Role Reversal: This Year, Salinetti looks on

June 1—Last year, Jim Salinetti captured the Cape Cod Open for his first win in four years. Good friend Scott Hawley, paired with Salinetti in the final group, had a front row seat.

This year, roles were reversed. Paired in the final group yet again, Salinetti couldn’t overcome a three-shot swing on no. 14 and eventually fell to Hawley, who claimed his first win as a professional with rounds of 71-71-69 to earn $5,000.

At no. 13, a reachable par 4, Salinetti drove the green and two-putted for birdie to draw even with Hawley, who rooms with Salinetti and Matt Donovan in West Palm Beach during the winter.

But Salinetti drove poorly on the next hole, and was forced to lay up on the par 5. Hawley, meanwhile, played a 3-wood from off the fairway to 3-feet, setting up an eagle. Salinetti wedged to 18-feet then three-putted to all but assure the outcome.

“I’m not mad that I lost because Scott won it,” Salinetti said afterward, noting Scott’s eagle on no. 14 as the deciding factor.

Salinetti finished tied for third at 1-under with rounds of 74-68-73 to earn $1,500, a far cry from the 69-66-68 he fired to win last year. He bogeyed five of his first seven holes in the first round before rallying to grab a share of the second round lead with Hawley and David Schuster, a fellow NEPGT member.

Matt Donovan shot 75-77-71 to tie for 19th and earn $137.5, his highest finish in eight events since Honda Classic Monday qualifying in March.

Following the final round, Salinetti drove to Boston to spend the night with PGA TOUR member and two-time Mass. Amateur champ James Driscoll before playing a practice round for this year’s Mass. Open at Charles River Country Club on Friday.