Headline: Rob Oppenheim Becomes the 6th Player in MGA History to Win Massachusetts Open & Amateur Championship Titles
Belmont, MA — It's hard to believe that seven years ago, Rob Oppenheim (Orlando, FL) capped off his stellar amateur career by capturing the Massachusetts Amateur Championship down the road at Winchester Country Club. At the time, the Andover-resident had just completed an All-American, four-year career at Rollins College and was looking forward to embarking on a professional career later that summer.
Fast forward in time and Oppenheim finds himself raising another MGA trophy… the prestigious Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial Trophy which is awarded to the winner of the Massachusetts Open Championship. Perhaps just as important, however, is the $15,000 winner's check which goes along with the victory.
"It feels as good any," said Oppenheim, who finished with a four-day total of 5-under par 208 and a four-shot victory. "To win an event like this with family and friends here is really nice. Normally when you play in Canada or in Mexico you just have your golfing buddies around. It's nice to have my good friends and family here and I'm looking forward to having fun tonight."
With his most recent win, Oppenheim becomes only the sixth player in the 100-year history of this event to capture both the Massachusetts Amateur and Massachusetts Open titles. Included in that impressive list of champions are Francis Ouimet, Jesse Guilford, Charles Volpone, Jim Hallet, Kevin Johnson and now Rob Oppenheim.
"After growing up here and playing in MGA events this is very special," said Oppenheim, who had his brother Kenny, 31, serve as his caddie all week.
Following a routine even par 71 on Monday, Oppenheim distanced himself from the 150-player field on Tuesday by firing a tournament-low score of 6-under par 65. According to course officials, that score of 65 set a modern course record for the Belmont layout which was renovated and upgraded in 2006.
"Yesterday was one of those days that you don't have very often; that was an exceptional day," said Oppenheim. "The course played longer today and there was the pressure of trying to win this title. It's not easy if you add those two up but I knew that par was going to be a good score."
With a dedicated group of friends and family following his group through the rainy and cold conditions on Wednesday, Oppenheim battled a soggy Belmont layout and did what he needed to do to preserve his lead and win the title.
"I made the putts that I needed to today which was good," said Oppenheim who drained two key birdie putts on the 501-yard, par 4 16th and 501-yard, par 5 17th holes to seal the victory.
Heading into this tournament, Oppenheim was playing stellar golf. After finishing as medalist at Massachusetts Open Qualifying held at his home course of Indian Ridge Country Club on May 28, Oppenheim fired a medalist score of 8-under par 64 in Clarksburg, Maryland to earn a berth into the Nationwide Tour's Melwood Prince George's County Open. He then returned to Florida where he posted one second and two first-place finishes on the Moonlight Tour, a developmental tour based in Orlando. Through the month of June, Oppenheim enjoyed a scoring average of 68.
Oppenheim will take his newly minted Massachusetts Open Championship trophy on the road as he will be competing in next week's Maine Open before heading north to take part in several Canadian Tour events this summer.
A Family Affair
One very proud member of the Oppenheim clan was father Jim, who walked all 54 holes with his son this week. In fact, Jim and Rob were a victorious team back in 2002 when they captured the Massachusetts Father & Son Championship held at Bass Rocks Golf Course in Gloucester.
"This has been one of his goals for many years," said Jim, who was joined by nearly 50 friends and family at Belmont today. "He is thrilled to have been able to win both the Open and Amateur titles."
Jim makes sure that the public can keep track of Rob's successes as he operates a web site – www.roboppenheimgolf.com – which is dedicated to his son's professional golf career.
The Oppenheim family has been a valued member of the Massachusetts golf community for years. Peter Oppenheim, uncle to Rob and a former MGA Executive Committee member back in the 1990s, passed away at an early age. Following his death, the Massachusetts Father & Son Championship trophy was named in Peter's honor as a result of his contributions to the game of golf in the Bay State.
Amateur Accolades
Considering that the last time an amateur captured this title was back in 1999, it is rare to see an amateur at the top of the leaderboard. Heading into today's event, Ben Spitz (The Harmon Club) was only two shots back of the lead after posting an impressive two-day total of 4-under par 138. Although Spitz, the 2006 Massachusetts Amateur Champion, was unable to post another sub par round this afternoon he still finished in a tie for fourth place and earned valuable MGA Player of the Year points.
The one amateur who stole the show this afternoon was Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea GC), who posted the day's low score of 3-under par 68 and finished in a tie for second place. Parziale entered the final round of play in a tie for 8th place. The recent Southeastern University graduate who turned 22 years old earlier this month, picked a great time to break par for the first time in the event.
"I didn't even know the scores were that high today," said Parziale, who failed to make the cut at last year's Massachusetts Open Championship. "I had a good chance [for birdie] on 17 and again on 18. This is the first time that I have played good here which is nice."
His final round score allowed him to collect a prestigious title – that of low amateur. Although Parziale is considering turning pro later this summer, he will travel to North Carolina next week to take part in the prestigious North & South Championship at Pinehurst and then look to capture the Massachusetts Amateur Championship in July (he finished as runner up in 2008).
Highlights from his round include a tap-in birdie putt on the 565-yard, par 5 9th hole and a 25-foot birdie putt on the 411-yard, par 4 16th hole. Parziale was quick to give credit to his father who carried his bag for all 54 holes this week.
"We have a pretty good system," said Parziale.
If today is any indication of how that team operates, there is no question that Parziale may be looking to book his father as a permanent caddie for the rest of the summer season.
A Free Ticket to the 2010 State Open
The top 24 scorers from today are breathing a sigh of relief as they earned an exemption into the 2010 Massachusetts Open Championship which will be held at Wellesley Country Club. Oppenheim has an even better road as he was granted a 10-year exemption as a result of his victory today.
Hoping For Another Big Break – Justin Peters Eyes a Return in 2010
One player who hopes to return to Massachusetts to vie for this title in future years is Justin Peters (Stuart, FL). The 1998 Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year did not have the performance he had hoped for after finishing with a three-day total of 18-over par 231.
It was a battle from start to finish for the 2003 Big Break champion who rallied from a round-one score of 9-over par 80 with a strong even par 71 on Tuesday to earn a spot in the third round. The final day did not treat him kindly as he posted another 9-over par 80 to cap off his 2009 experience.
"Looking back, I hadn't played in this event since 2001," said Peters, who finished as low amateur on two occasions back in the 1990s. "It's a trophy that I would love to get my name on. I was off to a horrendous start and battled hard to be able to play today."
Although he is unsure of his future plans, Peters hopes to return to the Bay State for the 2010 Massachusetts Open Championship.
"I would love to return here next summer," said Peters, who was able to make the trip this week thanks to a friend who covered his travel expenses. "My goal is to make it to the PGA Tour, but you never know what will happen."
