News Release

For Immediate Release: July 19, 2001

For the first time in more than 12 years, New Hampshire can call the New England Amateur champion one of its own. Craig Steckowych out of Cocheco CC shot 71 on the final 18 holes en route to a 8-under par 280 victory at The Quechee Club in Quechee, Vermont. Steve Robbins was the last New Hampshire player to raise the trophy back in 1978 at the Hartford GC.

Steckowych entered the final stage of the championship tied with Rob Oppenheim and William Hadden for the lead. Oppenheim, a senior at Rollins College, jumped out to a one-stroke lead on the 12th hole. It wasn't until the players reached the par-3 16th hole that the tide suddenly changed. Steckowych chipped in for birdie, while Oppenheim three-putted for bogey. Oppenheim fell further behind after making bogey on the 17th hole.

Strapped with a two-stroke deficit, Oppeneheim made things exciting down the stretch after sending his second shot onto the green on the par-5 18th hole. Faced with a 45-foot eagle putt to tie, the Indian Ridge CC player watched as his putt ran just past the hole by a mere foot. Steckowych 2 putted from 8 feet for the win.

Steve Sokol started off the day four strokes behind the leaders but slowly inched his way up the leaderboard as the day progressed. The Southern Florida player appeared poised to take over the lead when he faced a 15-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole this afternoon, but then 3-putted to finish the championship at 6-under par 282. Sokol put himself in contention thanks to a Championship-best round of 6-under par 66 on Wednesday afternoon.

Had Oppenheim been able to pull out the victory today, it would have been the sixth time in the last seven years that a Massachusetts player captured the Championship. In total 7 of the top 15 finishers this year hailed from the Bay State.