Parziale revels in the glory
EAST PROVIDENCE — There is no rest for America’s golfing fireman as Matt Parziale arrived at Wannamoisett Country Club ahead of the 57th Northeast Amateur that gets underway today.
Before he started preparing for one of the top amateur tournaments in the country, Parziale took a few minutes to bask in the glow of being the co-low amateur at last week’s U.S. Open.
“It was a lot of fun to compete there. I’m happy I made the cut, was able to play four rounds,” said Parziale, who earned his place at Shinnecock Hills by winning the U.S. Mid-Amateur in October. “I wish I could have played a little better. Each round I had a bad stretch of three or four holes, which was disappointing, but other than that I played pretty solidly.”
After rounds of 74-73-74-75, the final number was a 16over par 296, putting him in a tie for 48th place.
Parziale said that his birdie putt on the 18th hole on Friday is a memory that will stick with him for a long time. It ensured that he would stick around for the weekend, something he was unable to do at the Masters in April.
“To make that to know that you’re going to be able to play Saturday and Sunday, that was a pretty cool moment,” he said.
Parziale felt that Shinnecock Hills provided a difficult layout, but never felt the USGA had the course get away from them, something a number of players complained about Saturday as winds picked up.
“It’s hard, but I don’t think it was unfair though,” he said. “I didn’t hit one shot that I thought was a good shot that ended up in a bad spot.”
Things got strange Saturday afternoon when a frustrated Phil Mickelson chased after a putt that went past the hole and looked like it might roll off the green. While the ball was still moving, Mickelson putt it back up toward the hole, taking a 2-shot penalty. Some felt he should have been disqualified.
Parziale understood the frustration, but didn’t suggest whether Mickelson should have been DQ’d.
“I don’t know what he’s thinking,” Parziale said. “I’m not going to go there.”
While he considers Wannamoisett one of his favorite places to play in New England, success has been hard for him at the Northeast Am.
Coming off the high of being at the U.S. Open and never broken the top 10 in his previous five trips to the Northeast, does Parziale really think he has a chance to win?
“I wouldn’t be playing if I didn’t think so,” he said.