The final will take place at the Massachusetts Amateur

The final will take place at the Massachusetts Amateur

Matt Naumec (David Colt/Mass Golf Photo)

When you hear the term “home course advantage,” you might think of it as a strategic advantage. You know which club to hit on every par-3, where to miss, when to be aggressive, what the prevailing wind is, etc. But for Framingham Country Club member Matthew Naumec, the advantage is more pronounced on the home course than on the course.

“I play here so much, right? I just showed up and had fun playing the game, you know, the game itself, rather than… I’m obviously a little detached from professional golf. I’m still falling back in love with the game and just having fun here. I’ve got a great club,” Naumec said.

The love for the game Naumec rediscovered in his post-professional career looks set to serve him well on the competitive amateur circuit, as the Boston College alumnus will compete in the 36-hole final of the Massachusetts Amateur for the second straight year.

Tuesday night, a spot in the Match Play bracket was in doubt. He survived a 4-for-3 playoff and hasn’t looked back, cruising through the bracket with 4-3 and 3-2 wins on Wednesday, followed by a 3-2 victory over John Broderick (Dedham Country & Polo Club) on Thursday morning and a 4-3 victory over former champion Matt Parziale (Thorny Lea Golf Club) in the afternoon.

“I haven’t really done anything that I wouldn’t do on a Saturday morning with the guys,” Naumec said. Maintaining that level of certainty and simplicity may be key on Friday.

In the final, he will face the reigning Massachusetts Mid-Amateur champion Ricky Stimets (Worcester Country Club). This is the first all-mid-am final since 2014.

Given the physically demanding nature of the format – 144 holes, roughly, over five days – you’d think the younger players would have an advantage. But Stimets is reaping the rewards of a renewed focus on his fitness, and in true mid-am fashion, that’s meant giving up the good stuff: “Lots of walking, going to the gym, eating better, cutting out sugars and fried foods all year round. It’s been tough, but it’s worth the sacrifice.”

Stimets put the whole match in order in the afternoon by beating Ethan Whitney (Oak Hill Country Club) 1-up, after winning 4&2 against Danny Frodigh (Dedham Country & Polo Club) in the morning.

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So how bad do you want this tomorrow?

Naumec: “Pretty bad. Yeah, I mean, last year, obviously with Ryan, I love Essex, and I remember posting on Instagram, ‘See you at Framingham next year,’ and setting the tone of just saying, you know, you have 365 days.”

Stimets: “I really want it. I know the stakes are high. I try to look at every day as, ‘Okay, one more step toward the US Am spot.'”

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