Men Amateurs: Young lads making noise

Not a bad little stretch of impressive golf for New England amateur golfers of late. Back in August, Michael Thorbjornsen of Wellesley (and Stanford) was co-medalist at the U.S. Amateur at Ridgewood CC in Paramus, N.J. Then, within a day of one another, Jake Shuman of Needham and Ben James of Milford, Conn., posted stellar stuff themselves. Shuman, a reinstated amateur who starred at Duke University, shot 68-66 at Erin Hills in Wisconsin to finish as co-medalist in the rain-plagued U.S Mid-Amateur Championship. Thanks to torrential rain wiping out about a day-and-a-half of play, Shuman won't play his Round of 64 match till Wednesday. At the Streamsong Invitational in Florida, James' heralded junior career showed that it's ready for the collegiate test at the University of Virginia. That's because he played his first nine holes in 28 and went on to score 63-65-68 to post a five-stroke triumph in his college debut. So much for being unable to hone a national-caliber golf game in New England.

Women pros: Bradley wins on “home” turf

At 71, World Golf Hall of Famer Pat Bradley would seemingly have achieved it all. But when you’re living quietly on the Cape in summers and fall and get the chance to tee it up competitively about 15 miles from your home, well, that provides a jolt of enthusiasm.

“I know my years are limited now in tournament golf, so to be able to share this day with Jamie and my family and friends and people on the Cape, it’s just incredible,” said Bradley.

The reference was to Jamie Fischer, 54, a LPGA teaching professional. She provided the youthful power to complement Bradley’s veteran grit as they shot a 12-under 59 to win the BJ’s Charity Championship at The Ridge Club in Sandwich. It’s one of the tournaments on the Legends of the LPGA Tour.

Men pros: Adamonis wins, Johnson 18th

Posting scores of 66-65 for 11-under, Rhode Island native Brad Adamonis scored a one-stroke victory over Willie Mack III in the Ascension APGA Classic in St. Louis last weekend. It was the latest tournament on the Advocates Professional Golf Association where a leading player, Kamaiu Johnson, finished T-18. He was recently featured in “Power Fades.” That story here https://www.powerfades.com/features/c1fbb0de-0971-4b0b-98de-ecb79d39c70b

Women ams: It's off to Fiddlesticks

Fresh off a victory in the Mass Golf Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, Megan Buck will head to Fiddlesticks CC in Fort Myers, Fla., where the 32nd annual U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur will get under way Saturday.

Buck is one of seven Massachusetts golfers who’ve earned their way into the national championship. A leading contender will be Buck’s fellow member at Thorny Lea GC in Brockton, Shannon Johnson. Winner of this national title in 2018, Johnson was a semifinalist last year so clearly she has a feel for this event.

Others who will be teeing it up: Mary Chamberlain (Cummaquid), Sue Curtin (Boston Golf Club), Tracy Martin (Vesper CC), Mary Mulcahy (Hatherly CC), and Tracy Welch (Winchester CC).

A replay of the ’21 championship would be delightful for local fans because four Massachusetts women made match play – Johnson, Buck, Curtin, and Tara Joy-Connelly. In fact, Johnson ousted Curtin in the Round of 64 and Joy-Connelly in the Round of 16.

Eventual champ Blakesly Brock eliminated Buck in the Round of 32 and Johnson in the semifinals.

Stroke-play competition will be held Saturday and Sunday, after which the field will be trimmed to the low 64 for match play.

Golf voices: Keith Stewart tees it up

He’s a man with many moving parts – club professional, teaching professional, president of “Read the Line” which is a website devoted to analytics to improve your game – and former Holy Cross golfer Keith Stewart also does a weekly radio show for ESPN 920. Here’s a link to a recent show in which we tackled numerous topics: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-rmarx-12bcb32?utm_campaign=w_share_ep&utm_medium=dlink&utm_source=w_share