Jake Ratti of Wollaston Golf Club delivered what he called “the best shot of my life” during the final round of the 2024 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship at Cranberry Valley Golf Course—and it was all caught on video (see below).

Holing out a 50-yard bunker shot for eagle on the par-5 18th, Ratti not only tied the course record with a blistering 8-under-par 64 but also erased a six-shot deficit to capture his first-ever Massachusetts Golf Association title. After 15 years of competing in MGA events, Ratti’s breakthrough moment came in dramatic fashion, leaving the field and fans stunned by the comeback and the shot that secured his victory.

“It’s pretty special. My first Mass Golf event was probably 15 years ago, and honestly, I’ve never come that close to winning one,” Ratti told Steve Derderian of the Massachusetts Golf Association. “To see all the hard work over the last couple of years pay off like this is pretty awesome.”

Ratti’s eagle on 18 capped off a final-round rally that was the largest comeback in the tournament since Arthur Zelmati’s seven-stroke comeback in 2020. The Plymouth native and longtime caddie at Boston Golf Club began his day with a bogey but quickly rebounded, carding seven birdies before delivering the defining moment on the 18th green. With a perfectly struck shot from the greenside bunker, Ratti couldn't see the result but knew from the cheers that his ball had found the bottom of the cup, which seemed as improbable. But as Bobby Jones has written, when it is a person's day to win, there isn't much the rest of the field can do about it.

“The lie was perfect, and I was just trying to get it close,” Ratti said of his bunker shot. “It wasn’t a difficult shot to get near the pin, but to actually hole it—unbelievable. It came off perfectly, and I knew when it dropped, it might just be enough.”

Starting the final round with a stacked leaderboard ahead of him, Ratti knew he needed something special to have a chance. Three-time champion Matt Parziale and mid-amateur standout Joe Harney had entered the day tied for the lead at 6-under, but both struggled to maintain their pace, combining for just one birdie and an eagle throughout the final 18 holes. Ratti, meanwhile, executed his game plan to perfection, playing aggressively where needed and smartly when necessary.

“I knew there were some really good players ahead of me,” Ratti said. “But I was staying with my buddies Ryan Brown and Kyle Buschmann, and we all agreed I’d need to shoot something like 8 or 9-under today to have a chance. I just tried to play it smart and get aggressive where I knew I could.”

Ratti’s climb to the top of the leaderboard began in earnest on the short par-5 14th, where he hit the green in two with an 8-iron and two-putted for birdie. On the par-4 15th, he drove the green and carded another birdie. A brilliant wedge to within six feet on the challenging par-4 16th secured his third consecutive birdie, setting the stage for his dramatic finish.

By the time Ratti holed out on 18, he had posted a clubhouse lead at 8-under, leaving little doubt that his first Mass Golf victory was imminent. Defending champion Ricky Stimets, who had played the final 12 holes at 5-under, shot his second straight 69 to finish in solo second, securing his exemption into next year’s championship. Parziale and Harney, meanwhile, finished tied for third at 3-under, while newcomers Mike Rattigan and James Othus, alongside former champion Mike Calef, finished 2-under.

Reflecting on his incredible final round, Ratti credited his improved mindset for helping him stay calm under pressure. “The biggest thing I’ve improved is probably my attitude. I’ve worked on my swing, but more importantly, I’ve learned not to get upset over mistakes. You just have to move on to the next shot.”

As the dust settled at Cranberry Valley, attention quickly turned to the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, where several Massachusetts players, including Parziale, Stimets, and Cam Moniz, will be competing at Kinloch Golf Club in Virginia from September 21-26. Parziale, a former U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, will look to add another title to his already impressive resume.

For Jake Ratti, however, the 2024 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur will forever be remembered as the day he delivered the shot of his life—and hoisted the Ted Bishop Cup for the first time.

 

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