MANCHESTER — Michael Walsh claimed the Vermont Amateur Thursday evening at Manchester Country Club, finishing the tournament at 8-under behind a particularly strong third round Thursday morning.
He opened the day two shots behind the lead, but carded a 5-under 67 in round three to take a one-shot lead over defending champion Lucas Politano with 18 holes remaining. Walsh’s stellar third round featured six birdies, including a run of four consecutive on holes 1 through 4. Just as important, he limited mistakes, recording only one bogey — on the par-3 eighth.
The Burlington Country Club member pulled away for his first Amateur title with that same steady approach. Walsh parred every hole on the front nine except for the par-4 third, where he carded one of his two birdies on the round.
Politano, meanwhile, had a tough stretch to close out the front nine. Entering the par-3 sixth at one under on the round and still just one shot back of the lead, the Ralph Myhre Golf Course member rattled off four consecutive bogies, giving Walsh some breathing room with a five-stroke lead at the turn.
Walsh continued to play his game, even through an hour and a half weather delay that halted play just as the final duo were set to tee off on the par-3 16th.
Walsh bogeyed 12 and 13, but closed out his tournament strong – shooting a 1-under par over the final five holes.
Cody Semmelrock (-3) finished in second, while Jackson King (-2) held sole possession of third. Politano ended his tournament at -1, tied for fourth with Garren Poirier, Travis Russell and Evan Russell. Austin Giroux (E), Cory Jozefiak (+1) and Troy Goliber (+2) rounded out the top-10.
A pair of Manchester golfers finished just outside the top-10. MCC’s Mathew Smith and 802 Golf Academy’s Ryan Porter tied for 11th at +4, each shooting a 3-over 75 in the final round.
