Matt Naumec (David Colt/Mass Golf Photo)
When you hear the term “home course advantage,” you might take it to indicate a strategic edge. You know the right club to pull on each par-3, where to miss, when to be aggressive, what the prevailing wind is, etc. But for Framingham Country Club member Matthew Naumec, the advantage is emphasized more in the home than the course.
“I play here so much, right? I was just kind of showing up and having fun playing the game for, you know, the game itself, rather than…obviously I’m a little bit removed from professional golf. I’m still falling back in love with the game and just out here having fun. I have a great club,” said Naumec.
That love of the game that Naumec has recaptured in his post-professional career appears to suit him well on the competitive amateur circuit, as the Boston College alumnus will, for a second straight year, compete in the 36-hole finale of the Massachusetts Amateur.
On Tuesday evening, a slot in the match play bracket was uncertain. He survived a 4 for 3 playoff and hasn’t looked back, rolling through the bracket with victories of 4&3 and 3&2 Wednesday, followed by a 3&2 win over John Broderick (Dedham Country & Polo Club) Thursday morning and a 4&3 trumping of past champion Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea Golf Club) in the afternoon.
“I didn’t really do anything that I wouldn’t do on a Saturday morning with the guys,” said Naumec. Maintaining that level of certainty and simplicity may be the key on Friday.
He’ll meet with reigning Massachusetts Mid-Amateur champion Ricky Stimets (Worcester Country Club) in the final, marking the first all-mid-am final since 2014.
Given the demanding physical nature of the format–144 holes, give or take, over five days–you’d think the young players would be at an advantage. But Stimets is reaping the benefits of a renewed focus on his fitness, and in true mid-am fashion, that has meant giving up the good stuff: “A lot of walking, gym, better diet, cut out sugars and fried food for the whole year. So that’s been tough, but it’s paying off, the sacrifice.”
Stimets went the distance in the afternoon, defeating Ethan Whitney (Oak Hill Country Club) 1-up on the heels of a 4&2 morning win over Danny Frodigh (Dedham Country & Polo Club).
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So how bad do you want this tomorrow?
Naumec: “Pretty bad. Yeah, I mean, last year, obviously with Ryan, I love Essex, and I remember posting on Instagram, ‘See everyone at Framingham next year,’ and set the tone to just say, you know, you have 365 days.”
Stimets: “I want it pretty bad. I know there’s a lot at stake. I’m trying to treat every day as, ‘Okay, one more step towards the U.S. Am spot.”
ABOUT THE Massachusetts Amateur
Qualifying - 32 Holes at Stroke Play to determine
32 Qualifiers for Match Play. Entries are open to
amateur golfers who have an active MGA/GHIN
Handicap Index at any public, private, semi-private,
municipal or non-real estate MGA member course/club
not exceeding 4.4.
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