Golf: Matt Parziale comes off Masters to play Terra Cotta Invitational in Naples

 

Fred Couples , Tiger Woods and Matt Parziale walk off the 1st tee during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 4, 2018.

Matt Parziale is still living the dream.

Last week, the 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion was in the Masters at Augusta National, playing practice rounds with Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and Fred Couples. This week, he's at Naples National Golf Club playing in the 23rd annual Terra Cotta Invitational amateur tournament.

"It was a lot of fun that week," he said Friday. "It was a blast to be able to compete there with those guys. I left a little frustrated because I felt good out there, but I didn't play the course well enough -- that was what it boiled down to. It was so much fun, from the time I got there to the time I left, it was great."

Parziale, who will play in the U.S. Open this summer at Shinnecock Hills, shot 81-79 at Augusta days after playing with those greats in the practice rounds.

"I met some new friends and we had a blast out there -- really nice guys, kind and great conversation the whole way around," he said.

Friday, Parziale shook off a double-bogey start to shoot a 1-over 73 and is tied for 12th after the first round of the three-day, 54-hole tournament. 

Joe Pagdin, a Lake Nona sophomore who's already committed to Florida, fired a 5-under-par 67 and leads former Community School of Naples and Augusta University golfer Jake Marriott by a stroke.  Caleb Proveaux, a sophomore at South Carolina, and Won Jun Lee, a freshman at Florida, each had 69s.

The last group goes off at 10 a.m. Saturday, and the tournament wraps up Sunday. There is no admission fee for spectators.

Parziale is no stranger to Florida. He came down from the Northeast to play college golf at Southeastern University in Lakeland. After playing for the Fire, he's now part of putting them out -- as a firefighter in Brockton, Massachusetts.

Matt Parziale hits his tee shot on the 2nd hole during the first round of the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2018.

The 30-year-old is having fun playing hooky and hitting around a golf ball for the time being.

"I got off to a pretty poor start," Parziale said. "I was hitting it well so I was never concerned. I made some birdies, Nos. 6 and 7, and then I got another birdie on the par-5 on the back, No. 15, there. I threw in another bogey. I shot 1 over, but had a lot of chances coming in, hit a lot of good putts, just didn't fall, and hopefully they'll fall the rest of the week."

If not, it's different than fighting fires, which Parziale has done for 4 1/2 years.

"My sleep schedule is finally normal," he said with a chuckle after being away for six weeks. "But everyone at the fire station and the city and the fire department havve been so supportive. I wouldn't be able to do it without their support. I haven't seen the guys in a long time.

"I'm lucky enough to play some more events this year than I normally would. I'm just going to keep trying to do the best we can in these and keep preparing for these. It's been a fun winter. Usually I shut it down."

Matt Parziale (left) and Tiger Woods walk to the 3rd tee during a practice round for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 4, 2018.

Pagdin had a nice push as he made the turn, holing out from 146 yards with a pitching wedge for an eagle on No. 7, then chipping in for birdie on No. 8. He had four birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back but three-putted for bogey at the last.

"I hit the ball probably the best I've hit it in a long time," he said. "I hit some really good shots. I had one mistake where I shortsided myself with a wedge and then the three-putt on the last. But I mean, having eagle and chipping in doesn't happen often, so it makes up for it."

Marriott wrapped up his collegiate career a year ago and is ready to take the next step -- or at least try to. He's planning on playing in the Canadian Tour's Qualifying School in Lakeland at the end of the month, and if he makes it through, will turn professional. 

"Just kept it in play off the tee," he said. "I think that's the biggest thing around here is give yourself a lot of opportunities and get it between the lines. I hit a lot of wedges and I was able to take advantage of a few of those, and roll in some putts."

Marriott hasn't played well in two previous Terra Cottas -- the first was back when he was a junior in high school -- but he's hoping for two things: that this is his last amateur event (meaning he qualifies for the Canadian Tour) and he plays well here in it.

"This tournament couldn't have come at a better time in terms of preparation," said Marriott, who rolled in a 15-foot par putt on No. 17 -- his eighth hole - to keep his round goinghe said. "Really knowing where your game is -- you can't beat this place. It doesn't get any better in golf anywhere."


Terra Cotta Invitational

at Naples National Golf Club

Top 10

1. Joe Pagdin, England, 67; 2. Jake Marriott, Naples, 68; 3. Caleb Proveaux, Lexington, S.C., 69; 3. Won Jun Lee, Korea, 69; 5. Garrett Barber, Stuart, 70; 5. Jay Card, Jupiter, 70; 7. Fernando Barco , Peru, 71; 7. Hugo Bernard, Canada, 71; 7. Blair Bursey, Canada, 71; 10. Karl Vilips, Australia, 72; 10. Juan Guerra, Dominican Republic, 72

Other scores

73 -- Matt Parziale, Brockton, Mass.; James Clark III, Fortson, Ga.; Jackson Suber, Tampa; Michael Sanders, Davidson, N.C.; Cole Hammer, Houston; Mason Nome, Houston; Joe Alfieri, Lutz; Frank Vana, Shrewsbury, Mass.

74 -- Fred Biondi, Brazil; Andrew Alligood, Saint Johns; Joey Savoie, Canada; Newport Laparojkit, Montebello, Calif.; Robin Williams, England; Prescott Butler, Old Westbury, N.Y.; Teddy Tetak, Slovakia; Bill Williamson, Cincinnati

75 -- Reid Hatley, Hayden Lake, Idaho; Dawson Ovard, Frisco, Texas; Tyler Wilkes, Tampa; Kevin Johnson, Naples; Jorge Villar, Mexico; Joe Highsmith, La Quinta, Calif; Gordan Brixi, Czech Republic; David Wicks, England; Akshay Bhatia, Wake Forest, N.C.; Darin Goldstein, New York, N.Y.; Connor Howe, Ogden, Utah; James Song, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

76 -- Luke Gifford, Fort Lauderdale; Aman Gupta, Concord, N.C.; Aden Ye, China; Patrick Welch, Providence, R.I.; Scott Roden, Dallas; Giulio Castagnara, Italy; Matt Huchins, Naples

77 -- Ryan Hall, Knoxville, Tenn.; Joseph Deraney, Lexington, Ky.; Sampson Zhaneng, China; Tim Jackson, Williston, Tenn.; Carl Santos-Ocampo, Naples; Bryce Lewis, Hendersonville, Tenn.; Padraic Sim, Spanish Fort, Ala.; Jackson Van Paris, Pinehurst, N.C.; Ben Jones, England

78 -- Canon Claycomb, Orlando; Ben Reichert, Tampa; Derek Busby, Ruston, La.; Jackson Rivera, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Michael Brennan, Leesburg, Va.; Colin Bowles, Albany, Ga.; Artem Yalovenko, Russia

79 -- Grant Renegar, Summit, Miss.; James Tureskis, Naples; Tommy Brennan, Covington, La.

80 -- Deron Zendt, Jupiter; Ryan Celano, Naples; David Morgan, Naples; George Duangmanee, Fairfax, Va.

81 -- Mike Stamberger, Brielle, N.J.

82 -- Jeff Champine, Rochester Hills, Mich.; Tyler Cooke, Warwick, R.I.; Will Thomson, Naples

83 -- Bobby Leopold, England; Alberto Castagnara, Italy; Joe Parrini, York, Pa.; Dusty Drenth, Davenport, Iowa

88 -- Cody Olson, Naples