Bellingham's Brian Higgins savors - and defends - golfer-of-year honor

Higgins, who ended Frank Vana Jr.'s seven-year hold on the Richard D. Haskell Trophy, awarded to the MGA's top point-getter, was third in the point race this past week, trailing Kevin Carey of Dennis Pines and Vana, who plays out of Marlborough CC.

"The honor is very precious to me," said Higgins, a 10-time club champion at Franklin Country Club. "It was the culmination of consistent play that resulted in four wins and a bunch of top 10's.

"At the beginning of last year, I didn't have a goal of being Player of the Year, but right around the time of the state amateur, I was around the top of the list and then it became very much a goal of mine."

Higgins, who played briefly as a professional in South Florida before being reinstated as an amateur 1998, said the distinction - along with a new putting grip and a fade off the tee that has made his drives more accurate - has given him added confidence for the 2009 season.

Ordinarily, Higgins tees it up in the Massachusetts Open. But this year's tournament, scheduled June 22-24 at Belmont Country Club, will overlap with the prestigious Northeast Amateur at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, R.I. And that's where Higgins, who works out of Hopkinton as a manufacturer's rep, will test his skills against some of the top collegiate and veteran players in the nation.

"I love the Mass. Open. It's one of my favorite tournaments, but I feel this is my one shot at the Northeast Amateur," said Higgins, who received an invitation after applying to the tournament committee. "I did shoot a 66 at Wannamoisett last year during the US Amateur qualifier. I can't say I'm going to win it, but I certainly feel I can compete."

Last year, Higgins was the only golfer from the Bay State to qualify and compete at two USGA Championships - the US Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2, where he missed the cut by a stroke, and the US Mid-Amateur in Milwaukee, where he was two shots shy of the cut.

His Player of the Year points also enabled Higgins - runner-up in the Mass. Amateur at Winchester Country Club in 2002 - to gain exempt status for this year's Amateur July 13-17 at The Country Club in Brookline.

"It's a special course with so much history," said Higgins. "My goal every year is to play well but most of all to enjoy the experience and the people. And always be thankful for my family, whose support has enabled me to play the game at this level.

The Westborough-based United States Tennis Association/New England and Shriner's Hospital for Children-Boston have initiated a "Lids for Kids" campaign at tennis clubs in Eastern Mass. Players are asked to donate used aluminum lids from tennis ball cans into marked containers so that cash collected for the recycled lids can be donated to the hospital. The Adirondack Club in Franklin, the Longfellow Club in Wayland, and the Natick Racquet Club are among the participants. . . .

Western New England College sophomore Nicole Poli of Medfield has been honored as the school's Female Athlete of the Year. A Defensive MVP on the ECAC Division 3 championship lacrosse team, she led the nation (all NCAA divisions) with five caused turnovers per game while scoring 20 goals and adding three assists. Poli also plays defense for the WNEC soccer team. . . .

Connecticut College defensive specialist Cookie Smith was named to the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Association's All-Berkshire Region second team after the junior from Framingham collected 20 ground balls and caused 13 turnovers. "Cookie is a natural back on our defensive end," said Camels head coach Heather McClelland. "She has great instincts and likes to dictate what the attack does." Smith will be a tricaptain next season.

Marvin Pave can be reached at 508-820-4223 or marvin.pave@rcn.com.