Headline: Team Massachusetts Looking For a Record Seventh Title at 2010 Tri-State Matches Set for Metacomet Country Club
For Immediate Release: October 6, 2010
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 2010 Tri-State Matches being held at Metacomet Country Club in East Providence (RI) on October 7-8.
At stake, a chance at capturing a record seven straight titles which is something that has not been accomplished since the event's debut in 1907. (Story Continues Below)
2010 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 17th appearance at this event. "Having the opportunity to make history again 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, is one of eight accomplished mid-amateurs and four senior amateurs who will be competing this week.
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 had traditionally included eight mid amateurs and two senior amateurs. Beginning in 2009, the event was expanded so that each state could feature eight mid amateur and four senior amateur competitors.
Competition will kick off on Thursday with foursome match play beginning at 12:30 p.m.
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Jordan Burke (Needham GC) – The 30-year-old from Needham advanced to the quarterfinals of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. Weeks earlier, Burke was one of only six amateur competitors who qualified for the third and final round of the Massachusetts Open Championship. He also registered top-10 finishes at the Norfolk County Classic, New England Amateur Invitational and the Tarlow Invitational. |
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Mike Calef (Brockton CC) – The 31-year-old from South Boston was the lone Bay State golfer to advance to Match Play at the 2010 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. He won two matches before he was defeated by Sean Knapp in the Round of 16 at Atlantic Golf Club in Bridgehampton, New York. Earlier this summer, Calef put on a show at the Massachusetts Open Championship where he finished as one of two low amateurs. He also finished second at the Norfolk County Classic and carded a top-10 finish at the Ouimet Memorial Invitational and Tarlow Invitational. |
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Alistair Catto (The Orchards GC) –The 2007 MGA Senior Player of the Year enjoyed another solid season. The soon-to-be 59 year old (his birthday is later this month) joined teammates Murphy and Linn at the 2010 British Senior Amateur Championship. He also came just one stroke from winning the 2010 Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship at Plymouth Country Club. |
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Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich GC) – The perennial standout competitor began the season on a high note when he captured his first-ever Norfolk County Classic title in May. It marked the first time that he had won an event that is included in the MGA's Richard D. Haskell Player of the Year Points System. He went on to advance to the semifinals of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship where he pushed eventual champion Hadges to 21 holes. During a quarterfinal round, Clapp garnered headlines when he carded seven birdies and one eagle during his Round of 16 match. |
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Daniel Falcucci (Cyprian Keyes GC) – It was certainly a season of firsts for the 27-year-old from Worcester. The former All-Region player from Bryant University carded a three-round score of 5-over par 212 to win the 2010 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship – his first-ever MGA Championship title. In July, Falcucci competed in the 2010 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. It was the first time in his career that he advanced past sectional qualifying and represented the Bay State at a USGA Championship Proper. He also finished second – for the second time in three years – at the Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship. |
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John Hadges (Thorny Lea GC) – The two-time Massachusetts Amateur Champion is having one of his strongest seasons to date. In July, the 50-year-old from North Easton won his second Massachusetts Amateur Championship title at Myopia Hunt Club. He followed up that performance by finishing second in both the Tarlow Invitational and Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship and won his eighth Southeastern Amateur title. He also joined teammates Brian Higgins and Frank Vana, Jr. at the 2010 USGA Men’s State Team Championship. It marked the second straight year that Hadges was selected to represent Team Massachusetts. |
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Brian Higgins (Franklin CC) – The 2008 Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year is well on his way to reclaiming that title in 2010 after another dominating season. In addition to qualifying for both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships, he registered a come-from-behind victory at the New England Amateur Championship. He also advanced to the quarterfinals of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship, won the Worcester County Amateur and represented the Bay State at the 2010 USGA Men’s State Team Championship for the second year in a row. |
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Jack Kearney (Elmcrest CC) – The veteran competitor made the most of his senior amateur debut by winning the 2010 Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship (he made a birdie on the 18th hole to defeat teammate Alistair Catto by one stroke) and the Lowery Division of the Ouimet Memorial Tournament. He also – along the way – finished second at the Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship and qualified for the 2010 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship. |
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Bob Linn (Berkshire Hills CC) – The 2009 George M. Cohen MGA Senior Player of the Year had yet another solid senior amateur season. A contender in nearly every event he competed in this past season, Linn came through with a second-place finish at the 2010 New England Senior Amateur Championship, competed at the 2010 British Senior Amateur Championship and posted a top-10 finish at the Berkshire Hills Singles Tournament. |
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Paul Murphy (Charles River CC) – One year ago, Murphy captured his first Massachusetts Senior Amateur Championship title. Since that memorable win – it came 21 years after he won the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship – Murphy has continued to roll. This past season, the 59 year old was one of four Bay State seniors to compete in the 2010 British Senior Amateur Championship, finished as medalist at U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying and won the 2010 Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship. |
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Ryan Riley (Norton CC) – Making his second appearance at the Tri-State Matches is Riley, a three-time MGA Champion. One year after winning two titles – the Massachusetts Four-Ball and Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championships – Riley enjoyed another strong season on the links. In May, Riley captured the 2010 Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship title with partner Herbie Aikens. He also advanced to the quarterfinals of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship and finished third at the Ouimet Memorial Invitational. |
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Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC) – No other golfer in modern amateur history has competed in as many Tri-State Matches as Vana (this year will be No. 17). 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 quarterfinals of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship and captured both the New England Invitational and a record fifth Ouimet Memorial Invitational title. Most recently Vana was one of only two golfers to participate in a record nine USGA Men’s State Team Championships. |
Schedule of Events
Here is a schedule of events for the 77th Tri-State Matches being held at Metacomet Country Club. Starting times are subject to change.
Thursday, October 7
12:30 p.m. – Foursome Match Play
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Connecticut |
Massachusetts |
Rhode Island |
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Bracken-Ransford |
Catto-Linn |
McLane-Quigley |
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Ryzewicz-Stone |
Kearney-Murphy |
Acciardo-Pirie |
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Hedden-Leahey |
Calef-Higgins |
Leopold-Lukowicz |
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Davison-Gentile |
Burke-Clapp |
Blanchard-DiSarro |
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Ahern-Hermanson |
Hadges-Vana |
Caprio-Tuthill |
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Ballo-Perry |
Falcucci-Riley |
Costa-Nuttall |
Friday, October 8
8:30 a.m.
– Singles Match Play
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Connecticut |
Massachusetts |
Rhode Island |
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Jeff Hedden |
John Hadges |
Bobby Leopold |
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Mike Ballo, Jr. |
Brian Higgins |
Jamie Lukowicz |
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Ryan Leahey |
Mike Calef |
Charlie Blanchard |
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Jim Gentile |
Frank Vana, Jr. |
Eugene DiSarro |
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Bill Hermanson |
Doug Clapp |
Ben Tuthill |
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Brian Ahern |
Daniel Falcucci |
Mike Caprio |
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Phil Perry |
Ryan Riley |
Jon Costa |
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Peter Davison |
Jordan Burke |
Dave Nuttall |
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Gene Ryzewicz |
Jack Kearney |
Dr. George Pirie |
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Lou Stone |
Robert Linn |
Tom Acciardo |
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Jack Bracken |
Paul Murphy |
Paul Quigley |
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Jim Ransford |
Alistair Catto |
Gary McLane |
