08-07-2025
Defending champion Matthew Naumec right back in hunt for Mass Amateur title
After snagging the final spot in match play last year before rolling to the title, Naumec is trying to make his life easier this summer. He wrote five birdies on his card, including three on the first four holes, and finished with a tough par.
Lenane, the 2023 New England Amateur champion and winner of the Mass Amateur Public Links last year, rolled in a 17-footer on the par-3 third hole to start well. He actually got to 5-under with a birdie on 15, but three-putted the 18th for bogey.
'I feel like my game's in a really good spot, and I just hit it really well off the tee and into the green, and gave myself a lot of looks,' said Lenane, who just finished his junior year at North Carolina State.
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Johnson meanwhile found all 18 greens in regulation en route to his 68.
'It feels really good that everything kind of clicked on the same day,' Johnson said. 'Still got tomorrow before you move on, but it feels good to have a good first round and be able to build on that.'
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One shot behind the leading trio is Trevor Drew (Long Meadow GC), the rising Western Kentucky sophomore who was bogey free through 12 holes.
Recent Fordham graduate Jake Mrva (Worcester CC) rode the GreatHorse rollercoaster: bogeying three of the first six h holes, but rallying with a birdie-birdie-birdie-eagle stretch around the turn. He finished at 2-under 70.
Two other former MassAm champions are in the top 10, with Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea GC) and Ben Spitz (George Wright) tied for ninth at even par.
The second and final round of stroke play is Tuesday, and if there's a tie for the 32nd and final match play spot, there will be a sudden-death playoff after stroke play ends.
