Swampscott native Steven DiLisio secured his first professional victory — the 115th Massachusetts Open championship, no less — and, in the process, became just the eighth player to win Open and Mass Amateur championships.
At Sacconnesset Golf Club in Falmouth, DiLisio emerged victorious back in June, thanks in part to a red-hot putter on the final holes.
On the 16th hole, in the final round, DiLisio sank a 50-foot putt to take the lead and never looked back. The 26-year-old shot 5-under-par across the three-day tournament, opening with a 69, followed by a 73, and another 69 to clinch the title.
After taking the lead, DiLisio had little margin for error with Xavier Marcoux (Nashawtuc Country Club), who finished at 4-under, close behind. Marcoux, who held a 5-shot lead against DiLisio entering the final round, parred the last 13 holes, but it wasn’t enough as DiLisio hoisted the trophy. (Marcoux had a chance to force a playoff, but just missed a 12-foot birdie that broke right.)
“I hit a lot of good putts that just missed,” DiLisio said, “but I feel like I had a really good sense of speed . . . I, kind of, kept telling myself they were going to fall. Then, they did.”
Golfers battled tough weather throughout the tournament, including high winds and rain.
“I think the difference (on day No. 3) for me was just putting,” DiLisio said. “I think it’s just a few putts went my way. And 54 holes with all this weather — it very easily could have gone Xavier’s way, too. It’s one shot, and I’ve had it go that way for me, too.”
Six years ago, DiLisio won the Mass Amateur at The Country Club in Brookline. The only other players who have won Mass Amateur and Open championships are Francis Ouimet, Jesse Guilford, Charles Volpone, Jim Hallet, Kevin Johnson, Fran Quinn, and Andover native Rob Oppenheim.
At the Mass Amateur, DiLisio’s caddie, Paul MacDonald, recalled him playing “really well” throughout the tournament.
“He’s very skilled, and I knew he had a shot at winning right away,” MacDonald said.
DiLisio held a strong lead – as much as 5-up – in the final match before his opponent, Jimmy Hervol, began a comeback. Hervol won two of his final four holes before DiLisio sank a 5-foot birdie on hole 17 to clinch.
“When he was in the last match, he was playing a Division 1 All-American from UConn who was a very good player. Steven got an early lead and just held the lead,” MacDonald said. “The kid came on strong late, but Steven made a birdie to close him out. … His putting was really good the whole time; he wasn’t making any mistakes with the putter.”
With a solid putting display, DiLisio tallied eight birdies across the 34 holes.
The Salem Country Club member played high school golf at St. John’s Prep and Phillips Academy, then at Duke University.
Swampscott was well-represented at the Mass Open. Aidan Emmerich (Kernwood Country Club) placed 10th overall — the second-lowest score among amateurs – and finished 2-over-par after rounds of 69, 74, and 75.
“It felt good to be in the hunt for the tournament,” Emmerich said. “I’ve felt very good about my game and the work I’ve been putting in on and off the golf course.”
