North Shore native George Zolotas leads strong field on Mass Open first day

FITCHBURG – The top of the leaderboard at the 102nd Massachusetts Open Championship looks like a “who’s who” of former Bay State standout amateurs.Following the first of three rounds of play at Oak Hill Country Club, four out of the top nine scores were posted by local professionals who are hoping to capture this year’s Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial Trophy and set the stage for what they hope will be something special down the road.Leading the charge with a day-low score of 4-under par 66 is George Zolotas (Peabody), who finished with five birdies and one bogie.Swarming just one shot back at 3-under par 67 are Scott Hawley (Shrewsbury), Michael Welch (Furnace Brook CC), Adam Rainaud (South Hadley), Michael Ballo (Stamford, CT), Michael Quagliano (White Plains, NY), John Rainone (Saunderstown, RI), Ty Capps (Palm Coast, FL) and Eric Egloff (Sandy Spring, MD).Bay Staters Jason Parajeckas (Pleasant Valley CC) and Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea GC) are also part of a seven-player group that is just two shots back at 2-under par 68.For Zolotas, a standout golfer at St. John’s Prep and then at St. John’s University, Monday marked a turning point in his young career as he enjoyed one of his best rounds of the year.”I tend to make a lot of birdies but I have been up and down lately,” said Zolotas, who has been trying to break through on the professional golf circuit for the past three years. “Except for one bad tee ball, I was able to keep everything in front of me and was able to put it in the right spot.”Beginning his title pursuit on the more challenging back nine, Zolotas got off to a perfect start by draining a 25-foot birdie putt on the 456-yard par 5 10th hole. He then hit it close on the next few holes but had nothing but pars to show for his effort. That all changed when he drained two long putts for birdie on the 432-yard, par 4 14th and 461-yard, par 4 15th holes.”I got into a groove where I was hitting a lot of good iron shots and putting myself in good places on the green,” said Zolotas, who finished seventh at last month’s Cape Cod Open. “You just want to stick with it on the back nine ? as a player you want to play that back nine and get a feel for the course and where you should be hitting your shots.”The 25-year-old kept it going through his final holes by making seven pars and two birdies – on the 356-yard, par 4 3rd and 462-yard, par 5 7th holes. His final birdie of the day was set up by his best shot of the round. From 200 yards out, Zolotas sent his 5 iron from the left rough to 20 feet and two putted for birdie.”For the past few weeks, I have not gotten off to a great start,” said Zolotas, who has been working on his game with local teaching professional Shawn Hester. “I met with [Hester] the other day and he wanted me to focus more on the shot rather than what I was doing swing-wise, and I was trying to do that today.”It is also important to note that his putter was working well all day as he made two long par putts on the 1st and 2nd holes to keep the momentum going and allow him to keep his sights set on the coveted Massachusetts Open Championship title.”This is always the most fun tournament I play in,” said Zolotas, who had a bevy of family and friends following him Monday. “You always want to play well in the Massachusetts Open over the other State Opens because you know a lot more people and you are more familiar with the course. It was definitely nice to get off to a good start.”Also in the mix this year are three marquee “sons” from national circles. Andy Miller (Boston), son of former PGA Tour player and current NBC golf analyst Johnny Miller; Andrew Giuliani (New York, NY), son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani; and Olin Browne Jr. (Tequesta, FL), son of current Champions Tour star Olin Browne, are all in the field for the first time.