Matt Fry, a Bel Air native, now working on his golf game in Florida, led the way through the fourth and final qualifying session for the Amateur and Open Championships. The qualifier was held at Hog Neck Golf Course in Easton on May 23 and the course was played at 6,738 yards. The professional posted a 3-under-par 69, the only one in the 78-player field to finish with a red number, using three back-nine birdies to ease the journey.
Jay Newcomb, from Odenton, topped the Amateur list and was the only one to equal par, as he returned a 72. An early rain ceased about mid-morning, but returned in the late afternoon severe enough to cause a 55-minute suspension of play.
With 15 spots available for each event, 17 players at 79 and better advanced in the Amateur and 16 players at 76 and better made it to the Open
Fry, 23, a Towson University graduate, finished the front nine even with one birdie and one bogey. He then birdied holes 13, 14 and 18, all from between 15 and 30 feet to wrap up the round.
Newcomb, 19, birdied the two 500-yard-plus par 5’s on the front, helped by a 35-foot putt at the fourth, then survived a less-routine tour on the back. A bogey-birdie-bogey rut got the rising Coastal Carolina University sophomore sidetracked but he recovered enough to get home in 34-38 against a par of 36-36.
Only five amateurs bettered 76, with Newcomb trailed by John Brundred, of Potomac and Congressional Country Club, who had 15 pars in getting to 73. Pros closest to Fry were Ricky Touma, Burning Tree Club and Charlie Winegardner, Old South CC, also with 73’s.
The Amateur will be played June 9-12 at the Elkridge Club in Baltimore, and the Open will be July 11-13 at Bulle Rock GC.
Reported by John Stewart
