Parziale faced two familiar opponents on Wednesday — former Thorny Lea member Mike Calef and Rutgers’ Weston Jones, who had a showdown with Parziale four years ago at The Kittansett Club. Parziale was at the top of his game Wednesday, making an eagle on the 12th and finishing off Calef in 14. He then made eight birdies, with another conceded at match end, to defeat Jones, who at times looked disheartened with each putt that fell.

“It was hard today; Weston played great, but that was the most birdies I’ve had in a match in a long time, and I was fortunate to make some down the stretch,” Parziale said of his afternoon match. “I’m super excited to be in the final eight. It was a rough start to the week, but it’s starting to feel better now.”

Better might be an understatement, but Parziale is among three mid-amateurs still standing in the field. Despite being the final player into match play, third-year Framingham member Matthew Naumec remains after his runner-up appearance in 2023, as does Ricky Stimets (Worcester Country Club), the 2023 Mass Golf Richard D. Haskell Player of the Year.

For several years, Stimets has been among the best in stroke play, yet he has hit a brick wall in the Round of 16. This year, he has busted through with a pair of convincing victories on Wednesday.

“It’s been a goal to get to Thursday at least,” Stimets said. “I’ve played well in stroke play the past five years, and it’s just been a grind. It’s hot and humid, and it’s wear and tear on the body. I feel like I’m in pretty good shape this year to tackle in one week.

“Last year, I felt like my calf was cramping every shot,” he added. “I made fitness a priority this year. I got a little better diet, and I feel like I’m ready to go. It’s tough keeping up with these guys, so I’m trying to do everything I can to give myself a boost.”

The day was punctuated with the tournament’s first hole-in-one as Stimets spun a shot into the cup on the 135-yard par-3 11th after nearly acing the downhill par-3 8th. A forward tee was used on 11, calling for a different shot than earlier in the week.

“I had a pretty good number into the wind on 11, and it landed just left of it, spun back in the cup, and bounced four feet and spun back.”

Naumec, the former pro who played in the U.S. Open, didn’t necessarily have his A-game early in the week but proved again he’s a solid match-play competitor. He knocked off medalist and good friend Matt Cowgill (Granite Links Golf Course) and had the upper hand on Ty Dupuis (Highfield Golf & Country Club) to keep some home club rooting interest alive.

“It feels good to play a little bit better in match play,” said Naumec, who is trying to become the first person since Ian Thimble (2013, Longmeadow CC) to make the final match as the No. 32 seed.

In the second match, the heat caught up with Naumec a bit, as his efforts to strike the ball well were matched by his efforts to stay cool.

Naumec’s strategy in dealing with the heat was evident. He shared, “The first three holes were scorching. I was dousing myself with water, trying to cool down and catch my breath. But the ball was flying farther, so it definitely influenced how I chose my numbers. Having played here extensively, the Framingham family knows there are certain paths you can take to keep your energy up.”

“People who are playing well and who get hot at the right time continue on,” Naumec added. “I’m going to stick to my status quo and hopefully get some member bounces here and there.”