News Release

For Immediate Release: September 9, 2002

A total of 30 competitors have earned the right to compete at this year's Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship following Day 1 of qualifying, which was held at Long Meadow Golf Club and Ludlow Country Club today.

At Long Meadow GC, Bill Jenks (Brae Burn CC) emerged from the pack as he was the only player to break par on the private, 9-hole course in Lowell, Massachusetts. Jenks was on fire on the first nine, posting a score of 4-under par 32. He was 2-over on the back nine to finish at 2-under par 70 for the day.

Two strokes back of Jenks was Brian O'Leary (Ponkapoag GC) who came in at even par 72. Although he did not capture medalist honors, O'Leary did turn in the shot of the day with a hole-in-one on the 176-yard, par-3 5th hole. That shot lifted O'Leary past fellow qualifier Keith Micavich (Nabnasset Lake CC), who registered a score of 1-over par 73.

Meanwhile, it was Jay Kunkel (Webster-Dudley GC) who edged Scott Baker (Amherst GC) and Daniel Engstrom (Cherry Hill GC) by one stroke for medalist honors at Ludlow CC. Kunkel fired a 1-under par 71 to finish atop the 82-player field that was competing in Ludlow. Christopher Quinn (Worcester CC) turned in his scorecard with a score of 1-over par 73 for sole possession of fourth place. A total of five players came in with a score of 2-over par 74.

These 30 qualifiers will now focus their attention on the 2002 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship, which will take place at Walpole Country Club on October 1-2, 2002.