Mass Open Dominated by Cleveland Golf Tour Stars on Day 1

Zelnik leads at 4-under, Zackheim, Dickinson, and Sisk right on his heels

 June 21^st by Dominic Dastoli

            Sutton, MA-Anyone who has followed The Cleveland Golf Tour this season knows full well how talented these players truly are. Through two events, three course records have been rewritten courtesy of the stellar play of Eli Zackheim in the Atkinson Open and Johnny Bloomfield and then Kyle Gallo in last week’s Vermont National Open. For those who have not witnessed their fine early season play, these Cleveland stars are using this week’s Mass Open-one of the most prestigious events in New England-to showcase their talents.

            The top four players on the first round leaderboard call the Cleveland Golf Tour their home. Noah Zelnik led the way with a solid 4-under par 67 on the challenging Pleasant Valley Country Club. Paul Dickinson and Eli Zackheim are just one shot behind following their opening rounds of 3-under 68 and Geoff Sisk, who must be running on fumes following his 48^th place finish in last week’s U.S. Open, sits one shot back of them after a 2-under par 69.

            Zelnik’s round got off to a quick start as he birdied the 2^nd, 4^th, and 5^th. Bogies at six and seven, however, quickly tempered his early momentum. He quickly got back on track, though, with a birdie at the par four 9^th  to turn in 3-under par 33. Under the watchful eye of caddie and Cleveland Golf director of tour development Andrew Dearborn, Zelnik completed the back nine in 1-under par which included a 75 foot bomb on the par three 16^th hole. “It could have been 64 easy,” said Dearborn.

            Zachheim, who Monday qualified for last week’s Northeast Pennsylvania Classic on the Nationwide Tour, posted four birdies to offset a lone bogey en route to his opening 68. Dickinson, who played on the Nationwide Tour last year, played a bogey free round which was highlighted by a 3-under par 33 on the front nine.

            Despite a hectic three week stretch which has included two wins (Cape Cod Open and the Atkinson Open) local and sectional U.S. Open qualifying, then the four rounds at Shinnecock Hills, Sisk appears to be almost impervious to fatigue. An opening 69 leaves him just two shots back and in solid position to win his fourth Massachusetts Open.

            Remarkably, Cleveland Golf Tour players hold 27 of the top 40 places through round one. Notables include Kyle Gallo, last week’s Vermont National Open Champion, who struggled early but battled back to shoot an even par 71. Corey Harris, Joe Horowitz, Shannon Sykora, and David Schuster also finished the day at even par.

            Defending champion Brian Quinn, who also belongs to the Cleveland Golf Tour, shot a disappointing 4-over par 39 on his first nine but rallied late to post a 2-over 73 as he attempts to become the first player to repeat since Dana Quigley won his third consecutive Mass Open title in 1984 at Wollaston Golf Club.

            The 150 player field continues play tomorrow, with the low 40 and ties or anyone within seven shots of the lead advancing to Wednesday’s final round.