MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — One yr after arising quick within the Massachusetts Amateur remaining, Longmeadow and GreatHorse’s Ryan Downes wasn’t about to be denied for a second time.
Putting on a surgical exhibition of successful golf, the 17-year-old Longmeadow High senior performed with expertise far past his age.
Downes performed 31 holes in Friday’s championship match in opposition to good buddy Matt Naumec in 7-under par en path to changing into the youngest winner within the 115-year historical past of the state’s greatest newbie championship after his 6 & 5 win.
Downes eclipses the earlier mark of Ted Adams and James Driscoll, who every grew to become newbie champions at age 18.
“It really does feel great,” Downes stated because the Massachusetts Cup sat at his ft. “Last year, I don’t think my game was as mature as it is now. I learned a lot about being able to hit shots under pressure and that really paid off.”
While the rating was seemingly lopsided on the finish, the match was truly a lot nearer for many of the means.
If there was one spot the place Downes did the majority of his injury, it was on the a part of the course referred to as “birdie bend” by the Essex County Club membership.
Holes 4 by way of seven had been excellent to Downes on Friday in each rounds. During the primary 18, he used three straight birdies on 5, six and 7 to open up a 4 up lead. Then within the second spherical of the day, one interrupted by a lightning delay, it was that stretch of holes the place Downes turned an all sq. match right into a runaway in a flash.
“Ryan is just a hell of a player. Any time you birdie a hole like the fourth, you just have to tip your cap,” Naumec stated.
The birdie that the previous Boston College standout spoke of got here after Downes bogeyed the par 5 third, the twenty second gap of the match, to see a 4 down lead go away.
He stepped to the tee on the second hardest gap of the week and striped a 4 iron to 10 ft. He sank the putt after which adopted it with an in depth method on the par 5 fifth for a conceded eagle.
After a delay for lightning within the space, Downes’ first swing resulted in a four-foot birdie on the seventh and a 3 up lead.
“I pulled that four iron out on the fourth and didn’t have a second thought. That stretch of holes was probably my favorite all week. I played them really well,” Downes stated.
By the time the ultimate pair made the flip, Downes had restored his 4 up lead from earlier within the day, placing him inside reaching distance of the crown.
Another birdie at tenth elevated the result in 5 up and when Naumec couldn’t stand up and down from behind the twelfth inexperienced, Downes was on the verge of the crown. Fittingly, he wrapped it up with one other surgical par on the thirteenth inexperienced.
“Ryan didn’t make many mistakes and he deserves this,” Naumec stated.
As he seemed on the names inscribed on the winner’s trophy, Downes couldn’t assist however really feel pleased.
“It’s a great feeling for me, it really is awesome,” Downes stated.
Source: www.bostonherald.com