PLYMOUTH, Mass – One-hundred fifty-nine of the best amateurs throughout New England came to “America’s Hometown” with one goal – win the prestigious title of Hornblower Memorial champion, now in its 60th edition. And, after two days, 36 holes and perfect weather at the Donald Ross designed Plymouth Country Club, Jake Shuman, of Blue Hill Country Club, fired rounds of 67-65-132 for a 6-under par total, to edge Adam Friedman, of Sterling Farms CC, by two shots, to claim his first major amateur victory in a long time.
Jake Shuman blistered the par 69 Plymouth CC course with a 4-under par 65 in the final round that included a spectacular eagle 2 on the par 4 fourteenth, racing past the five leaders who shot 65 in Round 1. Adam Friedman combined two 67’s on the sloping, well-manicured layout to claim second place. Eli Spaulding, a youthful 18 years old and one of Friday’s leaders, could only manage a 3-over 72 to finish T-9, but he earned the Hornblower Junior Championship award.
Another beautiful golf day of sun, warmth, and limited wind graced the 62 golfers who made the cutline at 3-over 72, but the benign Donald Ross course of Friday had dried-out greens on Saturday that offered a less friendly atmosphere to 11 of the 14 sub-par shooters and tournament favorites and to nine of the 11 who shot even-par 69.
Jake Shuman, 28, a Needham native and a Duke alum, who describes himself now as a “working stiff” after “dreaming the dream” of professional golf for two years after graduating in 2018, has found his career in wealth management and financial planning. His past organizational skills were somewhat predictable today, included an unexpected windfall, and, ultimately, were quite profitable.
“This is my fourth time playing in the Hornblower, and I have learned how quick and easy it is to make a double bogey here by going too long on the green or by missing the green entirely,” said a happy Shuman about his round. “So, I spent much of the day hitting the ball to the fatter parts of the greens, keeping the hole in front of me, and letting my putter pick up the slack. I only had one bogey on 12 with a sloppy second shot, and I only had one bogey yesterday, that one on 11 with a three putt. Consistency paved the way for me, for sure.”
“Yes, my round had a little magic today with a wedge shot on 14 that happened to find the hole for an eagle. Then I had a long putt on 17 that I was just trying to get close for a two putt, and that ball just happened to find the hole, too. The rest of my round was very consistent, not boring, but consistent. I had a positive mindset this morning, knowing that I was only two shots back and knowing that anything could happen to the leaders. I told my fiancé last night, who asked if I had a chance today, that my goal was to shoot 65 and hope.”
Only Shuman, Friedman, and John Broderick, of Dedham Country and Polo Club, who added a 68 to his 67 to finish T-3, coupled two under-par rounds. Only Weston Jones, of Charter Oak CC, 69-66, and Matt Williams, of Boston GC, 69-67 could match or better their Friday score.
Adam Friedman, who graduated from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, explained the key to his elevated finish.
“I stayed resilient after I missed a bunch of putts throughout the front nine,” he said after the awards ceremony. “I just told myself to stay patient and to trust my pre-shot routine and swing process, and those thoughts worked out. I went to a golf academy in Orlando for three years called The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy but is now called the IJGA. That philosophy and training built the foundation for me as a golfer, and I would not be where I am today without that experience.”
Weston Jones, a graduate of Lincoln Sudbury High School and who will be a senior at Rutgers, was delighted with his 66 and with his participation in the Hornblower.
“I actually followed my game plan, which was to play smart golf from tee to green,” he explained. “The course was playing much tougher today. I was leaving my putts in the right spots the entire round, although I missed several short ones early but made up for them with nice putts on 17 and 18. It was a steady round. This is the perfect tournament to start the summer off and to get ready for the following competitions because Mike Roy and his staff do such a good job here.”
Sharing third at 135 with Broderick was one of the first-round leaders, Jake Ratti, of Wollaston CC, who managed a 70 to go with his 65 and Jones, who improved his even-par 69 by three on Saturday. Tied for sixth were Matthew Quinn, of Worcester CC, at 70-66, and Williams, at 69-67, and Michael Walsh, of Burlington CC, who started the day alone in sixth, at 66-70. The final two in the top 10 included Spaulding, 65-72, and Jack O’Donnell, of Boston GC, 67-70.
Jake Ratti played in the final group of the day after his 65 on Friday. He was four over at 38 on the front but responded with a three-under 32 on the back.
“My round went downhill immediately with a four putt on two for a double, and then I missed a short birdie putt on three to rebound,” Ratti said recounting his round. “I bogeyed both six and eight with errant tee shots and missed every birdie chance I had from nine through 14. I had a total of five lip outs today. Outside of my two bad tee shots, I hit the ball great. Finally, I knocked in three birdie putts in a row on 15-16-17 and just missed the fourth on 18. It was still a positive experience for me, I enjoy this tournament, and I did have a lot of fun. I am getting prepared for more tournaments this summer, including qualifying for the Mass Am at Blue Hill this Tuesday and the US Am at my home course Wollaston.”
Five honorable mentions are necessary. The second best shot of the day after Shuman’s wedge into the 14th hole for a trophy-winning eagle was the 8-iron Jesse Zorfas (71-75), of Framingham CC, hit into the hole on the par-3 eighth. Other under par rounds on Saturday included these four players: Mike Rothberg, of Mill River CC, (70-68, T11), Nick Maccario, of Great Horse, T3 in 2023, (72-66, T11), Billy Walthouse, of Great Horse, (71-68, T14), and Matt Parziale, of Thorny Lea, 2007 & 2018 champion, (71-68, T14).
The 60th Hornblower Memorial has another first-time champion – Jake Shuman – and a bunch of great memories for the 159 players. Now, we can all rejoice after a long winter because the New England summer golf season has officially started.
https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/4819408
(PHOTOS: VICKY MACKAY)
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