Headline: Richy Werenski Comes of Age ... Again ... at Day One of Massachusetts Open Qualifying in Gardner
For Immediate Release: May 20, 2010
Gardner, MA — While the seasoned professionals – many of whom traveled hundreds of miles to compete – captured center stage by posting the day's low score, one name on the scoreboard was hard to miss.
Over the past decade, golfing enthusiasts have enjoyed the rare opportunity to see one of the state's rising stars grow up here on Bay State courses. And today – under near perfect playing conditions at Gardner Municipal Golf Course – it was yet another coming of age moment for Richy Werenski (The Orchards GC).
Day 1 Quick Links
Werenski, one of 16 competitors who advanced at day one of Massachusetts Open Qualifying held in Gardner, fired a score of 2-under par 69 and earned a spot at Championship Proper scheduled for June 21-23 at Wellesley Country Club. His stellar play will give him a rare opportunity to play for a Massachusetts Open Championship title that has been won by greats such as Walter Hagen, Francis Ouimet, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson, Dana Quigley, Kevin Johnson and Geoff Sisk, to name just a few.
"I didn't know what to expect," said Werenski, who has tried to qualify for this event only once before in 2009. "I played yesterday in the rain and didn't play very well. When I was out there I just tried to stay positive. I made a couple of birdies and tried to keep it together. "
Just 18 years of age, Werenski has already pieced together an impressive playing resume. Following a strong junior amateur career, this past January, Werenski packed his bags and headed to Georgia Tech to take on his next major challenge – college.
"The first couple of months were a big change," said Werenski of his transition. "I have been away at boarding school but this was still a lot different. The school work was the big thing and the (early morning) workouts. You have to really plan out your whole day and time management is the key. That was the biggest thing that I learned."
In addition to mastering the balance between school and sports, Werenski had a chance to meet his teammates and prepare for the rigors of the summer season which will bring him to all parts of the country. This is nothing new for the youngster.
After all, Werenski made the decision two years ago to leave the Bay State and enroll in the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy located in South Carolina. Although the decision was a difficult one for both Werenski and his close-knit family (his father Mike and mother Sue travel with him to nearly all events and his younger brother Mickey is an outstanding junior golfer), the hard work and sacrifice paid off as the youngster excelled in the competitive environment.
In 2009, Werenski posted nine top-10 finishes and 14 rounds in the 60's at Hank Haney IJGA, qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship and finished tied for 5th place at the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Footjoy Invitational. As a result of his outstanding play, Werenski was named to the Rolex Junior All-American Team and was awarded a full scholarship to Georgia Tech. Although he began his studies in Atlanta this past June, Werenski will suit up for the Buzz next fall.
"In the last year, I have been focusing on my short game, pitching and putting... and my feel has gotten so good around the greens," said Werenski. "It's not where I want it to be, but compared to last year the change has been amazing. I have also been working hard on my attitude and talking nicer to myself. I am hard on myself and I'm a perfectionist. That's not very good for golf."
On this day, Werenski no doubt made Georgia Tech Head Coach Bruce Heppler proud when he fired a 2-under par 69 to finish as the low amateur. The youngster, who when not golfing can be found listening to country music, fishing, snowboarding and even off-roading, began his round by firing three birdies (on the 2nd, 3rd and 5th holes) to find himself 3-under par through five holes. Two birdies and three bogies later, Werenski was heading home with a smile after successfully earning at spot at Championship Proper.
"I really wanted to get into this one," said Werenski. "The tough part about a one-day qualifier is getting in. You can have a bad day and miss by one. The (Championship) is three days so you can see what happens. Now I am just excited to go out there and play."
Look for another coming of age moment next month when Werenski takes on the best-of-best at the 2010 Massachusetts Open Championship.
Qualifying News & Notables
Finishing as co-medalists at Gardner Municipal Golf Course were two seasoned traveling professionals. Both Jeff Castle (Baltimore, MD) and Mike Larkin (Gibsonia, PA) carded scores of 5-under par 66 to lead the field of qualifiers. Castle, a Hampstead (NH) native and Pinkerton Academy graduate, was 6-under par through 17 holes before making his only bogey on the 380-yard, par 4 18th hole. Although not a household name in Massachusetts, Castle relocated from New England to Maryland in 2002 and was a two-time Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year while a student athlete at Towson University.
Larkin, also a former Towson University standout (he was the CAA's Scholar-Athlete of the Year for golf in 2004 and 2005), has served as an assistant golf professional at Ridgeway Country Club (NY) while also competing on several tours such as The Gateway Tour, The Hooters Tour, and The Minor League Golf Tour. Perhaps his claim to fame, however, is the fact that Larkin – soon after his graduation from Towson – played in the same pairing with Michelle Wie at a 2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links Qualifier held at Cedarbrook Golf Course (PA). Wie went on to become the first woman to qualify for a men's USGA Championship event.
Although he finished as second alternate, Chad Bouchard (Fitchburg, MA) made his professional debut at an MGA event today. As many may recall, last July Bouchard advanced to the quarterfinals of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship during what proved to be his final summer as an amateur competitor.
2010 Massachusetts Open Qualifying
Gardner Municipal Golf Course (Gardner, MA)
May 20, 2010
Par 71 (35-36)
Qualifiers
T1) Jeff Castle (Baltimore, MD) 32-34—66
T1) Mike Larkin (Gibsonia, PA) 33-33—66
3)
Jerry Courville (Westport, CT) 31-36—67
4)
Eric Higgins (Kennebunk, ME) 31-37—68
5) Richy Werenski (a) (The Orchards GC) 33-36—69
T6)
Chelso Barrett (a) (Winchendon School CC) 36-34—70
T6)
Brad Wheatley (Cape Cod National GC) 35-35—70
T8)
Derick Fors (Townsend Ridge CC) 35-36—71
T8)
Brian Bergstol (Mount Bethel, PA) 34-37—71
T8)
Rich Berberian, Jr. (Derry, NH) 33-38—71
T8)
Brian Mackey (Chestnut Ridge, NY) 36-35—71
T12)
Kevin Murphy (Haverhill, MA) 35-37—72
T12) a-Rob Corcoran (Jensen Beach, FL) 34-38—72
T12)
Thomas Giles (Stow Acres CC) 36-36—72
T12)
Ryan Furey (a) (Merrimack Valley GC) 34-38—72
T12)
Matt Torrance (East Lyme, CT) 37-35—72
Alternates
1st) Nick Crovetti (Wakefield, MA) 37-36—73
2nd) Chad Bouchard (Fitchburg, MA) 35-39—74
