The MGA might have gone a little overboard in the course setup. The winning score was 9 over par, 2nd was 12 over.
Several of the best Metro-NY ams missed the cut because they had afternoon tee times on Mon. and the greens became pretty much a joke. A friend who is a superb ballstriker hit 13 greens, but very few held due to the areas just past the false fronts being soft enough to spin the balls back and way off the greens and balls landing past the pins shooting off the backs and sides. I know 3 different palyers who had 5 putts. In addition, Joe Saladino, current LI Am Champ, was greenside bunkered in 2 on a par 5 and made 9 after hitting what appeared to be a very good bunker shot. The MGA certainly proved that Fenway can play tough. OT, New Jersey did the same thing in their Am Campionship--they took a fairly easy course Rockaway River, and set it up beyond hard. The winning score in the Dodge Open days used to be 12-15 under par, and yet very good players shot bunches over par.