MGA: Massachusetts Golf Association Illustration Illustration

News Release

For Immediate Release: May 28, 2003

Following two days of qualifying, the 150-player field is now set for the 94th Massachusetts Open Championship, which will be contested on June 16-18 at Tedesco Country Club.

The final 30 qualifying spots were secured this afternoon following rounds of play at Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds Golf Course and Country Club of Halifax. A total of 132 competitors were vying for those 30 spots. The other 74 qualifying spots were determined on Tuesday during the first day of competition held at Haverhill Country Club, Hampden Country Club, Stow Acres Country Club and Woodland Golf Club.

Despite periods of rain throughout the day, the competitors at Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds GC did not let the elements get in their way. In one of the most competitive and well-played qualifying rounds of the 2003 MGA season, Allan Menne (Mink Meadows GC) and David Schuster (Hawthorne, NJ) posted a 6-under par 65 to lead the field. Kyle Gallo, a young professional out of Kensington, Connecticut, shot a day low score of 6-under par 29 on the back nine en route to his finish as the third qualifier.

Equally impressive was the performance of the 57-person field at CC of Halifax. Ten of the 13 qualifiers shot even par or better while the final three qualifiers and two alternates finished at 1-over par 73. Sparked by a 3-under par 33 on the front nine, Henry D'Alberto (Easton, PA) finished atop the field as he collected medalist honors with a final score of 3-under par 69. Coming through in the six-man playoff to claim the final qualifying spots were Philip Fecteau (Firefly GC), amateur Mike Prendergast (Hyannis GC) and Mike Ryan (Providence, RI).

Massachusetts Open Qualifying - Day 2 Notes:
• One individual who failed to qualify at the Marstons Mills site was Mike Dunham, who plays out of The Ridge Club. While a new face to the Massachusetts amateur golfing scene, Dunham is better known as a successful goaltender for the New York Rangers. His four-bogie performance earned him a final score of 4-over par 75 and one stroke out of qualifying range.
• More than 500 applications, including 46 exemptions, were received for this year's Massachusetts Open. A total of 150 golfers will compete at the Championship event on June 16-18.

Highlights From Day 1:

With less than one month remaining before the Massachusetts Open Championship, a total of 330 golfers made their way to one of four courses across the state in hopes of qualifying for the Massachusetts Open Championship, which will be held on June 16-18 at Tedesco Country Club.

Following Day 1 of qualifying held at Haverhill Country Club, Hampden Country Club, Stow Acres Country Club and Woodland Golf Club, 74 golfers earned a berth into the Championship event.

Leading the way with the most impressive round of the day was Billy Downes (Enfield, CT), who shot a blistering 5-under par 67 at Hampden CC. The 2000 New England Open champion led a field of 13 qualifiers that also included 2001 Massachusetts Junior Champion Steve Alminas (Elmcrest CC).

The tightest battle of the day, however, took place at Woodland GC where six players finished atop the leaderboard with a score of even par 72. One of the 21 qualifiers at that site was Rick Rainville (Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds GC), who made birdie on the final three holes to earn a spot at the Championship event.

Meanwhile at Stow Acres CC, co-medalist honors were awarded to Matthew Donovan (CC of Pittsfield) and William Link IV (Sterling CC), who finished at 1-under par 71. Two of the 19 qualifiers from that site included Scott Hawley (Worcester CC) and Thomas Giles (Stow Acres CC), former Massachusetts amateur standouts who recently became touring professionals.

One of the most dramatic moments of the day occurred on the links in Haverhill. While The Country Club's Joe Cunningham captured medalist honors with a 1-under par 69 performance, Martin Del Vecchio (The Tour of Greater Boston) secured the final alternate spot in a most unusual way. The amateur competitor holed out from the fairway for an eagle during the sudden-death playoff hole.