Ryan Downes becomes youngest winner in 115-year history of Mass. Amateur

MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — One year after coming up short in the Massachusetts Amateur final, Longmeadow and GreatHorse’s Ryan Downes wasn’t about to be denied for a second time.

Putting on a surgical exhibition of winning golf, the 17-year-old Longmeadow High senior played with experience far beyond his age.

Downes played 31 holes in Friday’s championship match against good friend Matt Naumec in 7-under par en route to becoming the youngest winner in the 115-year history of the state’s biggest amateur championship after his 6 & 5 win.

Downes eclipses the previous mark of Ted Adams and James Driscoll, who each became amateur champions at age 18.

“It really does feel great,” Downes said as the Massachusetts Cup sat at his feet. “Last year, I don’t think my game was as mature as it is now. I learned a lot about being able to hit shots under pressure and that really paid off.”

While the score was seemingly lopsided at the end, the match was actually much closer for most of the way.
If there was one spot where Downes did the bulk of his damage, it was on the part of the course called “birdie bend” by the Essex County Club membership.

Holes four through seven were very good to Downes on Friday in both rounds. During the first 18, he used three straight birdies on five, six and seven to open up a 4 up lead. Then in the second round of the day, one interrupted by a lightning delay, it was that stretch of holes where Downes turned an all square match into a runaway in a flash.

“Ryan is just a hell of a player. Any time you birdie a hole like the fourth, you just have to tip your cap,” Naumec said.

The birdie that the former Boston College standout spoke of came after Downes bogeyed the par 5 third, the 22nd hole of the match, to see a four down lead go away.

He stepped to the tee on the second hardest hole of the week and striped a 4 iron to 10 feet. He sank the putt and then followed it with a close approach on the par 5 fifth for a conceded eagle.

After a delay for lightning in the area, Downes’ first swing resulted in a four-foot birdie on the seventh and a three up lead.

“I pulled that four iron out on the fourth and didn’t have a second thought. That stretch of holes was probably my favorite all week. I played them really well,” Downes said.

By the time the final pair made the turn, Downes had restored his 4 up lead from earlier in the day, putting him within reaching distance of the crown.

Another birdie at 10th increased the lead to 5 up and when Naumec couldn’t get up and down from behind the 12th green, Downes was on the verge of the crown. Fittingly, he wrapped it up with another surgical par on the 13th green.

“Ryan didn’t make many mistakes and he deserves this,” Naumec said.

As he looked at the names inscribed on the winner’s trophy, Downes couldn’t help but feel happy.

“It’s a great feeling for me, it really is awesome,” Downes said.