We don’t get it often, but primetime, major golf is the best golf. Such was the case over the weekend, as the PGA Championship provided plenty of entertainment from the West Coast. Played at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, the first major of 2020 appeared destined for a multi-golfer playoff until 23-year-old Collin Morikawa hit two unbelievable shots on his back nine to pull ahead and ultimately capture his first major championship.
There were some good storylines over the weekend. Two-time defending PGA champion Brooks Koepka was in position to make a run at three in a row following Saturday’s third round, and some comments from Koepka in the post-round interview made headlines. It appeared that the confident duffer wasn’t particularly impressed by those surrounding him on the leaderboard.
“I was glancing at the leaderboard and of the 10 guys that are up there, there’s been, what, three majors?” he said. “(Dustin Johnson) has been in this spot a couple of times and he hasn’t been able to capitalize.”
That remark drew the ire of some players, including Rory McIlroy who stood up for Johnson after Sunday’s final round. Well, the golf gods had the final say on the matter. Entering the final round just two shots off the lead, Koepka limped down the stretch and carded a 4-over 74, finishing in a tie for 29th place at 3-under.
As for my picks in this space a week ago? Well, long shot Daniel Berger was in the mix until Sunday, ultimately finishing in a tie for 13th place at 7-under. McIlroy got off to a sluggish start on Thursday and never fully recovered, settling for 33rd place at 2-under. Morikawa was hovering between 25-1 and 30-1 pre-tournament, providing a decent little payout for bettors that made the plunge.
South Hadley’s Richy Werenski, who got into the field thanks to his win the previous week at the Barracuda Championship, missed the cut and finished 3-over.
Greenfield’s Claire Heath reached out about Werenski following last week’s column, saying she’s been following the Western Mass. native recently.
“I first noticed him about a year ago and I’ve been trying to watch him now whenever golf is on,” Heath said. “I’m so thrilled for him.”
Another big stop on the Mass Golf schedule began on Monday, as the 39th Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship is taking place at Lynn’s Gannon Golf Club. The event is for amateur golfers who are bona fide public course players at a public Mass Golf member club.
A sizable local contingent qualified for the event, with four golfers from the Country Club of Greenfield and three from Crumpin-Fox Club participating. CCG’s Ryan Cote, Andy Lesenski, Jason Kelton and Jacob Zaranek are all in the field, as are CFC’s Mark Waskiewicz, Keith Burch and Michael Mertes. Zaranek finished third in last year’s APL.
The two-day tournament concludes today. In Monday’s first round, Cyprian Keyes GC’s Daniel Falcucci (68) and George Wright’s Samuel Russell (69) were the only players in the morning wave to shoot rounds under par. Coincidentally, all seven local golfers had afternoon tee times, and their rounds hadn’t finished by deadline.
The 117th Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Championship begins today at historic Essex County Club. Ninety-five golfers are in the field, including defending champion Angela Garvin. The 19-year-old University of Maryland product is from Agawam, and plays out of The Ranch Golf Club.
Garvin is probably the best chance for another Western Mass. winner this week, as the event begins with 18-hole stroke play rounds today and Wednesday before the field is cut down to the top 16 players for match play on Thursday and Friday.
Essex County Club will be set up at approximately 5,970 yards and will play to a par of 38-35–73.
While the top prize in local women’s amateur golf will be decided this week, the U.S. Women’s Amateur wrapped up over the weekend with Rose Zhang, a 17-year-old from Irvine, California, holding off defending champion Gabriela Ruffels in a 37-hole championship match.
The tournament, played at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland, went to extra holes before Ruffels missed a three-foot putt on the 37th hole to hand Zhang the title. The 20-year-old Ruffels, a senior at USC, was shocked to see her short putt halfway down before spinning out.
“I actually hit it on my line, it’s just kind of heartbreak seeing it horseshoe out,” she said.
Zhang has committed to play at Stanford, but first she has one more year of high school remaining. She’s the No. 1-ranked junior in the country, and even made the cut at last year’s U.S. Women’s Open. You’ll be hearing from her on the big stage before long.
The 120th U.S. Amateur Men’s Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon began on Monday, and three Massachusetts residents – Matt Parziale, of Brockton, Michael Thorbjornsen, of Wellesley, and Davis Chatfield, of Attleboro – are among the 264 competitors in the field.
Jeff Lajoie is the sports editor of the Recorder. He can be reached at jlajoie@recorder.com