MGA: Massachusetts Golf Association Illustration Illustration

News Release

For Immediate Release: June 21, 2001

 After starting the final day of play five shots back, Rich Parker (Lebanon, NH) fought his way up the leader board and captured the 2001 Massachusetts Open title. The Fore-U Driving Range professional birdied seven of the first 10 holes and finished with a three-day total of 6 under par 207. Parker will take home the Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial Trophy and a check for $15,000.

Five players - Bob Giusti (Carver, MA), Rodney Butcher (Orlando, FL), Brian Quinn (Philadelphia, PA), Shannon Sykora (Plantation, FL) and Jim Salinetti (South Lee, MA) - all had a chance to catch Parker, but finished one shot back at 5 under par 208. Butcher missed a six-foot putt on the 18th hole that would have given him a share of the lead. Minutes later, Sykora (shown left) had a similar chance but watched his 15-foot birdie putt slide past the hole left to right.

Salinetti, reigning Mass Amateur champion, was tied for first place after two days but suffered four straight bogies on the back nine en route to an even par 71 on Wednesday. Giusti made a valiant run at the title after shooting a 6 under par 65, making birdie on six holes and posting zero bogies on the day. Scott

Hawley (Shrewsbury, MA) took home the 2001 Commonwealth Cup, awarded to the tournament's low amateur. Through 54 holes, Hawley was tied with Michael Carbone (Brewster, MA) at 2 under par 211. The two amateurs faced off in a playoff where Hawley prevailed on the par-3 third hole.

The next MGA event will be the Massachusetts Amateur, which will take place on July 9-13 at The Orchards Golf Course in South Hadley, MA.

Highlights From Round 2:

Jim Salinetti (South Lee, MA) and Mike Adamson (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) shot a 3 under par 68 to take a one shot lead at the 92nd Massachusetts Open held at Mount Pleasant Country Club. A total of 43 players in the 150-man field survived the cut after two days of play and will tee off on Wednesday morning to determine the 2001 champion.

Following a 4 under par 67 on Monday, Day 1 leader Rick Karbowski (Worcester, MA) turned in an even par 71 today and is currently tied for second place with Shannon Sykora (Plantation, FL), who posted a 3 under par 68.

The first group will tee off at 7:30am, while Salinetti and Adamson are scheduled to begin their Mass Open quest at approximately 10:18am.

Day 2 Notes:
• Bobby Miller (S. Yarmouth, MA), a 28-year Blue Rock CC professional, set a modern-day Mass Open record by shooting a 29 on the front nine. He posted seven birdies during that stretch
Tommy Gillis (Beverly, MA) scored the first hole-in-one of the 2001 Championship, when he holed the par-3 13th hole
• Scott Hawley (Shrewsbury, MA) is the current low amateur with a two-day total of 2 under par 140
• The winner of the 2001 Mass Open will be presented the Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial trophy and take home a first prize check of $15,000 out of the $75,000 purse. The low amateur for 54 holes will be awarded the Commonwealth Cup.

Highlights From Round 1:

Rick Karbowski (Worcester, MA) jumped out to a one-stroke lead after day one of the Massachusetts Open held at Mount Pleasant CC. Karbowski, a 23-year professional and former Mass Junior Champion (1972-73), posted a bogey-less round to finish with a 4 under par 67.

After shooting 35 on the front nine, Karbowski birdied the 11th and 12th holes and then finished the day with a birdie on the par-4 18th hole.

There is little breathing room for Karbowski at the top as he is followed closely by a hoard of players.Heading into Day 2, four strokes separate the top 39 competitors. Right behind Karbowski stand Allen Menne (Tisbury, MA), a-Bruce Carter (Worcester, MA) and a-William Link (Acton, MA), who all shot a 3 under par 68 during the afternoon session.

Immediately following that threesome is a group of 11 competitors, including 2000 Mass Open champion James Gilleon (Summerfield, FL) and 2000 Mass Amateur champion Jim Salinetti (South Lee, MA), who finished with a 2 under par 69. Salinetti, who turned pro last winter and now plays on the Buy.com Tour, posted three birdies on the front nine but was hampered by a bogey on the 11th hole and a double-bogey on number 15. Gilleon began his day with a three-birdie, two-bogey front nine and then finished his round with a one-birdie 35 on the back nine.

The second day of competition for the Massachusetts Open Championship will begin on Tuesday morning. The top 40 finishers, including ties, will advance to the third and final day of play on Wednesday. The winner will be presented the Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial trophy and take home a first prize check of $15,000 out of the $75,000 purse. The low amateur for 54 holes will be awarded the Commonwealth Cup.