Headline: First of Six Qualifying Rounds for the 2016 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship Held at Highfields Golf & Country Club

For Immediate Release: August 4, 2016

Highfields Golf & Country Club

Grafton, MA — Three competitors posted an even-par 72 at Highfields G&CC to lead the field of 20 players who qualified for the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship, scheduled for September 20-22 at TGC in Falmouth.

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Alex Davis (Brae Burn CC), David Fontaine, Jr. (Longmeadow CC) and Chris Needham (Tour Greater Boston) all finished with scores of even par 72 at the 18-hole course designed locally by Mungeam Cornish Golf Design.

Starting on the 10th hole, Davis recorded three birdies to go along with his three bogeys on the first nine of the day. He then registered an additional birdie and seven pars.

Fontaine rebounded from a double bogey on the first hole, a difficult par-5 that played to 516 yards, by making par on each of the remaining eight holes on the front nine, and then recording two birdies and an eagle on the back nine to ensure his spot at next month’s Championship Proper.

Needham, the third of the three players to finish tied for the lead, recorded four birdies through his first nine holes (all on the back nine) and finished even after he carded a pair of bogeys and a double bogey on the remaining nine holes.

The remaining 17 players to qualify for the MGA Mid-Amateur Championship saw scores range between 1-over par 73 and 5-over par 77 in Grafton. 

An additional eight players shot 6 over-par 78 to finish as alternates. Those competitors will be placed on a priority list per the Alternate Policy, which can be found on the MGA Policies & Procedures page.

Five additional qualifiers will be held throughout the Bay State over the next two weeks. Beverly G&TC and Sharon CC will host on August 9, while others are scheduled at Segregansett CC (August 10), Tekoa CC (August 11) and Cape Cod CC (August 17).

Entries are open to amateur golfers who have reached their 25th birthday by September 20, 2016, who hold membership at an MGA member club and have an up-to-date MGA/USGA GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 5.4 (as determined by the July 1, 2016 Handicap Revision), or who have completed their handicap certification.