Matt Naumec gets his Ouimet Memorial title
Matt Naumec after Ouimet Memorial victory
(Ouimet Memorial Photo)
AURBURNDALE, MA (July 29, 2016) -- Matt Naumec
made a tremendous downhill 20 footer for birdie on
Woodland Golf Club’s treacherous 16th hole to break
open a see-saw final round and went on to a three shot
victory in the 49th Francis Ouimet Memorial
Tournament on Friday. The Boston College sophomore
from GreatHorse negotiated the double-breaker as Doug
Clapp of Old Sandwich and Jacob Leavitt of Cattail Creek
in Maryland both bogeyed for a two shot swing. Naumec
finished with a one-over par 73 and a six-under 209
total in the prestigious 54-hole amateur invitational
event played at three different courses. The final round
is always played at 6,721 yard Woodland Golf Club,
Mr.Ouimet’s home course. The first two rounds were
played at Hyannisport Club and Oyster Harbors Club.
Naumec had started the day with a three-shot lead,
and also had the lead going into the final round of the
2015 Ouimet, but fell to second when Peter French
birdied 8 of the last 10 holes. This time Naumec was not
to be denied, as he added to a great season that
already saw him be a quarterfinalist in the MGA
Amateur Championship and finish 17th in last week’s
New England Amateur Championship. Clapp, Leavitt,
Ryan Tombs of Manchester (NH) CC and Damon Salo of
Bretwood (NH) all tied for second at 212.
In the Eddie Lowery Senior Division Joe Walker of
Dennis Pines also showed he could make up for past
misfortune as he closed with a 75 for a 219 total and a
three shot victory over Dave Houghton of The Captains.
Like Naumec, Walker led going into the final round in
2015 only to lose to close friend Kevin Carey. Mr.
Walker also lost in a playoff in the 2013 Ouimet. The
60-year-old home heating oil company owner described
the Friday round as “a grind,” and greatly credited
runner-up Dave Houghton.
Julia Ford of Cyprian Keyes survived a three-hole
playoff to win the Women’s Division, adding to the title
she also took in 2014. She said she “struck it
beautifully,” as she hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation but
struggled a bit with distance control on the greens. Her
75 was matched by Jackie Gonzalez of Charles River
and Abby Hood of Bass Rocks. Ms. Ford will be headed
to the University of Virginia in the fall.
ABOUT THE
Francis Ouimet Memorial
This 54-hole stroke play tournament honors
Francis Ouimet, considered America's First
Golf
Hero and one of the most important figures in
the history of golf. His victory in the 1913
U.S. Open in a stunning playoff upset of
Harry Vardon and Ted Ray is viewed as the
turning point in American Golf. The event, first
played in 1968, one year
after Ouimet's death, is held at
three top Boston-area courses, with the final round
always taking place at the 6,721 yard Woodland Golf
Club (Mr.
Ouimet's home course). The most notable winner to
date is Brad Faxon,
who captured the 1980 event. There are three
divisions: Men, Women, and Senior.
View Complete Tournament Information