John Hadges

In the end, John Hadges (Thorny Lea GC) turned in the best one of all and as a result stands atop the leaderboard. Hadges carded seven birdies – including four in a row on the front nine – to post a score of 4-under par 66 at Marshfield Country Club.

He currently holds a four-stroke lead over the field with a two-round score of 2-under par 138. Two competitors – Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich GC) and Kevin Carey (Dennis Pines GC) – stand at 2-over par 142 heading into the third and final round of play.

“It was pretty tough yesterday with the wind which was evident by the scores,” said Hadges of the gusty wind that plagued the first round of play on Monday. “I got off to a good start and just kept going today.”

After making par on his first two holes of the day, Hadges went on a birdie run that many won’t soon forget at Marshfield Country Club. It all began on the 344-yard, par 4 3rd hole where he drained a 25-foot birdie putt. He followed that up with an approach on the 554-yard, par 5 4th hole that landed just six feet from the hole.

The game changer came perhaps on the 417-yard, par 4 5th hole where Hadges faced a treacherous birdie putt on the sloping, fast green. After watching his playing partner send his putt 15 feet past the hole, Hadges lightly tapped his own putt and was ecstatic with the result.

“I knew that it was quick,” said Hadges. “I just touched it and watched it go. Once it got to the hole, it just hit it and went in. It was either going to be a 3 or a five.”

He carded his fourth straight birdie on the 193-yard, par 3 6th hole with a solid tee shot. He made the turn at 4-under par 31 and was 5-under for the round after making another birdie on the 10th hole.

“I made everything,” said Hadges. “I hit the ball very well. I had the four birdies in a row and had good chances for birdie on the 7th and 9th holes. I also missed a couple of short putts for birdie [on the 11th and 12th holes].”

The only hiccup on the day for Hadges came when he made three straight bogies beginning on the 13th hole. He righted the ship by responding with two more birdies on the 16th and 17th holes.

“I hit the wrong clubs and was over the green and dead,” said Hadges. “I made a putt on the 16th hole that was off the charts. It wasn’t long but it was up and over a hill and fell down the drain. I made that and it kind of stopped the three bogies in a row.”

Hadges is no stranger to being in the lead. After all, he has won two Massachusetts Amateur Championships (2008, 2010) and was victorious earlier this year at the 2013 Norfolk County Classic.

“I just want to keep it going and do nothing different,” said Hadges when asked about experience helping him on day three. “It helps in the fact that you know what not to do. Whether it pans out that way is another thing, but experience helps and being here before helps.”

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