Sometimes it’s just your day.
After carding consecutive 73s in his first two rounds at the 95th New England Amateur Championship, Gloucester’s Evan Buddenhagen went nuclear in Thursday’s finale to jolt into the top 10 on the ever competitive leaderboard.
Buddenhagen not only strung together his best performance of the week, but one of the best performances from any golfer throughout the tournament by carding a sizzling 6-under par 66. He made the turn at 4-under before dropping in four more birdies on the back nine to offset a pair of bogeys.
Buddenhagen was tied for 45th heading into the final round, and credits a laid back, ‘nothing to lose’ mentality for the impressive finish.
“I was in a really relaxed mindset, slept well and wasn’t really thinking too much about how I was playing,” said Buddenhagen, who will be a sophomore at Division 1 Kennesaw State in Georgia this fall. He finished in a tie for eighth overall with five other golfers.
“I just went out and had fun, and I had a great playing partner as well so everything worked perfectly.”
It was Buddenhagen’s first time qualifying and competing in the prestigious New England Am., and host course Laconia Country Club seemed to cater well to his game.
Boasting a booming drive off the tee and a short game to back it up, Buddenhagen was able to get going early and often on Thursday. He birdied hole Nos. 2, 4, 5 and 7, making the turn bogey free with some serious momentum.
“I just kept giving myself chances,” he said. “The second hole I hit a good 4-iron to about 25-feet for eagle which was a good two-putt birdie; (hole) three was a routine par and then on four I put it to about two feet for birdie.
“Five was a par 5 and I got there green side in two, easy chip and tap in birdie,” he continued. “Six was another par and then I chipped in on the par 3 seventh.”
That thrilling chip in was one of two Buddenhagen made for birdie from off the green on the day, as he also did so on hole No. 14. Utilizing a 60-degree wedge both times, he cut the club through the rough, lofting the ball up softly on to the dance floor and letting it run out towards the cup and in.
“The greens were pretty firm and I was coming out of the rough on both shots so I just let it land and it rolled in,” said Buddenhagen.
The former Pingree School and IMG Academy standout would also birdie 11 with a lengthy 30-foot putt from left to right before escaping the par-4 12th with a bogey. He quickly bounced back with birdies on 13 and 14, and nearly made it three in a row on 15 after driving it over the green on a 295-yard par 4.
Buddenhagen dropped in his final birdie of the day on 18, cashing a downhill, 18-foot putt after a strong drive and short approach.
“I drove the ball great today and putted it well, too,” said Buddenhagen. “This was my first time in this tournament and I never played Laconia other than a nine hole practice round right before. (So) I’m really proud. I definitely thought it could’ve been even lower, but it can always be lower.
“I’m just really happy with how I played today and I’m excited to bring it to school, too, and hopefully play well in some events.”
Buddenhagen will be right back at it on Friday when he tees it up on his home track for the Essex County Club club championship. He heads south for school on August 10, with the fall golf season commencing shortly thereafter.
CJ Winchenbaugh of Oyster Harbors Club won the New England Amateur Championship by setting a course record of 11-under par 61 in his final round to finish at exactly that score and hoist the crown. He edged out former champion John Broderick (Dedham Country & Polo Club) in a playoff.
Sports Editor Nick Giannino may be contacted at 978-675-2712 or ngiannino@northofboston.com.