News Release
For Immediate Release: August 13, 2001
Steven Alminas missed his birdie putt on the 18th hole, but it didn't
matter because he still walked away as the 2001 Massachusetts Junior Champion.
Alminas, who set a competitive course record (67) on Wednesday, pulled out
a one-shot victory over Ben Spitz, who also shot 67 on the second day of play,
at the Championship held at Quashnet Valley CC in Mashpee. Alminas finished
at 7-under 209. Jim Renner, 2001 Massachusetts Amateur finalist, finished
in third with a 4-under 212.
For the third-straight day, Jim Renner experienced trouble on the 18th hole. After making double bogey on the first two days, he putted in for bogey to finish at 4-under 212. Kevin Silva, who finished three strokes back of Renner, posted his worst round of the Championship on Day 3 -- a 2-over 74 with double bogies on the 9th and 18th holes.
Pre-Junior Division:
Jon Curran displayed steady play throughout three days to walk away with a
four-stroke victory in the Pre-Junior Division. Curran gutted out a 3-over
75 on Day 3 to ward off a late charge by Brendan Mahoney , who shot even par
72. Mahoney finished with 229, two shots ahead of Jeff Wallace. Wallace, who
was paired with Curran on Day 3, threatened the lead as well and was 2-under
through 14 holes. A quadruple bogey on the par-4 14th hole, however, ended
his bid for the title as he finished with a 5-over 77 for the day.
Boys Division:
Peter Uihlein saved his best round for last en route to capturing the Boys
Division title. Uihlein, who was 2 shots behind the leader heading into the
final day, shot a 3-over 75 to edge out John Shicko who finished at 234. First
and second-round leader Jay Driscoll was third at 236. 13-year-old Max Blanchard
delivered the highlight of the day when he made a hole-in-one on the par-3,
135-yard 2nd hole. His 9-iron shot bounced off a hanging branch and rolled
in the hole.
Round 2 Highlights:
The competitive course record was in jeopardy following the first day of play at the Massachusetts Junior Championship -- it didn't last through Day 2. Steven Alminas and Ben Spitz shot a 5-under par 67 on Wednesday, destroying the previous record of 69 at Quashnet Valley CC.
Alminas, who leads the field with a two-day total of 137, posted a bogey-less round that featured two eagles on the 7th and 13th holes. Spitz has been putting well throughout the event and registered a three-birdie, zero-bogey 3-under par 32 on the front nine. He finished off his round with four birdies on the back nine (7 total), marred only by a double bogey on the 11th hole.
Jim Renner, and Kevin Silva finished the second day of play at 3-under par 141. For the second day in a row, Renner had a shot at shooting sub-70 but again made double bogey on the 18th hole. Alminas, Spitz, Renner and Silva will highlight the field of 33 Junior Division players who made the cut, which was set at 162.
Pre-Junior Division:
Jon Curran jumped out to a four-shot lead in the Pre-Junior Division after
shooting 1-over 73 on Day 2 for a two-day total of 150. Jeff Wallace currently
sits in second place, while Sam Chud, who shot a Pre-Junior low-round of 71
on Day 2, and Mark Purrington are in a tie for third place. A total of 20
participants made the 167 cut, including George Zolotas, who was a Day 1 leader
along with Purrington.
Boys Division:
John Shicko shot a Boys Division low-round of even par 72 to grab a piece
of first place. Shicko, who posted an 11-over 83 on Tuesday, heads into the
third round of play tied with first-round leader Jay Driscoll at 11-over 155.
Peter Uihlein bettered his first-day score with a 5-over 77 to take over sole
possession of third place at 13-over 157. Tyler Ferrari was the final player
to make the cut, which was set at a two-round total of 167.
Round 1 Highlights:
The marquee pairing of Jim Renner and Kevin Silva lived up to its billing following Day 1 of play at the Massachusetts Junior Championship held at Quashnet Valley CC in Mashpee, Mass. Both players, fresh off outstanding performances at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, are atop the leaderboard in the Junior Division after finishing with a 2-under par 70. Steven Alminas, another standout junior player out of Elmcrest CC, is tied for the lead following a three-birdie, one-bogey day. All three players were just one shot shy of the Quashnet Valley CC competitive course record of 3-under par 69.
Renner was poised to break the record but suffered a double bogey on the 18th hole. Ben Spitz , who was paired with Renner and Silva, is one shot back of the leaders, while Michael Stiller is two back at even par 72. Renner, Silva and Spitz all set the tone early in the round after shooting 2-under par 33 on the front nine.
Pre-Junior Division:
George Zolotas and Mark Purrington shot 2-over par 74 to take a three-stroke
lead in the Pre-Junior Division. Jon Curran, a heavy favorite for the title,
was at even par through 14 holes before making three bogies and one triple
bogey on the final four holes. Curran, along with Peter Alminas and Matthew
Scytkowski, sit in a three-way tie for third place with a 5-over par 77.
Boys Division:
Jay Driscoll shot a 2-over par 74 for a four-stroke lead over Maxwell Blanchard.
Peter Uihlein is in third place at 8-over par 80.