Ben Spitz walked away from the 106th Massachusetts Open as the low amateur at Hingham’s Black Rock Country Club, winning his second Commonwealth Cup in three years. The 31-year-old Spitz previously won the cup in 2013 at Woodland Golf Club.
Spitz posted a 4-over 217 in the 54-hole tournament, giving him the cup as the low amateur, one shot ahead of fellow amateur Nick McLaughlin.
“This is awesome,” Spitz told the Massachusetts Golf Association. “I think that all of the amateurs would love to beat the pros, but to win the tournament within the tournament is cool. And to win two in three years is exciting.”
On today’s final round, Spitz made the turn, carding a 2-over 38 for the front nine, and fell stroke behind fellow amateur McLaughlin after he gave up two bogies in a row on Nos. 11 and 12. He came back with a rare eagle on the 290-yard, par-4 13th, and followed that up with a birdie on the par-5 14th. He posted a 2-over 73 (217) for the day, which left him ten strokes behind the winner, Joe Harney, but as the amateur champion and T13 overall.
“Every tournament you play in you want your want to win,” said Spitz to MGA. “That is the goal whether it’s realistic or not, but you really just want to play three solid rounds of golf and let where the chips fall where they may.”
Ben Smith Wins Commonwealth Cup at 106th Massachusetts Open
Spitz goes eagle, birdie on now. 13 and 14 to win the trophy for low amateur by one stroke over Nick McLaughlin