Semels Sets Tourney Record to Win Long Island Mid-Amateur
9/28/2017 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: View results for Long Island Mid-Amateur, The Bridge
Two-time Long Island Amateur Champion Hunter Semels adds the Mid-Amateur at Pine Hollow Country Club
EAST NORWICH, NY (September 27, 2017) - Two-time Long Island Amateur Champion Hunter Semels of North Hempstead Country Club won his first Long Island Mid-Amateur Championship at Pine Hollow Country Club.
Semels shot a record low 36-hole total of 6 under par 136 but had to sweat it out at the finish. In the end, Semels finished one ahead of Daniel Abbondandolo of Brookville Country Club, with Darin Goldstein of Noyac Golf Club three shots further back in third place.
Semels started the day three shots behind Goldstein, who had posted an opening-round 67 to take a two shot lead over Jonathan Jeter. Playing two groups ahead of the final twosome, Semels got off to a great start with birdies at 1, 2, and 5 to get to four under for the tournament.
Goldstein, however, was holding on to his lead as he shot two under on the front nine to get to six under, with Jeter turning at four under for the tournament.
But from that point on, Goldstein and Jeter began to back up and fall out of contention, as neither player would make another birdie. It started with Goldstein making double at 10, then losing shots at 13 and 15 on the way to finishing with a two-over 73 and a two-under 140 total.
Jeter bogeyed 14 and doubled 17 to fall back to one-under for the tournament after a closing 72.
That left Semels and Abbondandolo to battle it out on the back nine for the championship.
Semels started the back nine with three straight birdies to get to seven under. Playing in the group immediately ahead of Semels, Abbondandolo tried to keep pace, making birdies at 10 and 11 to get to five under, then made consecutive bogeys at 12 and 13 to fall four shots back.
But three straight birdies at 14-16 got him to six under and gave him hope.
Semels added another birdie at the 16th, giving him a two shot lead with two holes to play, but a bogey at 17 gave him little room for error standing on the 18th tee.
He got a reprieve though, when Abbondandolo bogeyed the 18th, allowing Semels to make bogey himself and still win by a single shot.
The two-time defending champion Bradley Rock, Jr. shot a 77 in round one and then withdrew from the championship.
About the Long Island Mid-Amateur
36 hole stroke play championship for mid-amateurs with an established handicap index at a Long Island club or course.
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