One week after a huge breakthrough performance at the 109th Massachusetts State Amateur, Turners Falls’ Cody Booska is once again in contention at a big golf tournament.
The Mass Am quarterfinalist made the cut at the 88th New England Amateur Championship on Wednesday, firing a 2-over round of 72 at Metacomet Country Club in East Providence, R.I. to put him at 2-over following two rounds of action. Booska’s two-round total of 142 put him comfortably in the field for today’s final 36 holes, as he sits in sole possession of 18th place.
“I started hitting the ball pretty well,” Booska said. “I gave myself some birdie chances and got a few putts to fall.”
After an opening-round 70 on Tuesday, Booska — playing out of the Country Club of Greenfield — had two very different stretches of holes on Wednesday. Teeing off on the back 9, he fired a 2-under 32 to get rolling with birdies on 13, 15 and 16. But he came home with a 4-over 40 on the front 9 to account for the 72, as a double-bogey on No. 5 put a dent in his scorecard.
“I feel like I hit the ball well but it was a typical two rounds of golf,” Booska began. “I hit the ball much, much better (Wednesday) but of course I scored better on Tuesday. That’s golf for you.”
First-round leader Kevin Silva of Montaup Country Club (R.I.) remains in a share of first-place after two rounds of action. Silva shot a 70 on Wednesday to put him 4-under (136), and he shares the top spot with Longmeadow Country Club’s Billy Walthouse, also at 4-under. Walthouse was actually the golfer who defeated Booska in the quarterfinals at last week’s Mass Am.
The pair are just six shots ahead of Booska, who said he hopes to make a charge in today’s final day of competition, which features 36 holes of golf for a total of four rounds. Forty-eight golfers made the cut for today’s final two rounds.
“After playing two rounds there and understanding where you need to put the ball and where you can’t be, I’ve learned a lot and definitely have a lot of confidence going into the last day,” said Booska. “I’m excited to get back out there and I definitely feel I can fire two good rounds and put myself in contention.”
Booska will tee off this morning at 8:27 a.m. off the 10th hole, and he’ll be paired with Brian Bassett of Oyster Harbors Club (Osterville), who is 1-over.
South Deerfield’s Jonathan Elkins bounced back after shooting an opening-round 77 on Tuesday to post a 1-over 71 on Wednesday. His total of 148 missed the cut by just one stroke, as he finished in a tie for 49th place.
“The way I played (Tuesday), I probably didn’t deserve to make the cut,” offered Elkins. “I was scrambling around (Wednesday) to try and make the cut.”
The 16-year old, who attends Taft School in Watertown, Conn., finished one hole of his suspended first round Wednesday morning before teeing off some 45 minutes later with his second round. He was 3-under through 13 holes on Wednesday after birdieying Nos. 2, 5 and 9, but bogeys on 14 and 16 and a double-bogey on 17 brought the round back over par.
“I’m not sure what happened, but the last five holes were not indicative of the round I played,” said Elkins, who played out of Crumpin-Fox Club. “I think my 6 a.m. wake-up call (to finish the first round) caught up to me. My goal for the last five holes was to make a few pars but I ran into some trouble.”
Elkins will continue to stay busy this summer, as he’ll play in the U.S. Amateur Qualifier on Monday at Crestview Country Club in Agawam before leaving to play in the Junior PGA Championship in St. Albans, Mo. July 31-Aug. 3.
“Honestly, I don’t think I prepared well enough for the tournament (on Tuesday), but I feel like I found it (Wednesday),” Elkins said. “I’ll try and prepare a lot better for Monday. Crestview is a course I’m familiar with and I’ve played well there so that’s a confidence booster.”
Greenfield native Nate Burdick improved his second round by seven strokes from Tuesday’s opening round, as he carded a 75 after a first-round 82 to give him a two-day total of 157 (+17). Burdick, playing out of the CC of G, birdied the 9th and 11th holes on Wednesday.
Greenfield’s Brandon Bete rounded out the local contingent, as the Assumption College alum shot 91 on Wednesday for a two-round total of 170 after posting a 79 in the opening round.