Competition tough

at Mass Am

Monday July 13, 2009, 9:10 PM

By JUSTIN A. RICE

BROOKLINE - Even though Richy Werenski failed to qualify for this year's Massachusetts Amateur Championship, the 17-year-old South Hadley native just about bent over backwards to be his younger brother Mickey's caddie in the tournament Monday at The Country Club in Brookline.

After completing a weekend tournament in South Carolina, where he attends the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy, Richy and his father drove 18 hours overnight and arrived in Brookline about two hours before Mickey's 7:30 a.m. tee time.

Because of a snafu with their flight, their only alternative was to pay $900 a ticket to fly back.

He wouldn't miss this for anything, the boys' father Mike Werenski said after Mickey shot a 6-over 77 and his brother went back to the hotel for a nap. He was dead tired, but there was no way he was going to miss it, even though he was lying down on every bench he saw.

Mickey, 15, who will also attend the Haney Academy in the fall, said even though he qualified for the 101st Mass Am and his brother didn't, he knew better than to brag.

"I didn't try," said Mickey, who plays out of Orchards Golf Club and is in a 10-way tie for 32nd going into today's second round. "I'd get beat up, so I shut up."

Taylor Fontaine of Pleasant Valley Country Club and Brian Higgins of Franklin Country Club paced the pack, each shooting 2-under 69. Ron Laverdiere of Crumpin-Fox Club is in a two-way tie for fourth going into Tuesday's second day of stroke play after shooting an even 71 Monday.

Bobby Loguidice of Franconia Golf Club finished tied for 12th with a 4-over 75.

Match play begins Wednesday and concludes Friday.

Andy Drohen of Crestview Country Club and Jack Kearney of Elmcrest Country Club are also both tied for 32nd.

"I just have to hang in there. It was not a great (round) but it was not awful," Kearney said. "I made a bunch of bogeys, but no birdies. Depending on how the scores are, if I have a good round (today), I'll be all right."

Monday's scores were high all around because the field played on The Country Club's famed Championship Course, best known for its use at the 1999 Ryder Cup and three U.S. Opens. The green on the par-4 17th hole was set up the exact same way as when Justin Leonard made a 45-foot putt for birdie to give the United States its historic Ryder Cup win.

Kearney, who has played every Mass Am since 1991, including the Championship Course at The Country Club in 2003, didn't feel like he had an advantage.

"It's hard to get an edge in golf," he said. "Unless you cheat. That's the only way to get an edge in golf. It was a little disappointing finish but I'll put it behind me and be ready to play."

Chris Burke of Wyckoff CC and Jim Hosey of The Orchards Golf Club both tied for 42nd after shooting a 7-over 78.

Guy Antonacci of Elmcrest CC and Mike Slosek of Wahconah CC was tied for 56th after shooting 79s. Derek Hoy of Hampden CC shot an 80 and is tied for 66th along with Robert Linn of Berkshire Hills CC. Pat Pio of Longmeadow CC shot an 81 and is tied for 84th.

Nick Prokora of Crestview CC shot an 82 and is in 102nd place along with Paul Buttafuoco of Elmcrest and Tom Bergeron of Crumpin-Fox.

Ralph Strolis of The Orchards is in 127th after shooting an 85, and Berkshire Hills' John Dahrouge is in 134th after shooting an 88.