Golf Odyssey Continues for MA Firefighter

June 20 -- RUMFORD, RI -- The whirlwind tour was set in motion last Oct. 13 when he became a national amateur golf champion.

Matt Parziale of Brockton has been on the move ever since winning the U.S. Mid-Amateur tournament, his unique story of a firefighter taking part in two major professional tournaments in 2018 spreading throughout the country.

There was the trip to Augusta, Ga., in April to play in the Masters and then making the cut at the U.S. Open at the challenging Shinnecock Hills course on Long Island last weekend.

Parziale, who is on leave for his job in Brockton, has enjoyed every minute of the hectic but memorable experience, even if there hasn't been time to really soak it all in yet.

"I really haven't thought about that,'' said Parziale. "It's been so busy, just one thing after another, but I'm definitely having fun. It's better than work.''

Two days after finishing tied for the lowest amateur score at the U.S. Open, Parziale was back on a golf course, this one in his native New England on Tuesday afternoon.

Parziale took part in a practice round in preparation of the start of 57th Northeast Amateur Invitational at Wannamoisett Country Club. He was scheduled to tee off at the four-day tournament at 8:48 this morning and is one of the main attractions in a field that includes some of the best amateurs around.

After this tournament ends, Parziale will be at Fenway Park on Saturday night to throw out the first pitch before the Red Sox-Seattle Mariners game, an honor to which he is looking forward.

There were more media interviews to fulfill before and after playing 18 holes, but Parziale is soaking it all in.

"It's been fun,'' said Parziale. "I decided I was going to have fun with it and embrace it and I have. I've done a lot of media requests, haven't said no to many things. I'm happy with the way I approached it and it's been fun.''

Parziale, who played a practice round with Tiger Woods at the Masters, shot 81 and 79 at his first major tourney, then improved two months later at the U.S. Open.

"Whenever you're playing at a high level, everything's magnified." said Parziale. "You know what you need to work on and what you need to get better for the next time. After the Masters, I was able to be more prepared for the U.S. Open and I was able to play well there.''

He tied LSU's Luis Gagne for the low score among the amateurs, going 16-over par after making the cut, something that big names Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy failed to do.

"It was a great week,'' said Parziale, whose father, Vic, was his caddy on Father's Day weekend. "I'm happy to make the cut. I played well at the Masters. My scores didn't show that. To be able to play well at Shinnecock, I was happy. All four days I was pleased with how I played.

"I thought the course was fair. I didn't hit one shot that was a good shot that ended up in a bad spot. I didn't have a problem with the course. I had a game plan. I was very conservative and it worked all four days.''

There were plenty of voices lending support to Parziale as he made his way around Shinnecock Hills.

"A lot of firefighters there, they definitely embraced the story,'' he said. "They were yelling out. You wouldn't think a Boston guy would be liked in New York, but the environment was great and everyone was very supportive.''

There has been plenty of support in his home city of Brockton and throughout the region.

On Tuesday, an electronic billboard on Route 24 in Avon displayed a picture of Parziale and his father with a note of congratulations.

"I went home after the Master's for a month and a half or so and I was home (Monday),'' said Parziale. "Everyone's been great. The support from Thorny Lea (Golf Club), from the city, from the chief (Michael Williams), from the mayor (Bill Carpenter), all the firefighters, everyone in the area has really embraced it.''

After being back in the area this week for the Northeast Amateur, Parziale is headed to North Carolina on Sunday to play in the North & South Men's Amateur tourney starting next Monday.

Next month, Parziale will be playing in the Massachusetts Amateur and he is getting married in August before playing in the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach Aug. 13-19. And the defense of his Mid-Amateur title begins Sept. 22 in Charlotte.

"This is one of my favorite events of the year,'' said Parziale of the Northeast Amateur. "It's a home game. I only live a half-hour away, so it's nice to be able to sleep in my own bed. Then I'm throwing out the first pitch on Saturday and leaving Sunday.

"Things won't be slowing down for me until early October.''

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