Connecticut’s Jeff Hedden fired a 6-under-par
64 in the third round of the New England Amateur
at Metacomet Country Club in Rhode Island, and
then gamely hung on in the fourth round to win
his first NEGA title. He finished with a four-round
score of 13-under-par 267, six strokes ahead of
Georgia Tech star Richy Werenski.
Through the first 36 holes, the 47-year-old
from Old Lyme carried his own bag in 90-de-
gree heat and kept pace with players half his
age. He entered the final day of competition two
strokes back of the leader, but he was not to be
denied this year.
Competing against Werenski and first- and
second-round leader Peter Williamson – two
collegiate standouts – most would have thought
that Hedden, 47, would be the first to wilt under
the hot July sun. That was not the case. It did
help that Hedden enlisted assistance from a
club caddie for the final-round, 36-hole grind.
Hedden exploded out of the gate and quickly
turned the leaderboard upside down. He made
up four strokes in three holes courtesy of a
birdie on the 386-yard, par- 4 first hole, an eagle
on the 472-yard, par- 5 second and a birdie on
the 359-yard, par- 4 third. He made one miscue
on the 180-yard, par- 3 fifth hole, but he more
than made up for that by finishing his morning
round with birdies on the Nos. 8 and 9.
TOP 10 SHUFFLE IN WAGR
Three new American names appeared in the
top 10 of the latest World Amateur Golf Ranking. Southern Amateur champion Harris English climbed to No. 6, James White moved up
eight spots to No. 8 and Daniel Mernicki rose
from No. 15 to No. 9. Patrick Cantlay continues
to hold down the top spot, while Open Championship low amateur Tom Lewis remained at
No. 13.
