Given the chaotic nature of sports this time of year – so much going on, so little time – we will grant a rare mulligan to provide folks the opportunity to reflect upon an impressive performance that wasn’t given proper respect.
Rich Berberian’s historic 59 to open the 103rd NEPGA Championship was utterly majestic.
“Just one of those days when everything kind unfolded the way I envisioned it,” said the Hooksett, N.H., native and teaching professional at Vesper CC in Tyngsboro, Mass.
“When you picture your ball doing something off the tee, and it does it," Berberian said. When you play a little cut into the green and it does it. When you read the green and the ball rolls exactly as you saw it with the speed you expected.”
Well, when you do all that and all goes as you envisioned, you get the sort of day that Berberian had in the first round of the section championship. Going out on the front nine at Agawam Hunt Club in Rumford, R.I., Berberian birdied a par 4, birdied a par 3, eagled a par 5, and birdied a par 4.