Kirk Hanefeld leads New England PGA Senior Championship

SUTTON, Mass. – Kirk Hanefeld, of Salem Country Club, makes shooting 65 sound simple.

“I just kind of bunted it along, kept it in front of me, hit most fairways and made a bunch of putts,” he explained after his 7-under par performance in the opening round of the New England PGA Senior Championship at Blackstone National GC.

After eight birdies and just one bogey, Hanefeld, a two-time (2015, ‘18) NEPGA Senior Champion, will bring a four-stroke lead into Tuesday’s final round at Blackstone with a chance to add a third Senior Championship to his resume, but said his mindset heading into the final round won’t waver.

“Same thing. Hopefully I putt well again and it will be an easy round. If I don’t putt well it will be harder than it should be,” he said.

One thing that will be different for Hanefeld in Round 2 will be his familiarity with the course. Monday was his first time playing Blackstone National after getting a quick lay of the land on Sunday.

“I rode around late yesterday afternoon just to see where all the holes went, but I hadn’t played, today was the first time. I was going a little blind.”

Steven Hausmann, of Amherst CC, who played with Hanefeld in Round 1, is tied for second at 3-under par after an eagle on the Par-5 18th hole on Monday. 2017 NEPGA Senior Champion John Hickson, of Chequessett Yacht & CC, will join Hanefeld and Hausmann in the final group after shooting a 3-under par 69 to sit in a tie for second with Hausmann. Hickson made four birdies in Round 1 before his lone bogey on the 18th hole.

The 36-hole event will wrap up at Blackstone National on Tuesday. In addition to crowning the Section’s Senior Champion, five Professionals will earn exemptions into the PGA Senior Professional National Championship, which is scheduled for Oct. 15-18, 2020. As a past National Senior PGA Professional Champion (2011), Hanefeld is exempt into the field and will not count among the five who earn exemptions this week.

The New England Senior Championship, which is traditionally played in Vermont, was moved to Blackstone National GC due to COVID-19 restrictions in Vermont.

New England PGA Senior Championship

36 holes, stroke play

1 Kirk Hanefeld, Salem CC: 31-34–65 -7
T2 Steven Hausmann, Amherst CC: 35-34–69 -3
T2 John Hickson, Chequessett Yacht & CC: 33-36–69 -3
4 Frank Dully, Kernwood CC: 33-37–70 -2
5 Robert Tramonti, Triggs Memorial GC: 33-38–71 -1
T6 Scott Johnson, Oakley Country Club: 35-37–72 E
T6 Rick Karbowski, Auburn Driving Range: 37-35–72 E
T6 Ed Kirby, The Aquidneck Club: 37-35–72 E
T6 Jeff Seavey, Goose River: 35-37–72 E
10 Todd Scarafoni, Bass Rocks GC: 33-40–73 +1
T11 Tom Tobey, Sandwich Hollows GC: 38-36–74 +2
T11 Arthur Wilson, George Wright: 36-38–74 +2
T13 Michael Dugas, JW Parks Golf Course: 37-38–75 +3
T13 Greg Farland, Marlborough CC: 35-40–75 +3
T13 John Paesani, Bay Club at Mattapoisett: 35-40–75 +3
T13 Mike Zaranek, Brattleboro CC: 38-37–75 +3
T17 Chris Hulme, Newport National- Orchard: 38-38–76 +4
T17 Cory Mansfield, Derryfield CC: 38-38–76 +4
T17 John O’Connor, Far Corner Golf Course: 36-40–76 +4
T17 Brian Owens, North Kingstown GC: 36-40–76 +4
T17 Michael Powers, Leo J. Martin: 38-38–76 +4
T22 Tom Cavicchi, Harmon: 39-38–77 +5
T22 Shawn Durocher, Cyprian Keyes GC: 38-39–77 +5
T22 John Geraci, McGolf Driving Range: 35-42–77 +5
T22 Dan Gillis, Nabnasset Lake CC: 37-40–77 +5
T22 Paul Parajeckas, Pleasant Valley: 39-38–77 +5
T22 Kevin Wood, Salem CC: 37-40–77 +5

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