Don Foberg (Mass Golf photo)
Nearly one year after he won his first Mass Golf Championship title, Don Foberg, of Plymouth Country Club, took home his second Mass Golf trophy by winning the 60th Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship on Thursday at Willowbend. Foberg, the 2019 Super Senior Amateur champion, shot an even-par 70 in the final round to finish 5-over 145 total and edge out runner-up Steve Tasho (Thorny Lea GC) by two strokes.
Foberg, 66, became the third person to win both the Mass Senior and Mass Super Senior titles and the first person to win them in consecutive years.
“It feels awesome,” Foberg said. “When you look at the guys we get to play with — Steve Tasho, Keith Smith, Frank Vana and Kevin Carey, Joe Walker — down the list of guys who are a legends in golf [Paul] Murphy … just to be able to compete with them for me is awesome because I’m no spring chicken.”
After a giant scramble for the lead in Round 1, the same was the case Thursday as strong winds affected everything from drives, approach shots and even putts.
Foberg entered Thursday three strokes behind overnight leader Jeff Page (Wellesley CC). Despite two bogeys on his first six holes, Foberg finished with two birdies and finished with seven consecutive pars to hold his place. He made his first birdie on the 8th hole (Bay Course), but his next tee shot set the tone for the rest of the round.
“I smoked it,” Foberg said. “I said that was the rythm the timing. At Oakley Country Club three years ago … I hit the ball as good as I could and I always tryy to remember how that felt. It was slow, smooth, and the ball went where I looked. Yesterday, the ball never went where I looked. When I hit that tee shot, everything just snapped back into place.”
He hit most greens in regulation from there out, and even when his birdie putts rolled a little long, he was able to sink the comebackers. He also missed the fairway on the par-5 18th but was able to punch out, get on in three and two-putt his way to victory. In the process, he held off Todd Ezold (Twin Hills CC), who spent most of the back nine (Bog Course) just 1-2 strokes off the lead. Ezold and fellow Western Mass player Andy Congdon (Wyantenuck CC) both shot consecutive 74s to finish T3.
Steve Tasho, the two-time Mass Amateur champion, was able to leapfrog both with a solid finishing stretch. Tasho, won won the Senior Hornblower Championship at Foberg’s home course, finished 1-under on the back nine (Bog Course) with four birdies on his final six holes. He put some pressure on with birdies on holes 16 and 18, but it wasn’t enough to catch Foberg.
Tasho, 61, said he’s happy he’s been able to continue competing at a high level.
“My year’s been good for the amount I play and what I’m doing at this point,” he said. “This will get me into next year’s event, and we’ll try again. II had like five years before this where I wasn’t playing much. I’m just happy to be able to go out and compete with the guys and have a good time.”
John Hadges (Thorny Lea GC) had one of the most improved rounds from Day 1 after shooting a 10-over 80. Hadges made birdie four times Thursday to finish even-par 70 to finish T5 alongside Willowbend’s Scott Beers. After starting the day T2, Beers had double-bogeys on holes 6 and 8 and was unable to make up the deficit down the stretch.
Jack Kearney (Westover GC), the 2019 Senior Amateur champion, finished seventh overall at 11-over (79-72–151).
MAJOR WINNER ON SITE
Darren Clarke, the 2011 winner of The Open and the 2016 Ryder Cup captain was spotted at Willowbend during this week’s Senior Amateur Championship. Find out what brought him to Massachusetts.
View results for Massachusetts Senior Amateur
ABOUT THE
Massachusetts Senior Amateur
Entries are open to amateur golfers who hold
membership in an MGA member club, who
have reached their 55th birthday by
the first day of the tournament and have an
up-
to-date
MGA/USGA GHIN Handicap Index not
exceeding
8.0 or have completed
their handicap certification as defined on the
Entry Form. Competition will be 36 Holes
at
Stroke Play.
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