Courtesy of Massachusetts Golf Association
Brookline native
James Imai couldn’t help but grin when his birdie putt on the 18th green just burned the edge. Luckily for him, his stellar play over the course of two days gave him enough cushion.
After tapping in, he gave a quick right fist pump to celebrate a victory in his final summer event of the season. The Northwestern University junior finished 10-under-par 132 without a bogey and won the 40th Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship on Wednesday at Westover Golf Course (par-72, 6,685-yards).
It was his first Mass Golf Championship victory since winning the 2019 Mass Junior Amateur Championship at Crumpin-Fox Club.
“I’ve played a lot of good golf, but some of the results haven’t been what I’ve liked, and to put two rounds together finally the past couple days, it’s awesome,” said Imai, who shot 3-under 69 on Wednesday. “It’s great to see hard work turned into results.”
Mass Mid-Amateur champion Arthur Zelmati (George Wright Golf Course) and 4-time APL champion Bill Drohen (Brookmeadow Country Club) split runner-up honors, finishing 7-under overall.
Of the 58 who competed in the final round, the 20 lowest scorers and ties are exempt for the 2022 Amateur Public Links.
Established in 1982, the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links is open to amateur golfers who maintain a handicap index not exceeding 12.0 and who are bona fide public course players at a public Mass Golf Member Club, a course/club that provides playing opportunities for the general public seven days a week.
What Happened
It wasn’t exactly the same record-tying round for James Imai on Wednesday. However, he always made sure he had a look at the green and didn’t cede much ground to Bill Drohen, who entered the day three strokes back, as did Christopher Boyd (Pinehills Golf Club).
Both Imai and Drohen made the turn at 2-under for the day, and Drohen got within two with a birdie on the par-5 12th. He then hit his best shot of the day on the 13th by making a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-4 13th to temporarily pull within a stroke of Imai. Still, the stead Imai confidently stepped up and drained a 15-footer to keep his lead intact.
“That was nice to see one drop and just make sure I didn’t lose a lot of momentum there,” Imai said. “[Drohen] is a great player. I knew from his record, he’s gonna make it close and make me play my best and earn it. He pushed me, and hopefully, I pushed him as well.”
From there Imai was able to par out the rest of the way. Drohen kept pace for a couple more holes, but he hit his tee shot on the 16th wide right and ended up with a bogey to all but end his chances of repeating.
Though Drohen, 48, was gunning for the title, rounds of 68 and 69 left him walking away feeling content with the performance going up against a Big Ten standout.
“It was it was a great day,” Drohen said. “James is such a great competitor, but he’s probably a nicer kid and it’s the first time I actually got a chance to play and meet him. He just didn’t give up. If I birdied, it seemed like he’d put one on top of me.”
Imai was able to navigate the course without much resistance. The closest he came to a bogey was actually the first hole Wednesday as he needed to make a 10-footer to save par. Other than that, he said trees make it difficult for a right-handed player to hit a draw, forcing him to adjust throughout.
“I’m usually the opposite,” Imai said. “I hit draws, but when I hit cuts it usually neutralizes my swing, but I just trusted it this week, and I’m glad I was able to pull it off.”
With another week left before returning to campus, Imai said he’ll practice in the meantime, while also picking up some hours caddying at The Country Club, the host site of the 2022 U.S. Open.
“It’s nice to just get out there and make a few bucks,” Imai said. “They’re great over there so I just love hanging out there. It’s a great spot.”
Zelmati entered Wednesday four strokes back, and had it not been for a bogey on the first hole, he would’ve also gone bogey-free. He lit up the back-nine with a 4-under 32 that included consecutive birdies on holes 12, 13, and 14. That put him in a tight race with Bill Drohen for second.
“Coming up 18, I knew Bill was probably ahead of me so I was definitely was trying to make birdie and feeling the nerves,” Zelmati said. “It’s a great feeling, actually, to feel those nerves and to be back in the mix.”
In his first event back since the Mass Open in June, Zelmati said the biggest joy was playing two pain-free rounds after injuring his back earlier this summer.
“That’s definitely the best thing that’s come out of this it’s just being able to play and not be injured,” said Zelmati, who will try to qualify for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship later this month in Connecticut. “Now I’m just looking forward to getting better and getting my game more on track.”
Notes & Quotes
The Amateur Public Links Championship will take place at Sandy Burr Country Club in Wayland for the first time next year. The club will be celebrating its centennial as the Donald Ross-designed course was opened in 1922. The club hosted the Mass Open in 1927.
Imai is the fourth person to win both the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links and Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship. Ben Spitz last accomplished the feat by winning the 2017 APL, with Nick McLaughlin and Eric McPhail being the others to win both.
James Imai‘s two-day score of 134 matches Ryan Clancy’s mark when he won the APL at the now-closed Glen Ellen Country Club in 2013. Andy Drohen won the title with a two-day total of 132 at George Wright Golf Club (par-70) the year prior.
“This is his first tournament out here with me. As a father, that means a lot. I’m not gonna well up, but this means a lot to me just having him out here and having him experience, especially coming down the hunt and being close to the lead. Hopefully, when he gets to be my age, he’ll be able to handle [the pressure] he better than me.” — Bill Drohen on having his son Matthew Drohen caddie for him over the past two days.
Daniel Falcucci (Cyprian Keyes Golf Club), who finished runner-up last year, shot 73-69–142 to finished T4 and earn his sixth top-5 finish in the APL in his career. Christopher Piumelli (Beverly Golf & Tennis Club) and Bryan Adkison (Granite Links Golf Club) both shot 70-72–142 to also finish T4.
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ABOUT THE
Massachusetts PubLinks
Entries are open to amateur golfers who are bona
fide public course players at a public MGA member
club (a course/club that provides playing
opportunities for the general public seven days a
week) and
maintain an up-to-date MGA/GHIN Handicap Index
not exceeding 12.0. Players who have playing
privileges or who have an established handicap at
any private club are ineligible, with the exception
of:
a) Players competing on a school golf team,
provided those privileges are limited to scheduled
practices and competitions; or
b) Players employed by a private club, provided
their playing privileges
I. Are limited in nature;
II. Are consistent with those offered other
employees;
III. Do not allow participation in any club
tournaments; and
IV. No handicap is maintained at the private club.
The competition will be stroke play with 18 hole
qualifier and the Championship proper at 36
holes.
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