New England Golf Journal

It’s too easy a characterization to call the relationship that exists between Massachusetts junior golf and the Georgetown University men’s golf team a “recruiting pipeline.” After all, every recruiting commitment between a high school player and a school is a story unto itself, shaped by unique player achievements and aspirations. Having said that, it’s impossible to ignore several facts.

Brae Burn CC (Newton, Mass.) is ready to host U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship from September 7-12. The last time the USGA came to the historic Donald Ross course was for the 1997 U.S. Women’s Amateur. This will be the eighth USGA Championship at Brae Burn CC. Players like Walter Hagan (1919 U.S. Open) and Bobby Jones (1928 U.S. Amateur) have lifted trophies in Newton. This is the first of two USGA championships at Brae Burn this decade.

You derive no solace from having somehow dodged the worst S-word in golf — shank — because that is a give-up-the-game affliction. As far as slump specifics, some days it is oriented on long-game swing mechanics. Then, before you can get to the range for two large buckets of balls, it seems to morph into the short game. And before long, the mental game is impacted — because your confidence is mush. It can be a downward spiral, a revolving loop to nowhere.

The U.S. Amateur will begin on Aug. 12 at Hazeltine National Golf Club. There will be 312 golfers competing for the Havemeyer Trophy. The last New England golfer to make a run to the finals of the U.S. Amateur was James Driscoll in 2000. The Brookline (Mass.) High School product lost to Jeff Quinney. It took 39 holes to decide that championship, and the match extended into Monday because of weather and daylight. It was the longest match in the tournament’s history.

The U.S. Women's Amateur starts on Monday at Southern Hills CC in Tulsa, Okla. The course has hosted many major championships, including the 2022 PGA Championship won by Justin Thomas. The par-71 course will measure 6,437 yards for the best amateurs in the world. A spot in this championship is tough to come by. Some players are exempt due to their World Amateur Golf Ranking while others earned spots through 18-hole qualifying events.

At a time when New England has been in overdrive in blistering heat, churning out winners of marquee amateur tournaments one after the other, it’s worth stepping back to savor a state amateur happening that was pretty special. The Maine Women’s Amateur Championship, specifically. That a Haylock won the title is no shock; soon-to-be Bates junior Ruby Haylock has been crowned champion two times, after all.

NEWTON – Brilliant symmetry is rarely planned, but when on those occasions it pops haphazardly onto the landscape you can only offer a smile that resonates. The fact that Kerry O'Donnell's son, Jack O'Donnell, was about to nail down victory in the 57th annual Ouimet Memorial Friday afternoon was only half the reason to beam.

Eight players from New England arrived at Oakland Hills in Bloomfield, Mich., for the U.S. Junior Amateur earlier this week. Some were competing in their first USGA event while others had checked this experience off their list already. However, national championships never get old and they always test players both mentally and physically. After 36 holes of stroke play, the top 64 players advance to match play.

His name is bandied about and suddenly it clicks. Andrew DiRamio. Guy who putts one-handed, right? Places his left hand on his left thigh and casually strokes his putter with Ben Crenshaw-like tempo. Beautiful thing to watch. And successful, too. “Comes up in the clutch,” said his frequent four-ball partner, Ryan Whitney of BU and NHL fame.