When the 58th Hornblower Memorial is played Friday and Saturday at Plymouth Country Club, there’ll be a delightful assortment of storylines that speak to the vibrant nature of the golf landscape.
As expected, the defending champion – Tommy Ethier of Nashua (N.H.) Country Club – will be on stage at this Donald Ross gem. So, too, will a parade of former winners such as Matt Parziale, Steve Tasho, John Hadges, Jack Kearney, and Ray Richard.
But it’s a testament to the strength of the game that two women will tee it up: Molly Smith, a junior at Westford Academy, runner-up in the Mass Golf Women’s Amateur last summer at Plymouth CC, and Shannon Johnson, reigning Mass Golf Women’s Player of the Year.
Given that the collegiate season only recently concluded, it’s always worth keeping an eye on those coming off several months of competition, if you’re looking for potential winners, that is.