- Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund photo
Frank Vana, Jr. of Marlboro shook off a challenge from Mike Dunham with a two under par 34 on the final nine and hung on for a two under par 70, a two shot victory and his fifth title in the 43rd Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament at Woodland Golf Club on Friday. The 47 year old automobile dealer finished with a one-under par 215 total. The first two rounds were played at The International’s Oaks Course (Wednesday) and Pines Course (Thursday) which played 6,950 and 6,899 yards respectively. The final round is always played at 6,741 yard Woodland Golf Club, Mr. Ouimet’s home course. Vana, a nine time Massachusetts Golf Association Player of the Year, won his previous Ouimet Tournaments in 1998, 2001, 2002, and 2006. The most anyone else has won the Ouimet is twice.
Dunham, of Concord, a 38 year old former NHL goalie who now is Goalie Coach of the NY Islanders, had a two shot lead going into the final round of the prestigious 54 hole amateur invitational. He held the lead through nine with an even par 36, but saw it dissipate when he played the 12th and 13th holes in three over while Vana was two under par. Ryan Riley of Norton, the first round co-leader, finished with a 73 for a 218 total for third place.
Jack Kearney of Elmcrest continued his near flawless golf with a final round 70 for a seven under 209 total and a seven shot victory over Dick King of Hyannis. Kearney, the 1992 Ouimet Memorial champ, became the first to win both Ouimet divisions in his senior amateur debut. Kearney is a Delta airlines pilot. Joe Keller of Oyster Harbors finished third after a final round 71.
Nicole Scola of Winnipaug and Westerly, Rhode Island, a 15 year old who qualified through winning the girl’s division of the Ouimet Junior Tournament, won the women’s division. Scola shot a 75 to win the one round women’s competition by a stroke over Kristin MacDonald of Thomson Country Club and Meredith Kotowski of Kittansett.
View results for Francis Ouimet Memorial
ABOUT THE
Francis Ouimet Memorial
This 54-hole stroke play tournament honors
Francis Ouimet, considered America's First
Golf
Hero and one of the most important figures in
the history of golf. His victory in the 1913
U.S. Open in a stunning playoff upset of
Harry Vardon and Ted Ray is viewed as the
turning point in American Golf. The event, first
played in 1968, one year
after Ouimet's death, is held at
three top Boston-area courses, with the final round
always taking place at the 6,721 yard Woodland Golf
Club (Mr.
Ouimet's home course). The most notable winner to
date is Brad Faxon,
who captured the 1980 event. There are three
divisions: Men, Women, and Senior.
View Complete Tournament Information