The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Parziale, caddie looked a lot alike
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Leaning on his club, Matt Parziale crossed one leg over the other and placed the free hand on his hip. His caddie mirrored his position and used Parziale’s bag as his source of support. The two looked almost identical, just one older than the other. Being related will do that. Parziale’s dad, Vic Parziale, has been with his son throughout his entire U.S. Open journey, starting Monday and ending Father’s Day. Matt finished 5 over par Sunday to tie for low amateur at 16 over for the tournament.
“We do stand alike out there,” Vic said. “It’s funny.”
Said Matt: “I don’t like it, but that’s how life goes.”
He’s kidding. The idea of turning into his dad doesn’t scare him.
“He’s the best guy I know,” Matt said. “If I can be half that good, I’ll be doing all right.”
It’s a classic ‘like father, like son’ relationship.
Matt, 31, is a full-time firefighter in Brockton, Mass. Vic retired from the same station last year after 32 years. The two, obviously, also share a love for golf.
“He stinks now,” Matt said. “I’d have to play pretty bad to let him win. He used to be much better than he is now.”
Matt says he was 14 the first time he beat his dad. Vic says his son was 15. Either way, once Matt beat Vic’s 73 by a stroke as a teenager, it was game over. Vic never beat his son again.
“Golf skipped a generation for sure,” Vic said. “Because I don’t play like him.”
As the first mid-amateur to make a cut at the U.S. Open in 15 years, Matt’s second round was his best, carding a 73 with a birdie on No. 18 that guaranteed him a spot in the final rounds. On the last day, Matt shot a 75 to end up at 296, the same mark fellow amateur Luis Gagne scored. Will Grimmer was the only other amateur to make the cut, and he finished 23 over at 303. The tournament started with 20 amateurs.
This was Matt’s first U.S. Open. He played at the Masters earlier this year, but did not advance after two rounds.
Fowler plays low round: The USGA pledged to ease off the severe conditions at Shinnecock Hills. Rickie Fowler responded, tapping in for birdie on the 18th hole for a 5-under 65 Sunday. If nothing else, he wins most improved. Fowler was 19 shots better than his 84 in the third round, the highest score in his U.S. Open career.
Fowler played with Phil Mickelson, who shot a 69 in his 27th U.S. Open without winning. That included a par on the 13th hole, where on Saturday he swatted a moving ball to keep it from rolling off the front of the green. Mickelson was given a twoshot penalty and made a 10 on the hole. SUNDAY, JUNE 17 Cash 3 Midday: 6-9-9 Cash 3 Evening: 7-3-6 Cash 3 Night:
3-9-2 (Saturday)
Cash 4 Midday: 4-8-2-3 Cash 4 Evening: 8-4-3-1 Cash 4 Night:
9-0-9-0 (Saturday) Georgia Five Midday: 6-0-0-3-0
Georgia Five Evening: 9-3-0-8-9
Fantasy 5: 14-22-25-2838 (Saturday)
Power Ball: 9-45-57-58-65 Powerball 9
Power Play 2X (Saturday)