Another big tournament, another strong finish for Cody Booska.
The 21-year old Turners Falls resident capped off a three-day, four-round trip to the 88th New England Amateur Championship on Thursday with a final round 71 (+1) to give him a four-round total of 286 (+6), good enough for a tie for 21st place at Metacomet Country Club in East Providence, R.I.
“Just like any other tournament, it’s a learning experience. I definitely took a lot out of it,” said Booska of the event. “I love playing with the level of competition like this. It’s only going to make me better.”
Booska and the rest of the field that survived the cut after the first two rounds played 36 holes on Thursday. His final 18 holes saw him record a tournament-high five birdies, but a quadruple bogey on the par 4, 3rd hole eventually led to an up and down 1-over round of 71.
Booska birdied the first two holes of his round before the quad on his third hole put him at 2-over for the day. Booska’s birdie on No. 2 was his third in four rounds on that particular par 5. After another bogey on No. 4, he rebounded with birdies on holes 7 and 9 to take the turn at 1-over 37.
He got to even par for the round with a birdie on No. 12, his second in as many rounds there, but a bogey on No. 17 capped his busy week with the final-round 71.
“I just tried to come out and my goal was to make some more putts than I had been,” said Booska of his final round. “I did. I started with two birdies, but that eight definitely didn’t help the scorecard. I was able to get it back a bit though.”
Booska’s day began with a 3-over par round of 73 in the morning, teeing off on the back nine for his third round of action. Booska bogeyed his first hole, No. 10, before getting back to even par with a birdie on No. 12. He bogeyed 13 and 14, however, posting a 2-over 36 at the turn.
On his back nine, Booska birdied No. 2, but suffered bogeys at holes 3 and 9 to wrap up the 3-over 73.
“The morning round, I felt like I played really well,” he offered. “I hit the ball really well, just couldn’t make any sort of putt. I ended up with 36 putts and that’s never going to get the job done.”
Bobby Leopold of Wannamoisett Country Club (R.I.) came from behind after two rounds to capture the New England Amateur title with a final total of 277 (67-71-69-70). Leopold (-3) bested the field by just one shot, finishing ahead of runners-up Billy Walthouse and Kevin Silva — both at 2-under. Just four players finished under par for the tournament, which began with 156 players in the field. Forty-eight players survived to play the final two rounds when the cut was set at +7.
Next up for Booska will be a qualifier for the U.S. Amateur Championship, scheduled to be played Aug. 14-20 at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. The qualifier is set for Monday at Crestview Country Club in Agawam.
“I’ve actually never played it before but I plan to go on Sunday, get a good feel for the place,” said Booska of Crestview. “I’ve heard it’s pretty short but once again, it’s one of those courses where the greens will get you. I know a ton of guys playing and it’s looking like probably the strongest Am qualifier going. It’s a big field and I know I’m going to have to play well.
The field will play 36 holes on Monday, with most qualifiers offering just one or two spots to the U.S. Amateur next month.
“It would be unbelievable to qualify,” said Booska. “I feel like my game’s at a place right now where I could definitely do it. I’m just going to take it one shot at a time like I always do.”