Around Berkshire County: News & Notes: June 9^th:

Hours after suffering a playoff loss in the North American Pro Golf Tour’s season-opening event on Friday, Pittsfield’s Matt Donovan credited his best finish in nearly two years to one thing: his putter.

“This is the best I’ve ever putted, by far,” Donovan said emphatically. “And that’s what has held me back.”

Donovan was also quick to assess his 2006 campaign.

“Worst year of my career,” he said bluntly before adding, “by far, by far.”

But things appear to have turned around since Donovan returned from caddying at Seminole Golf Club in south Florida in early May. Before Friday, Donovan finished 5^th in the Western Mass. Open, tied for 19^th in the Cape Cod Open and qualified for the Mass. Open. He earned more than $5,000 in those three events, more than he made in his final ten events last year.

“It’s all positive,” he said. “I feel like I’m ready to go low every time [I play].”

Former Wahconah Country Club Head Professional Paul Daniels shot 72 and won the Berkshire County Pro Series Pro/Club Official at Cranwell on Thursday. Daniels competed on the Sunbelt Senior Professional Golf Tour this spring. He played in seven events, made a check in five of them and earned $3,650 to finish 15^th on the money list. The Tour plays primarily in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Daniels has joined the staff at Taconic Golf Club as a teaching professional and will play in the Berkshire County Pro Series as well as the Northeastern New York PGA series events.

Taconic Assistant Professional Josh Hillman fell short in his bid to qualify for this year’s U.S. Open, which begins Thursday in Oakmont, PA. Hillman shot rounds of 80-70 at sectionals in Purchase, NY, nine shots shy of the third and final qualifying spot.

Two-time Berkshire County Men’s Player of the Year Donnie Troy tied for the 3^rd in the 43^rd Hornblower Memorial Tournament in Plymouth on June 2^nd. Troy shot rounds of 68-70. Past tournament champions include current Nationwide Tour member Fran Quinn, current PGA TOUR member and former Mass. Amateur champion James Driscoll and Bill Buttner, Troy’s golf coach at Eckerd College.

Skyline’s Jason Whitmire continues to impress this spring. Two weeks after shooting 70 and cruising to a seven-stroke victory in the GEAA Singles, he shot a 6-under 65 on May 25^th to establish Skyline’s amateur course record. Whitmire made birdies on Nos. 1, 5, 6, 9, 13 and 14. Whitmire has 40 Men’s Player of the Year points and ranks 4^th in the standings, presented by the Scarafoni Financial Group.

Mass. Amateur qualifying continues at four sites beginning Monday. A handful of Berkshire players have tried their hand, but only Skyline’s Mike Slosek has successfully played his way into next month’s event, which begins July 9^th at Concord Country Club. Pittsfield’s Donnie Troy received an exemption from local qualifying by virtue of his quarterfinal appearance last year.

Slosek leads the Men’s Player of the Year standings by 18.5 points over Troy. Both will be in the field at next week’s Mass. Open, which begins June 18^th in Salem. Other Berkshire players in the field include Matt Donovan, Lee’s Jim Salinetti, Josh Hillman and Stockbridge Head Professional Jimmy Marston. Donovan and Salinetti have a combined five Top 10s in the Mass. Open since 2003.

North Adams Country Club has announced a co-professional partnership with Dave Bond and Kay McMahon. Bond, the 2005 Men’s Individual Allied Champion, also operates The Range on Curran Highway in North Adams. McMahon’s resume includes being named the 1995 National LPGA Teacher of the Year.

Bob Linn and Jim Warren continued their dominance of Stockbridge Golf Club last weekend. The duo from Berkshire Hills by way of Connecticut shot rounds of 66-71 to win the Stockbridge Trophy by one shot over three other teams. Fighting darkness, Linn played a pitch from 50 yards to five-feet on the final hole and made the putt to avoid a crowded playoff.

The Berkshire County Women’s Player of the Year schedule begins in earnest on Wednesday. Taconic Golf Club will host the Allied Four-Ball. Shotgun play will begin at 1 pm. The top ten teams earn points, with the winning team receiving 150 points each. Defending Women’s Player of the Year Kathy Duguay won last year’s award by 420 points.

The Senior Player of the Year schedule also begins soon. Stockbridge Golf Club will host the first of three Berkshire County Senior Association Series events on June 18th. The top ten finishers receive points, with the winner receiving 125 points.

The Berkshire County Junior Allied series begins on Monday, June 2^nd. Juniors from age 11-18 can sign-up through their club professionals for a fee of $10, which includes prizes and lunch. Age divisions range from 13 & under, 14-15 and 16-17. The series includes five events at courses around the county. A series-long point system rewards the overall champion from each age division. Registration begins at 8 am with a shotgun start following at 9. The host professional will provide a clinic or the rules of the game or etiquette before play begins. Contact Tournament Director John Marlowe for more information at 413-663-7938.

Stockbridge Golf Club will host local qualifying for Trusted Choice Big “I” Junior Classic on Monday, June 25^th. Interested juniors should contact their club professional for sign-up information.