Par for the Course: Despite short season, Maine's tournament schedule among country's most active - Lewiston Sun Journal

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There will be no Maine State Golf Association Play Days during the upcoming week.

Bill Kennedy, Golf Columnist

Because there will be Maine Amateur Championship qualifying at two sites during that week, the Play Days were not scheduled.

June 7, the qualifier will be at Bridgton Highlands, and on June 9, a qualifier is slated for Biddeford-Saco. Three other Maine Am qualifiers are planned, leading up to the actual Maine Amateur Championship July 12-14 at Webhannet.

It has been reported in this column that Maine’s tournament schedule ranks among the most active in the United States. Maine continues to be among the U.S. leaders for the most tournaments held. This is an amazing fact when you consider that Maine also is among the U.S. leaders for the shortest golf seasons.

Weather conditions in The Pine Tree State make it impossible to schedule golf tournaments during the winter months.

Yes, there are days during the winter when the bravest and most avid golfers are on this state’s golf courses. But most of that is in the southern part of Vacationland. And even there, we are not talking about a lot of golf.

And Old Man Winter can deal some harsh blows to the physical condition of Maine golf courses. This past winter left most courses with freeze burns on greens and fairways, with some of that extending into the roughs. That is what happens when courses become wet, and that water turns to ice.

Snow can protect grass from this, but if snow does not fall first, the grass pays a costly price.

Eventually, the green grass will return. In early June, it is too soon for grass to “heal” from its winter wounds.

Be patient with your golf course and its employees, who are doing the best they can to speed up the recovery process from the winter of 2021-22.

*****

The MSGA Mid-Amateur Championship was May 31-June 1 at Waterville Country Club in Oakland. Among 130 players entered, 10 area contestants finished in the top 50.

Will Kannegieser of Minot, and a member at Martindale and Portland, shot 69-74—143 to finish eighth. Former Martindale member Andrew Slattery, now out of Portland, tied for 13th (73-73—146), while two other Martindale members, Brian J. Bilodeau (67-80—147) and Ashley Fifield (74-73—147) tied for 16th.

Jace Pearson of Martindale (73-75—148) tied for 19th, with two Fox Ridge members, Craig Chapman (74-76—150) and Dylan Rodrigue (74-76—150) deadlocked for 26th. Timothy Doyle of Turner Highlands (80-72—152) tied for 34th, Mathew Ouellette of Martindale (75-78—153) was knotted in a tie for 37th, and Rich Gilbride of Point Sebago (81-75—156) finished in a tie for 50th.

*****

Two MSGA Women’s Play Days have been scheduled for June 7 — one at Hermon Meadows, and the other at Val Halla.

Bill Kennedy, a retired New Jersey golf writer and editor now residing on Thompson Lake in Otisfield, is in his 10th season as Sun Journal golf columnist.

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