucket Country Club (RI). Although he did not advance at that U.S. Amateur Sectional qualifier, he did post a 6-under par 29 during his final nine holes.
“This summer I feel that I am more consistent,” said O’Leary. “I am also putting better this year.”
In addition to the overall title – which was won last year by Matthew Neumac – a pre-junior champion will be crowned for those who are 14 and 15 years old.
“I kind of take it one shot at a time and don’t think about the division,” said O’Leary. “I just go out and play.”
In that Pre-Junior division battle, Jack Fechter (Hatherly CC) is one back of O’Leary is at even par 71, while Dillion Brown (CC of Halifax), Tyler Forbes (The Country Club) and David Rogers (Willowbend) are tied with Imai (see below) at 3-over par 74.
James Imai - From Bluffton to Hopkinton
James Imai (George Wright GC) is enjoying a month to remember. After all, it was just last week that Imai was competing at the 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, which was held at Colleton River Plantation Club in Bluffton, South Carolina.
Imai earned a spot at Championship Proper are securing one of just three spots available at a sectional qualifier held on June 30 at Bretwood Golf Course (NH).
“It was probably one of the best experiences I have had in my golfing career,” said Imai, who will be a freshman at Brookline High School. “Just the atmosphere in general was amazing and the volunteers and everyone there made us all feel like pros.”
One week ago, Imai played on a layout that measured more than 7,300 yards – the second longest ever in U.S. Junior Amateur history. This week he must tame a challenging Hopkinton Country Club course that will test the field from tee to green.
He is hoping that his experience on the national stage will translate into local success.
“It gave me so much confidence,” said Imai. “I didn’t play as well as I wanted to, but I played well all things considered. I just need to keep doing what I am doing and having the attitude that I have been having all year and it should be fine.”
On this day, Imai was consistent as he carded 14 pars, one birdie, two bogies and one double bogey.
“It was good, but I missed a ton of short putts,” said Imai. “Other than that, I am playing great. Three over isn’t that bad.”
Eligibility & Schedule of Play
JUNIOR DIVISION: Entries are open to amateur golfers from an MGA Member Club or full-time Massachusetts residents who have reached their 14th birthday and will not reach their 18th birthday by midnight July 27, 2015.
Sectional Qualifying - 18 Holes
18 Holes at Stroke Play (for all except exempt entrants)
Championship Proper – 54 Holes
The Championship Proper field is limited to 150 players.
Monday, July 27
First Round, 18 Holes.
Tuesday, July 28
Second Round, 18 Holes.
The low 50 scorers and ties after 36-holes will continue play on July 29
If there are no 14-15 year old competitors who fall within the 50 lowest scorers and ties in the Junior Division, the Pre-Junior Champion will be determined based on the 36-hole scores. In the event of a tie, Co-Champions will be designated.
Wednesday, July 29
Final Round, 18 Holes.
The MGA Junior Amateur Champion will be the low scorer after 54-holes from the Junior Division (14-17). The 14-15 year old low scorer, in the Junior Division, will be the Pre-Junior Champion.
Any tie for first place (after 54 holes) will be decided immediately by a hole-by hole playoff.
Please credit David Colt/MGA
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