COURTESY PHOTO FROM THE MASS GOLF ASSOCIATION
Steven Dilisio of Swampscott won the Harry B. McCracken Jr. Medalist Award.
NEWTON — For the first time in Massachusetts Amateur Championship history, the stroke-play medalist was awarded the Harry B. McCracken, Jr. Medalist Award.
And for first time, the individual receiving that award was 19-year-old Steven DiLisio of Swampscott, who plays out of the Salem Country Club.
Over a two-day period, DiLisio posted a score of 3-under par 137 to finish as medalist and earn the top seed heading into match play, which began today at 8 a.m.at Charles River Country Club.
This year’s cut line fell at 7-over par 147, with the final two spots being decided in a five-for-two sudden-death playoff on Tuesday evening.
The first two rounds of match play — round of 32 and round of 16 — will be contested today in Newton. The quarterfinals and semifinals will take place Thursday, with the finale Friday when the last two competitors standing will compete in a 36-hole final match.
For DiLisio, who played high school golf at both St. John’s Prep and Phillips Academy and now attends Duke, this year marks only the second time in his career that he has advanced to match play. Two years ago at Oak Hill Country Club, DiLisio was defeated in the round of 32 by Matthew Naumec (Great Horse).
“It is a great honor,” said DiLisio just prior to the official medalist ceremony which included McCracken as well as a crowd of competitors, club members and spectators. “To be the first one is pretty awesome. He has been out here for as long as I have been playing tournaments and a lot longer than I have been playing.
“I have been able to spend some time with him at the New England events and it is just such an honor to share this with him,” said DiLisio.
DiLisio posted 1-under par 69 on Monday — a score that included a hole-in-one. It was matched by Herbie Aikens (Pinehills GC) – DiLisio bettered his play by carding a 2-under par 68 to secure himself the top seed.
“I have played pretty solid both days,” said DiLisio, who finished with five birdies Tuesday. “I started well today and birdied my first hole and just seemed like I was off to a solid start. I have been hitting it really well. I had a lot of scoring irons and wedges into the green and I think I hit 16 or 17 greens today.”
Despite living just an hour away from Charles River Country Club, DiLisio was unfamiliar with the course until just a few weeks ago. A club member Charlie Deehan – whom DiLisio had recently met – invited him to play in a member-guest.
Without laying an eye on the course, DiLisio made birdie on the first five holes that day.
“Mr. Deehan said that he liked to win and that I better play well,” said DiLisio. “I birdied one and two and he was giving me a hard time about starting and said, ‘Well you have to birdie the first five or it doesn’t matter,’ and then I birdied the first five which was funny. It was a lot of fun.”
Through 36 holes, DiLisio has made seven birdies and one hole in one.
Two other area golfers missed the cut. Kevin Daly of Salem CC shot 77-74 for a plus-11; and Phil Miceli of Sagamore was also at plus-11 with a 73-78.
