Headline: Jim Ruschioni Headlines Day 4 of Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Qualifying... Golf Legend Earns Chance to Win Yet Another MGA Championship
For Immediate Release: July 6, 2010
Uxbridge, MA — It's not often that you see Jim Ruschioni (Monoosnock GC) on the first tee of a qualifying event, but all was right in the world when one saw – as expected – his name posted atop the leaderboard.
The Massachusetts golf legend who has amassed a record 12 MGA Championships over the course of his career fired a 1-under par 71 today at Blissful Meadows Golf Course during a Massachusetts Amateur Public Links qualifier. Although not accustomed to participating in many MGA qualifiers over the years, Ruschioni was not fazed by the pressure as he carded four birdies and three bogies en route to his medalist score. As a result of his performance today in Uxbridge, Ruschioni – along with the other 15 qualifiers – have earned the right to compete at next month's Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship.
"It is something different for me to play in a qualifier, especially in an MGA qualifier," said Ruschioni, who has enjoyed years of exemptions as a result of his outstanding play and top finishes in the major MGA Championships. "I came out today and I had absolutely nothing to lose. I figured that if I would go out and play my game and if I did that then I would be fine."
A name that is synonymous with excellence, Ruschioni was dominant during his amateur and mid-amateur years. In MGA events alone, he has won three Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championships, two Massachusetts Four-Ball Championships and two Massachusetts Father & Son Championships. Upon turning 55 years of age in 2003, the longtime Fitchburg resident continued to capture titles as he went on to take home four straight George M. Cohen MGA Senior Player of the Year honors. During that impressive stretch he won the 2006 Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship and four Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championships.
So while these days his golfing endeavors remain focused primarily on the senior amateur circuit, Ruschioni is finding time for a few select non-senior events including the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship. While age has played a part in his decision-making process, another major factor has been a fragile back. Diagnosed with a C5-C6 herniated disk in 2007, Ruschioni has gone through a three-year period where he has felt good, been sidelined and – more often than not – been in great pain.
"My back has been OK," said Ruschioni, who stands as the only competitor who has been a part of winning teams at both the Massachusetts Four-Ball (1996 and 2001) and Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championships (2003, 2004, 2008 and 2009). "I'll make some swings and I'll have a twinge and it will bother me for the rest of the round, but it doesn't linger anymore. The next day I am pretty good... it's still there but I can still play golf which is nice."
On this day, his back was cooperating and it resulted in a signature under-par score. Facing a challenging layout in Uxbridge, Ruschioni battled the scorching heat and managed the course to perfection. After making the turn at even par 36, Ruschioni made four straight pars before carding birdies on the 332-yard, par 4 14th and 186-yard, par 3 15th holes to secure his spot at Championship Proper.
"On [holes] 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 I had good birdie putts and I didn't make any of them so I was thinking that if I now make a couple of bogies it might go the wrong way," explained Ruschioni, who made 12- and 20- feet birdie putts on holes 14 and 15, respectively. "The course played difficult with tough pins, the tees were set back and the fairways were playing pretty firm. As a result, I thought that being even par through 13 I was in good shape... [two two straight birdies] gave me some breathing room."
Thus far in 2010, Ruschioni appears to be back in fine form and has made a statement in nearly every event he has competed in thus far. Earlier this season, for example, Ruschioni took on some of the top talent in Massachusetts and finished T13 at the Hornblower Invitational (an event he won in 1992) and then finished as the third top senior in last week's New England Invitational. Ruschioni attributes his early success to a healing back and an uncharacteristically quiet winter season.
For many years, when the cold weather arrived in New England, Ruschioni would head south to Florida and spend most of his time playing golf and enjoying the warmer temperatures. This year, he decided to stay home in Fitchburg, take a break from the sport he loves and hit the gym for the first time in his life.
"I stayed home, read a few books, relaxed and that was the best thing that I could have done," explained Ruschioni. "In years past I would go down there for six months, play 110 rounds of golf and be exhausted and not feel like playing any more golf. I now have a better appreciation for the game and I felt like playing this year. It felt great having that five months off."
Ruschioni is hoping that the break will continue on this season when he looks to capture his fifth George M. Cohen MGA Senior Player of the Year honor which would tie the current record of five such honors set by Ed Fletcher from 1998 to 2002. Before that time, however, he has his sights set on the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship which will be held on a layout that he is very familiar with – Quashnet Valley Country Club.
"They had the [MGA] Mid Amateur there years ago in the ‘80s... that's how long ago it was," said Ruschioni. "I shot a 69 and that was the course record. I recently ran into Bob Chase [the manager of Quashnet Valley Country Club] and he said that somebody finally broke that record. It says something when it took that long to break the record.It's a difficult golf course. It's not a bombers golf course so it brings a lot of people into play. I'm looking forward to it."
With the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship being one of the few MGA Championships that Ruschioni has yet to win... competitors – young and senior – should beware!
2010 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Qualifying
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Blissful Meadows Golf Course(Uxbridge, MA)
Par 72 (36-36)
Qualifiers
1) Jim Ruschioni (Monoosnock CC) 36-35--71
T2) Dan Mastrototaro (Cyprian Keyes GC) 36-36--72
T2) Steve Quartarone (The Tour of Greater Boston) 38-34--72
T2) Charles Tyner (The Meadow at Peabody GC) 38-34--72
5) Jay Pappas (Cyprian Keyes GC) 36-38--74
6) David Holmes (Blackstone National GC) 41-34--75
T7) Robert Blackmar (Kettle Brook GC) 38-38--76
T7) Zack Ungvarsky (CC of Billerica) 40-36--76
9) Jim Adams (Stow Acres CC) 39-38--77
T10) Jeff Corbett (Sagamore Spring GC) 35-43--78
T10) James Broderick (Cyprian Keyes GC) 40-38--78
T10) Carter Fasick (Indian Meadows GC) 40-38--78
T13) Chris Corey (Holden Hills CC) 41-38--79
T13) Peter Ruymann (Charter Oak CC) 43-36--79
T13) Jack Tannar (Blissful Meadows GC) 41-38--79
T13) Cob Carlson (George Wright GC) 40-39--79
Alternates
1st) Brian Lougee (Wayland CC) 40-39--79
2nd) Warren Nelson (Kettle Brook GC) 40-40--80
2010 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Qualifying
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Southampton Country Club (Southampton, MA)
Par 70 (35-35)
Qualifiers
1) Jesse Morgan IV (Amherst GC) 34-34--68
2) Keith Burch (Crumpin-Fox Club) 34-35--69
3) Daniel Morgan (Hickory Ridge CC) 37-36--73
4) David Smith (Franconia GC) 36-39--75
T5) Mark Pandolfi (Franconia GC) 39-37--76
T5) Scott Rainaud (The Ledges GC) 37-39--76
Alternates
1st) Mike Vadnais (Dunroamin CC) 38-39--77
2nd) Alan Alminas (Hampden CC) 37-40--77
2010 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Qualifying
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Pembroke Country Club (Pembroke, MA)
Par 71 (35-36)
Qualifiers
1) Ben Bellucci (Sagamore Spring GC) 38-38--76
T2) Thomas Czarnota (South Shore CC) 36-41--77
T2) Tim Brennan, Jr. (Pinehills GC) 39-38--77
4) Shuvam Bhaumik (Federal Street Golf) 41-37--78
T5) David Pomarico (South Shore CC) 39-40--79
T5) Kevin Carrozza (D.W. Field GC) 40-39--79
T7) Sean Collins (Dennis Pines GC) 39-41--80
T7) Jacob Skinner (Far Corner GC) 38-42--80
T9) David Drucker (Hickory Hill GC) 42-39--81
Alternates
1st) Peter Cunningham (The Meadow at Peabody GC) 37 44--81
2nd) Steve St. Amand (The Meadow at Peabody GC) 40-41--81
2010 Massachusetts Public Links Qualifying
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Glen Ellen Country Club (Millis, MA)
Par 72 (36-36)
Qualifiers
T1) Devin Bibeau (Highfields G & CC) 36-36--72
T1) Matt Lussier (Glen Ellen CC) 39-33--72
T1) Spencer Sweitzer (Townsend Ridge CC) 38-34--72
T4) Thor Van Vaerenewyck (Heather Hill CC) 37-37--74
T4) Benjamin Bridgeo (Red Tail GC) 38-36--74
T4) Cole L Childs (Glen Ellen CC) 35-39--74
T7) Stephen Zaino (Glen Ellen CC) 38-37--75
T7) Brian O'Leary (Ponkapoag GC) 40-35--75
T9) Jeff Mucciarone (B.A.G.S.) 37 39 76
T9) Matt Long (Trull Brook GC) 39-37--76
T9) Rob Parsi (Stow Acres CC) 39-37--76
T12) Ian M Brennan (Monoosnock CC) 40 37--77
T12) Brad Gates (Glen Ellen CC) 37-40--77
T12) Thomas Sullivan (Maplegate CC) 40-37--77
T12) Nicholas Alfano (Mount Hood GC) 39-38--77
T12) Dan Tucker (Sagamore Spring GC) 39-38--77
T12) Jason Litchfield (Blackstone National GC) 37-40--77
Alternate
1st) Shane Thibault (Westminster CC) 39-38--77
