Bear Hill Golf Club in Stoneham is one of the most underrated, fun, challenging courses in New England. Yes, it’s a private club. Yes, it’s only 9 holes. But when Bear Hill hosts a qualifier for Mass Golf’s Super Senior Amateur Championship on Aug. 8, you can expect participants to sing its praises.. Established in 1900 and designed by renowned architect Alex Findlay, the course plays to a par 71, 6368 yards from the back tees for 18-holers. (It has a 72 rating/133 slope). The director of grounds, Kevin Richardson, and his crew have revitalized tee boxes, green and bunker complexes throughout the course. An interesting note: Richardson is the younger brother of Essex County Club’s grounds superintendent Eric Richardson. Eric from Essex gets a lot of “ink“ for his talents, but Kevin, like Bear Hill, is underrated. Aren’t we fortunate that two brothers who were raised in California settled thousands of miles away on a different coast and are recognized for their accomplishments as golf course superintendents on the North Shore.
Frank Dully, Kernwood Country Club’s golf professional for the past 33 years, 27 as head pro, came oh-so-close to qualifying for the 2025 US Senior Open Championship, which was to be held at The Broadmore in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 26-29.
At Longmeadow Country Club on April 28, Dully led all Massachusetts players shooting a 2-over 72 to advance to Sectional Qualifying. Dully stood at 3-over through the front nine, but added three birdies on the back, including the 15th and 17th holes, to give himself plenty of cushion to advance. Dully has earned alternate status multiple times in what was previously Sectional Qualifying, including in 2017 when the championship proper was held at Salem Country Club.
Final qualifying took place at 12 sites nationwide between May 19 and June 12. Accompanied by his son Sean, who caddied for him, Dully traveled to North Carolina where his journey ended with a 76 at the River Landing Golf Club outside Raleigh. Dully competed with ex-touring pros and current Champions Tour players age 50 and older for a coveted spot in the tournament.
Dully has been recognized twice as the Massachusetts PGA Golf Professional of the Year ( 2012 and 2018 ), and he was inducted into the NEPGA Hall of Fame in 2023. Recently, Duffy was inducted into his high school hall of fame, at Fairfield Prep in Connecticut. Frank led Fairfield to two Connecticut state championships before playing and captaining the Holy Cross team, where he won a New England Division 1 individual championship.
Under Frank’s tutelage and supervision, Kernwood has produced numerous players who have had success at many North Shore high schools and have advanced to success at many colleges and within the golf industry. Currently, Christian Emmerich, who learned the game at Kernwood in Dully’s program, advanced to Final Qualifying for the 2025 US Open. His brother Aidan Emmerich was a top-10 finisher in the recent Massachusetts Open Championship.
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan will step down at the end of 2026, concluding a decade-long tenure at the Tour’s helm. Born and raised in Belmont, the 55-year-old executive was introduced to the game at Winchester CC, where his family has been members for many years. Monahan, took the reins in January 2017, succeeding Tim Finchem. Brian Rolapp, a former NFL executive, will succeed Monahan.
Salem Country Club held its 97th annual Invitational Fourball the weekend of June 20. Greg Badger and his son Nate Badger won the championship. First flight champs are Nicholas Velonis and Nicholas Velonis Jr. Second flight champs are Justin Cecil and George Morfis. Third flight champs are John DePamphilis and John DePamphilis Jr. … Winners in Bass Rocks Golf Club’s opening day bramble tournament were Michael Garvey, Lisa Bonneville, Rick Drake & Jim O’Grady (gross) and Tony Ciccone, Elizabeth Coz, Steve Lamson & John Veneziano (net).
Ipswich Country Club hosts Cape Ann Golf Day, Monday July 14. For details: Alicia.Cucinelli@invitedclubs.com … Far Corner will hold 2-day Junior Golf programs every Tuesday and Wednesday through August 19-20. For details, call 978-352-8300. … The Haverhill Chamber of Commerce honored Bradford Country Club as its April Business of the Month.
Rowley Country Club has been the site of two early-season holes-in-one. Nicole Blum aced hole #7 on June 19. She hit an 8 iron on the 135-yard hole. Playing partners Debbie Joyce, Ann Marie Sabatula and Kathleen O’Connell helped her celebrate. Three days later, Jimmy Manning aced the uphill hole #2, using a 6 iron. … At Meadow Brook on June 19, Loretta Comeau had her second career ace, on the 7th hole in the Women’s Member-Guest.
Mass Golf tournament results
At the 75th Women’s Stroke Play Championship for the Baker Cup June 9-10 at the Wianno Club, Danielle Lee of Renaissance GC shot 84-79 and finished T7 in the championship division, while Irene Haley of Ferncroft CC shot 82-84 and finished T3 in the tournament division. Kym Pappathanasi of Renaissance GC shot 88-80 and finished T6. Other top finishers in the tournament division included Haverhill CC’s Kim Grady (8th, 170); Barb Hecimovich, Beverly G&T (9th, 172); Connie Hayden, Sagamore Spring GC (12th, 174); Jenny Ceppi, Salem CC (18th, 178); Marianne Doane, Bass Rocks GC (19th, 179); Diane Carter, Salem CC (T20, 180) and Donna Deliso, Sagamore Spring GC (T32, 188). Doane (3rd, 145), Haley (4th, 146) and Hayden (5th, 147) finished top-10 in the net division.
The Curtis Bowl was held at The Ridge Club in Sandwich on June 2. Kim Grady (Haverhill CC) and Kay Cowerthwait (Orchards GC) shot 95 and finished 10th. Madge Peters (Sagamore Spring GC) and Janet Kim (Thomson CC) shot 103 and finished 18th. Other North Shore players who competed included Lynda Brandi and Patricia Granger, Bellevue GC (T20, 107); Jayne Patrikas and Kay Green, Salem CC (T22, 109) and Kathy Moore, Sagamore Spring GC and Beth Flanagan, Andover CC (T27, 122). In the net division, Brandi and Granger finished 8th (77), Rebecca Shore and Deborah Kelaher of Salem CC finished 12th with a 79 and Patrikas/Green finished 15th with an 82.
The 102nd Mixed Four-Ball Championship for the Stone Cup was held at Renaissance GC on June 2. Morgan Smith (Mount Pleasant GC) and Phil Smith shot 5-under 67 and finished T3, four shots behind winners Matt Parziale and Shannon Johnson (Thorny Lea GC). Jeffrey Weishaar and Danielle Lee (Renaissance GC) finished T7 with a 69. Other top finishers included Mike McLaughlin (Salem CC) and Sarah McMurdy (Weathervane GC) finished T12, 71; Sean Winchell and Ann Dawson (Gannon GC), and Debbie and Jack Nicolas (Kernwood CC) finished T22, 74); John and Samantha Sirois (Haverhill CC) finished T29, 75; Phil Miceli and Connie Hayton (Sagamore Spring GC) finished T38, 77; James and Diane O’Neill (Haverhill CC) finished T42, 78; Timothy Locke Vesper (CC) and Mary Snow (Winchester CC) finished T45, 79; Jay and Jane Fiste (Gannon GC) finished T45, 79; and Sean Gildea (Bass Rocks GC) and Beth Gutteridge (Northern Spy CC) finished T52, 80. Sirois/Sirois and Nicolas/Nicolas finished T4 in the net division with 67.
The 121st Griscom Cup matches were held May 27-28 at Cape Cod National GC. An annual competition between the Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia, the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association (NY), and Mass Golf (formerly the Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts and Women’s Golf Association of Boston), the matches feature one day of four-ball play and a final day of individual head-to-heard Nassau-style match play. Molly Smith (Westford) finished with 6 ½ points out of 12 possible, helping Mass Golf win the team title with 41 points.Modeled after and played simultaneously with the Griscom Cup matches, the 3rd annual Senior Matches featured seven individual matches.Danielle Lee (Renaissance GC), playing in the No. 7 slot, won three of six possible points, helping the Mass Golf team to a second place finish behind Philadelphia.
The 28th Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship was held May 20-21 at Veterans Memorial GC and Ludlow CC. Ed Whelan and Jeff Fisher (Bear Hill GC in Stoneham) shot 4-under 140 and finished T8. Kevin Daly and Greg Badger (Salem CC) shot 141 and finished T16. Other top finishers included Tim Nickerson (Myopia Hunt Club) and Jim Whitney (Beverly G&TC) finished T21, 142); Ciaran Hynes and Robert Schmeck (Kernwood CC) finished T34, 144; Cy Kilgore (Tedesco CC) and Bill Jenks (Brae Burn CC) finished T34, 144; Charles and Kevin Johnson (Meadow Brook GC) finished T42, 146; John Carroll (Indian Ridge) and Steve Foley (Andover CC) finished T56, 147; Brian O’Hanley and Dom Petruzzelli (Thomson CC) finished T56, 147; Michael Williams and Jeffrey Booth (Salem CC) finished T107, 151; Pat and Jim Scanlon (Wenham CC) finished T107, 151; John Dias and Fran Sullivan (North Andover CC) finished T107, 151; David Scholnick and Jeff McCowan (Beverly G&T) finished T107, 151; Matt Theriault and Steve Paccone (Bass Rocks GC) finished T123, 153; Bill Bieren and Peter Divincenzo (Indian Ridge CC) finished T127, 154; and Peter Cunningham and Joseph Sullivan (The Meadow at Peabody) finished T127, 154. Bruce Carter (Green Hill Municipal GC) and Colin Ahern (Indian Ridge CC) shot 142 and finished T5 In the Super Senior Division for players 65 years and older. James O’Neill and Jim Trainor (Haverhill CC) tied for 15th with 149. Pat and Jim Scanlon (Wenham CC) shot 151 and finished 20th.
At the 44th Four-Ball Championship May 13-14 at Marlborough CC and Shaker Hills CC, Christian Jensen of Sagamore Spring GC and Mike Roulic of Granite Links GC rallied on the final day with a tournament-best 65 and shot 9-under 134 to finish in a tie for runnerup with Mark Turner and Colby Mitchell of Bass Rocks, one shot behind Ben Knott and Ben Balter of Weston CC. Michael Malley and Nick Leary of Ferncroft CC and Christian and Aidan Emmerich of Kernwood CC shot 137 and finished T9. Other local teams: Stephen Quillinan and Jeffrey Weishaar (Renaissance CC) finished T26, 140; Matthew Lucy (Bradford CC) and Joe Phinney (North Andover CC) finished T48, 142; Brad and Roger Tufts (Tedesco CC) finished T57, 143; Evan and Miles Buddenhagen, (Essex County Club) finished T57, 143; Phil Miceli and George DeRoche (Sagamore Spring GC) finished T77, 145; David Barker (Far Corner GC) and Ernie Lupi (Haverhill CC) finished T77, 145; Paul and Phil Burke (Indian Ridge CC) finished T77, 145; Brendan Zinck and Patrick Cotter (Mount Hood GC) finished T77, 145; Aidan and Brendan Monahan (Winchester CC) finished T92, 146; Chris Price and Eusebio Carrasco (Thomson CC) finished T103, 147; and Kevin Dyer (Bass Rocks GC) and Dustin Dube (Beverly G&TC) finished T114, 148.
At the Cris Eaton Chapman Scotch May 12 at Fall River CC, Betsy Masse and Teri Burtoft (Renaissance GC) shot 7-over 79 and placed 4th in division 1. Mary O’Neill (Beverly G&TC) and Kym Pappathanasi (Renaissance GC) and Julia Velonis and Diane Carter (Salem CC) shot 83 and finished T7. Other top finishers included Amy Leveroni (Tedesco CC) and Diane O’Neill (Haverhill G&CC) finished T12, 87; Martha Smealie and Katherine Shoemaker (Essex County Club) finished T13, 88); Donna Deliso and Connie Hayton (Sagamore Spring GC) finished T17, 90; Marcia Veale (Wenham CC) and Carmen Madore (Beverly G&TC) finished T18, 91; Michelle Mathers and Cheryl Murtagh (Ipswich CC) finished T21, 95; and Heather Waters and Jen Rocha (Ipswich CC) finished T21, 95. In Division 2, Gail Bryson and Filomena Suarez (Ferncroft CC) shot 104 and finished T7.
USGA results
The USGA held local qualifying for the Junior Amateur and Girls Junior Amateur June 16 at The Ledges GC in South Hadley. AJ Bodnar (Andover) punched his ticket to the tournament proper at Trinity Forest GC in Dallas, Texas, July 21-26 with a 4-under 68. On the girls side, Maddie Smith (Westford) shot a 2-over 74 and secured first alternate status on the third hole of a playoff. Abby Zhu (Andover) missed the cut with a 78. The girls national championship will be played at the Atlanta Athletic Club July 15-20.
At Blue Hill CC in Canton, brothers Aidan and Christian Emmerich (Kernwood CC) were two of nine players securing spots in the July 29 final qualifier at Wellesley CC for the 2025 US Junior Amateur. Aidan shot 4-under 68 and tied for medalist honors, while Christian tied for 7th with a 70. Marblehead’s Hunter Stone (72) and Brendan Zinck of Melrose (76) missed the cut. The championship proper will be held at The Olympic Club in San Francisco Aug. 11-17.
Christian Emmerich (Kernwood CC) came up short in his quest to play in the 2025 US Open at Oakmont CC, which was won in dramatic fashion by JJ Spahn, the only player to finish under par. Emmerich made it through local qualifying May 7 at GreatHorse in Hamden with a 1-under 71, prevailing in a five-for three playoff with a par on the first playoff hole. Kernwood’s Frank Dully II missed the cut with a 75. Unfortunately, Emmerich came up short in the final qualifier at Canoe Brook CC in Summit NJ with a 36-hole score of 151.
Salem CC hosted a US Women’s Open qualifier on May 5. Maddie Smith and professional Alison Walsh, both of Westford, missed the cut with scores of 160 and 161, respectively. The Open, held May 29-June 1 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wisconsin, was won by Maja Stark.
NEPGA Jr. tour results
Beverly G&TC hosted a NEPGA Jr. Tour event on June 10. Jay Wang (Reading) shot even par 70 and won the Boys 16-18 division. Jackson Guy (Wilmington) shot 75 and finished 2nd. Davis Moran (Marblehead) shot 79 and finished 4th. Vincent Spirito (Lynn) and Joseph Tavilla (Peabody) shot 85 and finished T8. William Kennedy (Melrose) finished 10th with an 86. Tyler Chin-Aleong (Hamilton) shot 89 and finished 12th, while Luke DiLisio (Lynn) shot 90 and finished 14th.
Amelia Dignan (Marblehead) shot 91 and finished 4th in the Girls 14-18 division.
Ben Mucci (Winchester) shot 74 and won the Boys 14-15 division. Lucas Flynn (Melrose) shot 77 and was runner-up. Jake Martin (Danvers) and Jack Kustler (Amesbury) shot 78 and finished T3. Other top-10 finishers included Matteo Faggiano (Reading), 80, 6th; Colton Sachar (Swampscott) 83, 7th; and Davin Myette (Wakefield) 84, 9th.
Ned Yetten (Andover) won the Boys 12-13 division with a 73. Francis Riordan (Hamilton), Jackson O’Hare (Beverly) and Emmett Saunders (Swampscott) shot 89, 91 and 98, respectively and finished 4th, 5th and 6th. Henley Roberts (South Hamilton) shot 38 and finished runner-up in the Boys 11&under division. Ryan Lord (Wenham) and Christian Roberts (South Hamilton) shot matching 42s and finished T4.
At CC of Billerica June 11, Winchester’s William Ferrari shot even-par 69 to win the Boys 14-15 division. Colin Nutt (Marblehead) finished fourth. In the Boys 11&under division, Henley Roberts (South Hamilton) shot 38 and finished runner-up, while brother Christian Roberts shot 42 and was 4th.
Several North Shore area players had strong showings at the 115th Mass Open June 10-12 at scenic Sacconnesset GC in Falmouth, starting with Steven DiLisio, who added his name to a star-studded list of champions. Aidan Emmerich finished T10 with a 2-over 218, while brother Christian finished T28 with a 224. Chris Francoeur (Amesbury) shot 223 and finished T21, while Eric Barlow (Winchester) shot 224 and finished T28. Peabody’s Athan Goulos (155), Kernwood’s Frank Dully (155), Ferncroft amateur AJ Bodnar (156), Bradford amateur Matthew Lucy (158), Sagamore amateur Phil Miceli (160), Bass Rocks’ Todd Scarafoni (163), Kernwood amateur Sean Dully (163) and Mount Pleasant amateur Brian Corbett (165) missed the 36-hole cut (151).
Upcoming charity events include:
The North Shore Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual 18-hole scramble at Ipswich Country Club on Monday, July 21. https://www.northshorechamber.org/annual-golf-tournament/
The Golf Fore Addiction golf tourneys will be held at several North Shore clubs this summer, including Bass Rocks Golf Club on June 28, Ferncroft Country Club on August 25, and Salem Country Club on September 22. Golf Fore Addiction
The Salute Military Golf Association will host a charity golf tourney at Ferncroft Country Club on Aug. 18 Salute Military Golf Association
The North Shore golf community lost two of its most prominent longtime supporters: Burton Page and Paul Kelley. Both befriended and encouraged me when I was starting out as a young sportswriter for the Beverly Times and Lynn Daily Item in the mid-1970s.
Burton Hammond Page, 83, of Peabody, passed away peacefully on April 14, after a long illness. He was the beloved son of the late George and Phyllis (Stone) Page. Burton had a lifelong passion for golf that shaped both his personal and professional life. He began his career working with his family at the Colonial Hilton in Lynnfield and Wakefield, where he oversaw Food and Beverage operations as well as the hotel’s golf course. His deep appreciation for hospitality and leadership continued throughout his life. He later served as the general manager of Hillview Country Club in North Reading, where he led the function/event operations, bringing his talents full circle. He later became president of Cedar Glen Golf Course in Saugus, where he spent his most recent years. His leadership style—approachable, steady, and genuine—made a lasting impression on all who worked with him.
Paul Kelley Sr. of Topsfield and formerly of Beverly, Gloucester and Sarasota, Florida died on May 12. He was the son of Paul and Louise (Theriault) Kelley of Beverly. He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years Leah (Foss) Kelley and his three children. He graduated from Beverly High School, class of 1949, and was a member of the 1949 golf team that was Mass State Champions and later inducted into the Beverly High Sports Hall of Fame. An active golfer, he was a 57-year member of Salem Country Club and a 15-year member of Palm Aire Country Club in Sarasota. In 1995 he was recognized for his contribution of 25 years as a member and chairman of the Commodore Open, which benefitted North Shore ARC and helped special-needs citizens. Kelley served in the USAF from 1951-54 and served in Korea for 15 months during the war, earning many awards. Paul was the architect of Boston’s first 24-hour all talk/sports radio station (WITS) after winning the broadcast rights of the Boston Red Sox games in 1975. In 1980, he formed Kelley Communications Corp., a sports broadcasting, media buying and broadcast consultancy firm where for many years KCC retained the broadcasting rights for all BC, Harvard and Holy Cross football and basketball games as well as several PGA golf events including the 1990 Ryder Cup and the yearly coverage of the Pleasant Valley Classic from Sutton. A fine judge of talent, Kelley gave a boost to the careers of Channel 5’s Mike Lynch, of Swampscott High and Harvard sports fame, Lynn’s Glenn Ordway and countless others.
