-- photo MGA
HINGHAM, Mass. (Aug 3, 2011) — Under
perfect conditions at South Shore Country
Club on Wednesday, Scott Congdon of
Foxborough CC put on a display of spectacular
golf and stony nerve to capture the 2011
Massachusetts Amateur Public Links
Championship.
The 24 year old from Foxborough finished with
a two-round score of 6-under par 138 to best
last year's champion Devin Bibeau (Highfields
G&CC) by one stroke.
"This is my first MGA win," said Congdon. "I
couldn't be happier that it started here."
For most of the final round, Congdon was doing
his best to chase down first-round leader Ryan
Riley (Norton CC) who held the tournament
lead for 32 of the 36 holes.
The turning point came when Riley suffered a
costly double bogey on his 15th hole and
Congdon capitalized by making birdie on the
14th and 17th holes. He was 5-under par with
only the 476-yard, par 5 18th hole remaining.
Just as he put some distance between himself
and Riley, however, Congdon heard the news
that Bibeau - who was three groups ahead -
had turned in a low number.
Congdon assumed that he was one back of
Bibeau and would need a birdie for the tie.
With pressure mounting, Congdon was all
business as he sent his chip to six feet above
the hole and then drained the fast downhill
putt to capture his first career MGA title. The
only problem was that he didn't realize that he
had won until he reached the scoring tent.
"I was surprised," said Congdon. "I really didn't
know about any of the scores going into that
last hole. Ryan had a couple of hiccups and I
was able to capitalize on those, so at that
point I just wanted to finish strong."
Finish strong is exactly what he did. That final
birdie capped off a five-hole stretch where
Congdon played 3-under par golf. He also
carded four birdies and seven pars through his
final 11 holes.
"I was just trying to stay in the moment and
focus on one shot at a time," said Congdon,
who enjoyed a strong golf career at Bryant
University. "I was trying to play my game and
stay within myself and give myself birdie
opportunities."
Heading into the final round, Congdon was one
stroke back of Riley who won this title in 2009.
Throughout the day, the two players held a
stranglehold on the lead. Congdon took a one-
shot lead through six holes but gave it back on
the 7th hole with a double bogey and then
missed a makeable birdie on the 9th hole.
Just when it looked like it would be another
Riley victory (he has already won two MGA
titles this season), Congdon was able to
collect himself and begin his move up the
leaderboard. He went on to make birdie on the
10th, 14th, 17th and 18th holes.
"I felt comfortable all day," said Congdon, who
drained a 10 footer for birdie on the 160-yard,
par 3 17th hole. "I had one really bad swing on
7, but I was hitting the ball well and putting
well and I knew that if I kept giving myself
opportunities that a couple would roll in."
Today's victory marks a continuation of great
play by Congdon. He advanced to the Round of
16 at the 2011 Massachusetts Amateur
Championship and was the second low scorer
from Massachusetts (he finished T6 overall) at
the 2011 New England Amateur Championship.
He also - just one year ago - finished T2 at
the 2010 Massachusetts Four-Ball
Championship.
"I have started hitting the ball really well and
have been able to make some putts," said
Congdon. "I had been making good shots but
not converting, so the putting has been the
difference. This time, I have been able to roll
some good ones in and that gave me
confidence through the two rounds."
No putt was bigger than his final one on the
18th hole.
"The course is awesome," said Congdon. "The
greens were so good. They putted true and if
you had the right line, more times than not the
putts would roll in."
View results for Massachusetts PubLinks
ABOUT THE Massachusetts PubLinks
Entries are open to amateur golfers who are bona
fide public course players at a public MGA member
club (a course/club that provides playing
opportunities for the general public seven days a
week) and
maintain an up-to-date MGA/GHIN Handicap Index
not exceeding 12.0. Players who have playing
privileges or who have an established handicap at
any private club are ineligible, with the exception
of:
a) Players competing on a school golf team,
provided those privileges are limited to scheduled
practices and competitions; or
b) Players employed by a private club, provided
their playing privileges
I. Are limited in nature;
II. Are consistent with those offered other
employees;
III. Do not allow participation in any club
tournaments; and
IV. No handicap is maintained at the private club.
The competition will be stroke play with 18 hole
qualifier and the Championship proper at 36
holes.
View Complete Tournament Information