Headline: Team Massachusetts Looking For a Record Sixth Title at 2009 Tri-State Matches Set for Pleasant Valley Country Club
For Immediate Release: October 5, 2009
Norton, MA — In a few short days, a team of the Bay State's best will take on fierce competition from Connecticut and Rhode Island at the 2009 Tri-State Matches being held at Pleasant Valley Country Club on October 8-9.
At stake, a chance at capturing a record six straight titles which is something that has not been accomplished since the event's debut in 1907. (Story Continues Below)
2009 Tri-State Matches Quick Links
"We have another strong team of good guys and good players assembled for this year," said Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC), who will be making his 16th appearance at this event. "Having the opportunity to make history will certainly put the pressure on us, but we will not be thinking of any records. We will keep our focus on winning our individual and team matches."
That type of focus is a common thread among the 12 individuals (see more information below) selected for this year's team. Vana, the nine-time Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year, leads a team of eight accomplished mid-amateurs and four senior amateurs.
The teams from Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will compete in two days of singles and foursomes play. The event dates back to 1928 and has traditionally included eight mid amateurs and two senior amateurs. However, new for the 2009 event each state will be featuring eight mid amateur and four senior amateur competitors.
"At the beginning of each year, I set goals and one of my main goals was making the Tri-State Matches," said Ryan Riley (Norton CC), one of the team members making their first appearance in the event. "Playing for something more than just yourself and representing an entire state of players will be a tremendous honor."
Adding pressure this year will be the fact that Massachusetts will serve as host for the first time since 2006. This year the players will take on the beautiful and challenging layout of Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton.
"The entire staff at PV has been amazing," said Jesse Menachem, the MGA director of rules and competition. "The players will not only be in for a great test of golf, but they will no doubt be treated superbly by entire staff and membership."
Competition will kick off on Thursday with foursome match play beginning at 12:00 p.m.
Mike Calef (Brockton CC)
Calef set himself above the rest this past season by qualifying for and competing at the U.S. Amateur Championship. The Brockton-resident used a 6-under par 66 score during the morning session to earn one of the three qualifying spots available at Maplegate Country Club. He also advanced to match play at the 2009 Massachusetts Amateur Championship and finished T25 at the Massachusetts Open Championship.
* Mike Cole (Larry Gannon Municipal GC)
The newest member of the senior amateur circuit is making the most of his time as a 55 year old as Cole made a strong statement at the 2009 Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship by finishing in second place. Cole is no stranger to pressure situations... after all he was a finalist at the 2004 Massachusetts Amateur Championship.
John Gilmartin (Indian Ridge CC)
One of the most consistent golfers in the state, Gilmartin has proven that he can play with even the best golfers. After capturing one of the final qualifying spots at the 2009 Massachusetts Amateur Championship, Gilmartin delivered the upset of the year by knocking off Matt Parziale in the Round of 32. He also finished T2 at the North Shore Amateur and T7 at the Ouimet Invitational.
John Hadges (Thorny Lea GC)
The 2008 Massachusetts Amateur Champion continued his stellar play this past season. Although he was unable to defend his title, Hadges advanced to the quarterfinals of that marquee MGA event and finished T2 at the Tarlow Invitational and T3 at the Ouimet Invitational. He was also a member of the three-person team that competed at the 2009 USGA State Team Championship.
Brian Higgins (Franklin CC)
The 2008 Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year peaked at the right time as he claimed his second straight Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship by a record 12 strokes, won the Tarlow Invitational title and then went on to compete in the 2009 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. He was also a member of the three-person team that competed at the 2009 USGA State Team Championship.
* Robert Linn (Berkshire Hills CC)
To say that it has been a stellar first year of senior play for Linn would be an understatement. Highlights from this past season include qualifying and competing at the 2009 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship and winning his first-ever New England Senior Amateur Championship at Wyantenuck Country Club.
* Paul Murphy (Charles River CC)
The perennial senior standout is having another monster season. Murphy is coming off a victory – his first ever – at the 2009 Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship. Over the course of his career Murphy has qualified for nearly 30 Massachusetts Amateur Championships and 30 Massachusetts Open Championships. This will be his 15th appearance at the Tri-State Matches.
* Paul Nunez (Ludlow CC)
This past season, Nunez captured a record fourth Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship titles with partner Jim Ruschioni. In addition to that impressive feat, Nunez also qualified for and competed in the 2009 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship and finished T4 at the New England Senior Amateur Championship.
Ryan Riley (Norton CC)
It has been a memorable season for Riley who was simply dominating at the 2009 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship. En route to capturing the title by four strokes, he also matched the Franconia Golf Course record by firing a second-round score of 8-under par 63. He was also a co-champion of the 2009 Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship and finished T5 at the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship.
Ben Spitz (The Harmon Club)
The 2006 Massachusetts Amateur Champion will be making his first appearance at the Tri-State Matches. Following a successful collegiate career at the University of Rhode Island, Spitz is settling into his amateur career quite nicely. Earlier this season, Spitz finished T4 at the Massachusetts Open Championship which was the second best performance posted by an amateur. He then went on to qualify for match play at the Massachusetts Amateur Championship.
Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC)
No other golfer in modern amateur history has competed in as many Tri-State Matches as Vana. In addition to his nine Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year honors, Vana has collected 12 MGA Championship titles over the course of his career. This past season, Vana advanced to the finals of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship, captured the New England Invitational and finished second at the Ouimet Invitational… an event he has won a record four times. Most recently Vana was Team Massachusetts' low scorer at the 2009 USGA State Team Championship.
Kevin Velardo (CC of Billerica)
The recent graduate of St. John's University enjoyed a strong year as he made noise at the Massachusetts Amateur Championship by advancing to the Round of 16. One week later, Velardo took on the top amateurs in the Northeast and posted an impressive third-place finish at the 2009 New England Amateur Championship. Only eventual champion and newly-turned-professional Matt Parziale and Rhode Island's Garrett Medeiros were able to best Velardo that week.
* Indicates a senior amateur
Schedule of Events
Here is a schedule of events for the 76th Tri-State Matches being held at Pleasant Valley Country Club.
Thursday, October 8
12:00 p.m. – Foursome Match Play
|
Connecticut |
Massachusetts |
Rhode Island |
|
McNally-Bolduc |
Linn-Nunez |
Goryl-Donnell |
|
McLoughlin-Stone |
Murphy-Cole |
Sampson-Pirie |
|
Griffin-Leahey |
Vana-Calef |
Blanchard-Valois |
|
Hermanson-Hoder |
Higgins-Gilmartin |
Leopold-Quigley |
|
Gentile-Dietz |
Hadges-Spitz |
Pozez-Tuthill |
|
Perry-Hermstadt |
Riley-Velardo |
Kern-Forcier |
Friday, October 9
8:30 a.m.
– Singles Match Play
|
Connecticut |
Massachusetts |
Rhode Island |
|
Larry Bolduc |
Robert Linn |
Stephen Sampson |
|
Dave McNally |
Paul Murphy |
Dr. George Pirie |
|
Shawn McLoughlin |
Paul Nunez |
George Donnell |
|
Lou Stone |
Mike Cole |
Tom Goryl |
|
Patrick Griffin |
Brian Higgins |
Bobby Leopold |
|
Randy Hoder |
Frank Vana |
Charlie Blanchard |
|
Phil Perry |
John Hadges |
Brad Valois |
|
Rudy Hermstadt |
Mike Calef |
Paul Quigley |
|
Jim Gentile |
Kevin Velardo |
Billy Forcier |
|
Brent Dietz |
Ryan Riley |
Mitch Pozez |
|
Bill Hermanson |
John Gilmartin |
Ben Tuthill |
|
Ryan Leahey |
Benjamin Spitz |
Jeff Kern |