Rob Oppenheim
wins Mass Open
by The Republican Sports Desk Wednesday June 24, 2009, 5:48 PM
By JUSTIN A. RICE
BELMONT - On a day when the front-runners fell off the pace, Matt Donovan shot his worst round of the year Wednesday.
That's what makes it most disappointing, he said after carding a 6-over-par 77 to finish the Massachusetts Open with a three-day total of 4-over 217 at Belmont Country Club.
Other than tournament winner Rob Oppenheim, who extended a two-stroke lead coming into the day into a four-stroke victory and took home the $15,000 prize, the rest of the Day 2 leaders also fell off the pace. Benjamin Spitz of The Harmon Club and Jason Parajeckas of Pleasant Valley were in second and third place, respectively, before finishing tied for fourth at 2-over-par 215.
"It was a good day to take advantage and move up, instead I went the other way with everyone else," Donovan said.
The Pittsfield native ended tied for sixth after he led the field after the opening day for the second straight year. Donovan was fourth going into the final round after a 72 Tuesday and a two-day-total of 2-under 140.
He said he finished the day with four three-putts and three birdies.
"I had a couple of good putts early and then I just faded at the end," he said. "I was still hitting good, positive stuff, and then I just didn't execute the shots. I had a couple lose swings."
Western Massachusetts second-highest finisher, Bill Downes of Hampden Country Club, had no reservations about saying he was worn out after three days of play. He finished tied for 11th. Still trying to get back to form after recent back surgery, the 43-year-old put in rounds of 75, 71 and 73 to finish at 6-over 219.
"I'm glad it's over," he said after carding one birdie and three bogeys. "I actually hit better but putted awful."
Nevertheless, Downes was glad to see his body could handle a full tournament. "I love playing golf even when I'm not playing well; hang around make a bunch of pars and still hope to shoot five or six under and move on up sometime," he said.
Adam Rainaud (73, 74, 74-221) of South Hadley was not pleased with his final-day round and three-way tie for 16th. Especially because he had a share of sixth place going into the final round and expected to win.
"I just got off to a bad start again," said the former University of Louisville player, whose home course is The Orchards. "The first three holes were solid and then I ran into a little trouble. I had a triple on four and then a bogey.
"I had two rounds this week with triple bogeys," Rainaud. "On a tough course like this you have to make sure you score no worse than a bogey, grind it out for par, and then there's a couple easy holes you can birdie."
Donovan and Rainaud will play next week's Maine Open while Downes will sit it out.
Oppenheim will also play at Portland, Maine, and, no doubt, be the talk of the town.
The Orlando, Fla., resident became only the fifth player in the event's 100-year history to win both the state Amateur and Open crowns. Shooting a three-day total of 5-under-par 208, the Andover native joins the ranks of Francis Ouimet, Jesse Guilford, Charles Volpone and Kevin Johnson.
"That's a nice feeling," Oppenheim said of winning his home state's open and amateur tournaments. "I've been playing MGA (Massachusetts Golf Association) events since junior golf, so to win both is special."
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