Severe weather suspended play during the first day of the 89th New England Amateur Golf Championship Tuesday at Portland Golf Club in Falmouth, Maine.
Turners Falls’ Cody Booska managed to get 11 holes of golf in before the horn sounded, and he’ll finish up his final seven holes this morning at 7:30 a.m. before beginning Round 2 immediately afterward.
Play was officially suspended for the day at 3:20 p.m. when tournament officials announced that heavy rains and forecasted continued rain had made the course unplayable. Booska was even par through 11 holes, putting him in a tie for 13th place. He recorded birdies on Nos. 1 and 5, while giving back shots with bogeys at Nos. 6 and 9.
The leader in the clubhouse was Uttdom Sowinkong of Connecticut, who shot a 2-under 68. Two players, Ryan Pelletier of Rhode Island and Drake Hull of Vermont, were 3-under late in their opening rounds. Twelve players were under par, with Booska right in the mix at even. Nearly half the field had yet to tee off when play was suspended, and only 12 competitors had completed their first round entirely.
The event, originally scheduled for 72 holes, will be reduced to 54 holes with action coming to a close on Thursday.
“We will continue to play until dark on Wednesday and then complete the second round on Thursday morning,” said Laura Nochta, Mass Golf’s manager of NEGA operations & USGA qualifying who is responsible for the operations of the New England Amateur Championship. “We are fortunate to resume play on both Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 a.m. and complete the tournament on Thursday as scheduled.”
Following the conclusion of Round 2 on Thursday, the field will be reduced to the low 40 scorers and ties and re-paired by score. A champion will be crowned following the conclusion of 54 holes. Any tie for first place will be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole playoff.
Elkins tied for fifth at AJGA event
South Deerfield’s Jonny Elkins carried his momentum over from Monday’s U.S. Amateur qualifier with a strong round Tuesday in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Hub Championship at the Country Club of Halifax.
The 17-year-old is tied for fifth after the first round following a 1-over par round of 73. Elkins birdied three holes and carded four bogeys on his opening 18, putting him in a four-way tie for fifth in a field of 72 golfers.
Adam Xiao of Manhasset, N.Y. blitzed the field to take the first-round lead following a 4-under 68. Three golfers are tied for second place after even-par 72s.
The three-round event continues today, and Elkins tees off for his second round at 8:20 a.m.