Kernwood’s Frank Dully, the overnight leader, was in position to join rarefied air of becoming a unique two-stage NEPGA titlist.
But after firing an opening round four-under-par 65 at the NEPGA Seniors Championship at Agawam Hunt Club in Rumford, Rhode Island, the former Holy Cross captain and Connecticut native was unable to maintain a sub-par pace in Tuesday’s final round under scorching conditions.
Dully, 58, the 2006 NEPGA Section champion at Turner Hill in Ipswich, stumbled while shooting a second-day five-over 74 and finished T-4 at 139, sharing that slot with another North Shore favorite, Hatherly’s Chip Johnson, the current NEPGA president.
Dully and Johnson did receive a nice consolation prize for not beating champion Dale Abraham of Cape Arundel (65-132), who edged out Jeff Martin by one shot. They were the only players in the 55-player field to break par for the 36-hole event. Abraham won $1500 for his efforts.
Dully and Johnson, whose parents grew up in Salem and Peabody, earned berths in the $250,000 National Club Pro Seniors championship this fall in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
“I got off to a good start when I birdied the par-five third,” Dully reported, “but I hit a bad drive on No. 4, another par-five, and made double bogey. That sent me in the wrong direction. I missed a couple short putts later on, had two three-putts and never recovered. I had a lot of sloppiness the back nine. As it were, most of us struggled except for the two top guys. So finishing T-4 wasn’t so bad.”
A third player with North Shore connections also qualified for the National event. Golf Country’s Joe Rocha placed T-6 with 70-70-140 and will head to Florida too.
Dully, 58, had been mighty pleased with his opening 65.
“My game has been trending in a positive direction this season and I have positive memories of playing Agawam, so I feel good after having a solid first round,” said Dully, who won the Section championship in 2006 at Turner Hill in Ipswich by a whopping 11 strokes after winning wire to wire and shooting an 11-under-par 205 total for 54 holes.
He held a one-stroke advantage after Round 1 over Jeff Martin, while Salem CC’s Kirk Hanefeld, a three-time NEPGA Section winner, was three shots back after scoring a 68. Hanefeld also shot 74 Tuesday to fall out of the top 10.
Dully had had good vibes about Round 2 recalling his last major competition at Agawam in 1998. “I shot 66 the final round to finish second to Mike Baker that year at the Section championship,” Dully said. “That’s a long time ago but I like the feel I get when I play this golf course.”
Dully made two birdies and one bogey the front nine Monday, then made three birdies without a bogey the back nine to account for his 65. He did not birdie either par five the front, but more than made up for that by playing the five par-threes in one under par.
Always considered among the best putters in the Section, Dully made two 25-footers for birdie on Nos. 2 and 13, then finished strong with birdies on 17 (8 feet) and 18 (two inches), nearly holing out his wedge approach from 132 yards out.
“I had a good round going but those last two birdies made it a great round,” Dully observed.
Hanefeld, 68, was in a tie for sixth as the second best North Shore player after the initial 18. His last NEPGA title came in 2003 at Abenaqui.
Among other local scorers, Hillview’s Chris Carter finished 147, followed by Beverly’s David Dionne at 150, Bass Rocks’s Todd Scarafoni at 151 with Turner Hill’s Webb Heintzelman, and Far Corner’s John O’Connor at 152 with Gloucester native Dan Gillis.