There could be some magic at the third hole at Ledges Golf Club in South Hadley this week. The short par 3 will be a featured hole during the 43rd Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship, which runs Tuesday and Wednesday.
STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS
Some of the best amateur golfers in the Commonwealth will test their skills at South Hadley’s Ledges Golf Club this week.
The 43rd Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship will be played there Tuesday and Wednesday, as the 36-hole stroke play event features qualified golfers who have an active Mass Golf membership at a public golf course, and also boast a Handicap Index not exceeding 12.0.
The 114-player field will be pared down after Tuesday, as the top 60 players and ties will advance to Wednesday’s final round. Action begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, with players teeing off from the first and 10th holes.
The 6,507-yard (from the tips) par-72 should offer a wide-range of challenges for golfers. The course has grown out its fescue, making for particular difficulties coming home on the par 5 ninth and 18th holes.
The par 4 second hole is rated the most difficult on the course. Measuring in at 448 yards from the tips, the narrow fairway has out-of-bounds on both sides. While golfers may be tempted to play it safe with an iron or hybrid to find the fairway, a lengthy second shot awaits into a precise green.
There are also opportunities to score and attack greens, none more so than the short par 3 third hole. Playing around 100 yards (and often shorter), No. 3 is one of the more unique par 3s in western Massachusetts golf. Depending on pin setup this week, an ace or two could very well be in play for the field.
Cody Miller will be the fan favorite this week, as the South Hadley native will represent Ledges Golf Club as the lone qualifier from the host club. Miller tees off No. 10 at 1:14 p.m. on Tuesday.
A pair of Country Club of Greenfield standouts will represent the club this week.
CCG club champion Andy Lesenski is in the field, and he’ll tee No. 10 on Tuesday at 8:44 a.m.
Ryan Cote will tee off shortly after, as he goes out on No. 1 with an 8:55 a.m. start.
Crumpin-Fox Club’s Mark Waskiewicz is in the afternoon wave, and he’ll tee off No. 1 with a 12:52 p.m. start.
Defending champion Ben Spitz, who won last year’s title in a playoff at Olde Scotland Links in Bridgewater, begins his title defense with a 12:30 p.m. tee time on Tuesday.
It’s the first time that Ledges will host the APL. The course has previously held qualifiers for the event there in 2021, 2019, 2017 and 2004. The club opened in 2001.
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Publish date : 2024-07-29 17:20:10
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