Headline: Jeff Mucciarone Cards Low Score at Day 2 of Massachusetts Open Qualifying in Worcester
For Immediate Release: May 20, 2009
Norton, MA —Surrounded by a field of the region’s top professional talent, one amateur golfer – Jeff Mucciarone (Walpole CC) – stole the show and captured medalist honors during today’s Massachusetts Open qualifying round held at Green Hill Municipal Golf Course in Worcester.
Mucciarone’s low score of 3-under par 69 was one stroke better than mini tour player Jonathan Brisbane (Rutland, VT), who posted a 2-under par 68. Today’s event in Worcester is one of six qualifying rounds which are being held this month as a prelude to the 100th playing of the Massachusetts Open Championship scheduled for June 22-24 at Belmont Country Club.
Mucciarone, who carded five birdies and two bogies on the day, plays out of Walpole Country Club and is a regular competitor in Boston Amateur Golf Society (BAGS) events. Just five days ago, Mucciarone posted a 71 at River Bend Country Club to capture first place in the low gross category. That win marked his eighth total win on the BAGS Tour this season.
The 40-year-old Westwood resident is hoping that his good play will continue on at Belmont Country Club where he will be joined by a total of 17 other qualifiers who advanced today at Green Hill Municipal Golf Course.
Included in that list are two surging amateurs – Andy Drohen (Crestview CC) and RJ Foley (Sterling National CC), who posted scores of even par 72 and 1-over par 73, respectively.
Drohen, the 2003 Massachusetts Amateur Champion, is coming off a fifth-place finish with partner Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich GC) at the Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship held earlier this month. Although Drohen – a former caddie (during his youth days) at The Country Club – has not won another MGA title since his dramatic victory in Brookline in 2003, he will be looking to relive that magic this July when he tees it up at the Massachusetts Amateur Championship which is making a return to the historic TCC layout. Before that time, however, he will look to become the first amateur golfer since 1999 to win the MGA State Open title.
Joining Drohen on the tee in Belmont next month will be Foley who was just three shots off the pace at last weekend’s Norfolk County Classic where he finished in a tie for fourth place overall.
One notable professional qualifier from today was Steve Alminas (Longmeadow CC), the 2005 and 2006 Massachusetts Four-Ball Champion. Alminas won those back-to-back MGA title with his younger brother Peter while still an amateur in college at Winthrop University.
2009 Massachusetts Open Qualifying
Green Hill Municipal Golf Course (Worcester, MA)
May 21, 2009
Par 72 (36-36)
Qualifiers
1) a-Jeff Mucciarone (Walpole CC) 34-35--69
T2) Jonathan Brisbane (Rutland, VT) 34-36--70
T2) a-Ronald Laverdiere (Hickory Ridge CC) 34-36--70
T4) a-Chris Corey (Holden Hills CC) 36-35--71
T4) a-John McNeill (BAGS) – 33-38--71
T4) a-Kyle Tibbetts (Framingham CC) 35-36--71
T7) a-Mark Goodridge (Sterling National CC) 36-36--72
T7) a-Andy Drohen (Crestview CC) 35-37--72
T9) Rahul Desai (Avon, CT) 34-39--73
T9) Bill Kubinski (Westover GC) 37-36--73
T9) Tom Paton (Allentown, PA) 35-38--73
T9) a-Ian Macgillivray (Green Hill Municipal GC) 36-37--73
T9) a-RJ Foley (Sterling National CC) 36-37--73
T14) a-Kip Webber (Stow Acres CC) 34-40--74
T14) Steve Alminas (Longmeadow CC) 37-37--74
T14) a- Jim Bombard Jr (Blackstone National GC) 39-35--74
T14) Alex Smith (Syracuse, NY) 36-38--74
T14) Patrick Forbes (Toronto, ON) 37-37--74
Alternates
1st) a-Ryan Riley (Norton CC) 35-39--74
2nd) a- Dean Burpee (Charles River CC) 37-37—74
