Oppenheim:

Mass. appeal

He adds Open title

to stately resume

By Justin A. Rice Globe Correspondent / June 25, 2009

BELMONT - A staple on the Canadian Tour, Rob Oppenheim isn’t used to winning in front of friends and family, or even playing in front of them, for that matter.

	Discuss
	COMMENTS (0)

The 2002 Massachusetts Amateur champion from Andover, who now lives in Orlando, Fla., usually tenses up with loved ones in attendance. Especially at the Massachusetts Open, where he was 11th in 2006 and 13th in 2005.

Oppenheim changed that this week. With his father Jim walking all 54 holes at Belmont Country Club and his brother Kenny caddying for him in yesterday’s final round, Oppenheim became the fifth player in the event’s 100-year history to win both the state’s Amateur and Open crowns. Francis Ouimet, Jesse Guilford, Charles Volpone, and Kevin Johnson also hold that distinction.

“To win an event like this with family and friends here is really nice,’’ Oppenheim said. “Normally, when you play in Canada or in Mexico, you just have your golfing buddies around. It’s nice to have my good friends and family here and I’m looking forward to having fun tonight.’’

The 1998 Globe All-Scholastic took a two-stroke lead into yesterday’s final round, then finished off with a three-day total of 5-under-par 208. The nearest competitors, Benjamin Spitz of The Harmon Club and Jason Parajeckas of Pleasant Valley, fell off the mark, as Oppenheim won by four strokes to take home the trophy and $15,000 prize.

Spitz (70-68-77) and Parajeckas (73-66-76) tied for fourth at 2-over 215.

“It doesn’t console you,’’ Spitz said of his top-5 finish.

Spitz praised fellow amateur Matt Parziale for carding the day’s low score of 68 and finishing in a tie for second with Greg Pieczynski of Kingston, Pa.

Parziale, who plays out of Thorny Lea in Brockton along with his father, entered the day tied for eighth. Parziale’s father, Vic, was his caddie.

“[Dad] doesn’t really read putts; he does if I ask,’’ Parziale said. “It works well. We have a pretty good system.’’

Parziale, a recent Southeastern University graduate who failed to make the cut at last year’s Mass. Open, said he didn’t realize Spitz and Parajeckas fell back until he walked off the 18th green. He had a good idea his score was sound when he birdied the final two holes to finish at 1-under 212.

“This is the first time that I have played well here, which is nice,’’ Parziale said.

Oppenheim posted a 65 Tuesday, the low score of the tournament, which set a modern course record according to club officials. The layout was updated and renovated in 2006.

“[Tuesday] was one of those days that you don’t have very often; that was an exceptional day,’’ Oppenheim said. “The course played longer today and there was the pressure of trying to win this title. It’s not easy if you add those two up but I knew that par was going to be a good score.”

Nevertheless, the Rollins College graduate mustered a 1-over 72 yesterday.

He pulled away with birdies on the 411-yard, par-4 16th and the 501-yard par-5 17th to capture the Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial Trophy.

“That’s a nice feeling,’’ Oppenheim said of winning the state’s open and amateur titles. “I’ve been playing MGA events since junior golf, so to win both is special.’’

© Copyright 2009 Globe Newspaper Company.