Kelly, Clapp to meet in Mass Amateur finals

SALEM – It was a tale of two very different semifinal matches at the 106th Massachusetts Amateur Championship, but both paths have led to the same place for John Kelly (Twin Hills CC) and Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich GC).Following two days of stroke play and four matches held over three days, Kelly and Clapp have earned a spot in the finals. Both competitors will be making their finals debut and one will become the 73rd individual to have won this title, which dates back to 1903.The final 36-hole match will be contested on Saturday morning beginning at 7 a.m. at Kernwood Country Club.Here is a summary of action from Friday.John Kelly, Twin Hills CC def. Matt Parziale, Thorny Lea GC, 6 and 5For Kelly, his semifinal match represented a continuation of simply outstanding and error-free golf.Beginning on the 17th hole in his round of 16 match against Christopher Gentle (Mount Pleasant GC), Kelly has played 11-under par golf through his last 30 holes.On Thursday afternoon, he was 5-under par during his quarterfinal match, which ended on the 16th hole. On this day, it took him just 13 holes to defeat Parziale. Kelly carded five birdies and eight pars during that impeccable round.Doug Clapp, Old Sandwich def. Jake Shuman, Blue Hill CC, 2 and 1Standing on that 1st tee on Saturday will be Clapp, who – despite his veteran age of 47 and impressive amateur golf record that includes being named the 2013 Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year – will too be making his first finals appearance.Dating back to 1995, Clapp has advanced to match play every year except for three. Two times he advanced to the semifinals … and now he finally has secured a first-ever finals berth.Standing in his way on Friday was a formidable foe in Shuman, who will be heading to Duke University in the fall. The two opponents are familiar to each other as they were paired together – for two rounds – at this year?s Massachusetts Open Championship.Both players kept pace with the other as the match remained all square from the 10th through the 14th hole. It was on the 525-yard, par 5 13th hole, however, where the momentum of the match shifted.With Clapp in trouble off the tee and forced to chip back into the fairway, Shuman?s approach found the back fringe of the green. He chipped within birdie range, but lipped out the putt.Meanwhile, Clapp sent his fourth shot close and converted on the par putt to halve the hole.Despite tweaking his wrist on his approach on the 15th hole, Shuman had a chance to halve that hole but he watched yet another putt lip out to give Clapp a 1-up advantage with just two holes remaining.On the 17th green, Clapp was able to covert his par. Shuman?s tee shot fell short and he was unable to make a tricky downhill par putt to continue the match.