Thresher made six birdies en route to a 1-under-par 70 at Walpole Country Club.
Jason Thresher of Crestview CC was tied for sixth place after the opening round of the Massachusetts Open at Walpole Country Club.The best hope in more than half a century for a golfer from a Western Massachusetts club to win the Massachusetts Open doesn’t even live inside its borders.
Jason Thresher of West Suffield, Conn., opened play Tuesday with a 1-under-par 70, three strokes off the pace at the 54-hole event at Walpole Country Club.
The member at Crestview CC in Agawam made six birdies to stay in the chase led by first-round leader Michael Ballo Jr. of Stamford, Conn.
Click here to see all first-round scores.
Thresher birdied four holes – Nos. 11, 12, 14 and 15 – early on his back nine, but finished with bogeys at two of his last three holes.
Ballo, a former standout at St. John’s University and second-year pro, made four of his five birdies on par 4s. He finished as runner-up, by one stroke, to Kyle Gallo at Oak Hill CC in Fitchburg last year.
Amateurs Ron Laverdiere of Crumpin-Fox Club and Anthony Vecchiarelli of Oak Ridge GC, and Pittsfield pro Chris Marinaro each shot 75 and shared 53rd place.
Berkshire Hills CC pro Josh Hillman (76) was tied for 64th place and Adam Rainaud of South Hadley opened with a 77.
Bob Toski of Haydenville was the last champion from a Western Mass. club, winning title in 1958 at Hyannisport Club.
OPEN MISSES: Neither Rick Leal of West Springfield nor South Hadley’s Richy Werenski advanced through 36-hole sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open.
Leal carded rounds of 82 and 79 to tie for 70th place at Canoe Brook CC in Summit, N.J. Amateur Cameron Wilson of Rowayton, Conn., made nine birdies during a second round 65 and was medalist a 6-inder 136.
Werenski had a 74 and 72, good for a share of 19th, at The River Club in Suwanee, Ga. PGA Tour player Jason Bohn was medalist at 135.
The U.S. Open will be played June 14-17 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.