By LAUREN NEILAN
MIDDLETOWN, Rhode Island – Liam Friedman, PGA of Wollaston GC claimed the top score in the 2025 New England PGA Stroke Play Series opener at Newport National Golf Club on Tuesday, April 22nd. With low visibility and cold winds in the early hours turning into clear skies and higher than average temperatures for early season in the afternoon, the group of 89 Professionals competed over 18 holes and Friedman posted a score of 4-under, 68 to take home the title.
Friedman played outstanding on one of the first outings of the 2025 seasons. His group was the first to tee off, kicking off the Stroke Play Series strong. He started the round with three birdies in a row to move to 3-under early. A couple late bogeys moved him to 1-under on the back nine, but his 4-under total for the day proved to be enough to stay on top of the leaderboard.
Bob Bruso, PGA (Worcester CC) Ed Kirby, PGA (The Aquidneck Club), and Pete Weatherby, PGA (Green Valley CC) tied for second place overall, just one stroke behind Friedman, at 3-under, 69.
Bruso came out of the gates strong with birdies on holes 1 and three. He traded a bogey on four for a birdie on the par-4, 5th hole, and made the turn at 2-under. He finished the day with two more birdies on the back nine and one bogey to level out at 3-under.
Kirby started strong with an incredible eagle on the first hole and made the turn at 1-under. Three more birdies on the back, including one last bid on the par-4 18th hole, secured his share of second place.
Weatherby had a strong opening nine holes, posting four birdies to make the turn at 4-under. After two bogeys on the back nine, he clinched his spot on the scoreboard with one more birdie on the par-4 18th hole.
Brendon Ray, PGA (Point Judith CC), Shawn Warren, PGA (Old Marsh), Nick Hallowell, PGA (The Country Club), and Mark Cunningham, PGA (New England Golf Cars) all tied for fifth place shooting 1-under, 72. Ray carded five birdies on the day, with two final birdies coming on holes 17 and 18 to bring him up the leaderboard. Warren had a clean scorecard with one birdie on the par-5 14th hole. Hallowell had a strong start to the season with four birdies, including three through the opening nine holes of the day. Cunningham posted two birdies and one bogey on the day to join the top of the leaderboard.
The 2024 Stroke Play Series continues with its second installment at Kernwood Country Club on July 7th in Salem, Mass.
<em>New England PGA Stroke Play Series #1
Newport National GC
Middletown, RI
April 22, 2025
Par: 36-36 – 72
INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONAL RESULTS
1 Liam Friedman 33-35–68 -4 $1,475.00
T2 Robert Bruso 34-35–69 -3 $878.33
T2 Ed Kirby 35-34–69 -3 $878.33
T2 Pete Weatherby 32-37–69 -3 $878.33
T5 Brendon Ray 37-34–71 -1 $435.00
T5 Shawn Warren 36-35–71 -1 $435.00
T5 Nick Hallowell 36-35–71 -1 $435.00
T5 Mark Cunningham 36-35–71 -1 $435.00
T9 Sean Barrett 38-34–72 E $292.86
T9 Jeff Martin 38-34–72 E $292.86
T9 Seul-Ki Hawley 38-34–72 E $292.86
T9 Malcolm Oliver 36-36–72 E $292.86
T9 Steven Daly 35-37–72 E $292.86
T9 Peter Ruymann 35-37–72 E $292.86
T9 Kevin Fay 36-36–72 E $292.86
T16 Chan Longfellow 34-39–73 +1 $208.00
T16 Brian Owens 36-37–73 +1 $208.00
T16 Hal Jacobs 35-38–73 +1 $208.00
T16 James Burke 38-35–73 +1 $208.00
T16 Chris Hulme 36-37–73 +1 $208.00
T21 Kyle Puzzo 38-36–74 +2 $175.00
T21 Andrew Stolze 38-36–74 +2 $175.00
T21 Curt Goldsberry 39-35–74 +2 $175.00
T24 John Rainone 37-38–75 +3 $78.75
T24 Thomas Rooney 38-37–75 +3 $78.75
T24 Shawn Scott 38-37–75 +3 $78.75
T24 Jim Clay 36-39–75 +3 $78.75
T28 Eric Barlow 36-40–76 +4
T28 Robert Tramonti 39-37–76 +4
T28 Frank Dully 36-40–76 +4
https://nepga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/nepga25/event/nepga2534/contest/12/leaderboard.htm
(Lauren Neilan, New England PGA Director of Marketing & Communications, posted this report. She can be reached at LNeilan@pgahq.com)
