Aikens, Parziale Extend Lead at International Four-Ball

February 13, 2018 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

Herbie Aikens (L) and Matt Parziale extended their lead at Banyan Cay

Defending champions Mike McCoy and Gene Elliott remain in second place

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (February 13, 2018) - U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Matt Parziale (Brockton, MA) and partner Herbie Aikens (Kingston, MA) shot a 6-under 66 at Banyan Cay Resort to extend their lead to five shots in the International Four-Ball Championship. Parziale and Aikens are bogey-free through two rounds of the championship, with 14 birdies and 22 pars. The pair have partnered well in the past, winning the Massachusetts Four-Ball in 2016 and 2017, and played in the last two U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championships. The defending champions of this event, Mike McCoy and Gene Elliott of W. Des Moines, IA, remain in second place but slipped from three to five shots back after a 68 on Tuesday. Mike Sullivan and Jeff Walker pulled into solo third place after the tied-low round of the day, a 66 that puts them at 8 under and six shots behind. In the Senior Division, Doug Hanzel (Savannah, GA) and Buzz Fly (Memphis, TN) shot a second-straight 7-under 65 to forge a five-shot lead over four teams, including the two-time defending champions Keith Decker (Martinsville, VA) and Matt Sughrue (Arlington, VA). Decker and Sughrue shot a 67 on Tuesday but lost two shots to the leaders on the day. Pete Williams / Tim Jackson, Michael Mercier / John Kircher, and Jerry Rose / Jim Lehman all sit at 9-under 135, five shots behind Hanzel and Fly. Rose and Lehman had the low round of the tournament so far, an 8-under 64 at Banyan Cay. In the Legends Division, Van Lefferdink and Steve Earsley have a commanding lead over Joe Keller and Joe Quillinan. The final round will be played at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club. After being played at the Fox Club in Palm City in recent years, the tournament searched for a home before settling on the three-course rotation of Old Palm, Banyan Cay and Mayacoo Lakes. FIRST ROUND RECAP After day one of the 62nd International Four-Ball Championship the New England duo of Herbie Aikens and reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Matt Parziale pace the field. Playing day one at Old Palm Golf Club, Aikens and Parziale, both from Massachusetts, played bogey-free golf on their way to an 8-under 64 that included four birdies on each side. The duo came out of the games sizzling with a birdie on the 1st and never looked back. Defending champions Mike McCoy and Gene Elliot find themselves in second place following a 5-under 67 that leaves them three shots off the lead. After eight straight pars to start their day the teammates from Iowa surged rattling off six birdies in a nine hole stretch from Nos. 9-19, including three in a row from the 15th-17th. The run came to a screeching halt when they bogeyed the last for their only dropped shot of the day. DJ Morris and Justin Goodhue are in third place at 4-under while five other teams are 2-under and sharing fourth. The Senior Division lead sits at 7-under with the teams of Tim Vigotsky and Danny Hopkins; Doug Hanzel and Buzz Fly sharing the lead. In the Legends Division Van Lefferdink and Steve Earsley were the only team to break par and with a 2-under tally they lead alone. Of Note: On day two the action will shift to Banyan Cay Resort & Golf.

About the International Four-Ball

Aikens, Parziale Extend Lead at International Four-Ball

Started in 1957, the International Four-Ball is one of the most prestigious amateur events in the country. The Championship includes Mid-Amateur (ages 25-54), Senior (ages 55-64) and Legends (ages 65 and up) Divisions. All divisions compete in a Four...

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