Headline: Team Massachusetts Remains In the Hunt at the 2009 USGA Men's State Team Championship... Tied for 7th Place
For Immediate Release: September 24, 2009
St. Louis, MO — The team from Massachusetts did not lose much ground on day two of the 2009 USGA Men's State Team Championship. (Story Continues Below)
Event Links of Interest
Following two rounds of 18-hole stroke play, the team of Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC), John Hadges (Thorny Lea GC) and Brian Higgins (Franklin CC) stand in a tie for seventh place overall with a two-day total of 1-over par 285.
On this day, it was captain and eight-time USGA Men's State Team Championship participant Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC) who came through with the low round of the day for his team as he carded a 1-under par 70.
He was one of only nine competitors out of a field of 152 able to break par on a day when the 7,150-yard, par-71 layout was playing as tough as ever. It was a welcome result for Vana who was disappointed with his first-round score of 4-over par 75.
Also contributing to today's team score – the two lowest scores from each three-person team constitute the team score for each round – was Higgins who posted a 3-over par 74. For the second day in a row, Higgins struggled off the tee but used a stellar short game to keep himself on par with the rest of the field.
Meanwhile, Vana seemed in control from start to finish. Despite a constant rain that fell on the players throughout their morning round, Vana was able to find the fairways and greens and was waiting for his putter to heat up. Then, on his 35th hole of the championship, he finally drained a putt... a 20 footer for birdie.
Following the second round, the field was re-paired according to score. The threesome will tee off in 10-minute intervals beginning at 8:33 a.m. Vana, Higgins and Hadges will play alongside competitors representing Texas and Kansas.
Follow all of the action online at www.stateteam.org.
Photo of the Day – 17th hole at The Country Club of St. Albans
