MGA: Massachusetts Golf Association Illustration Illustration

News Release

For Immediate Release: June 12, 2003

One week ago, more than 950 golfers were hoping to advance to the MGA's Centennial Massachusetts Amateur Championship, which will be held next month at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. Following 13 rounds of qualifying this week, however, the field of players has been trimmed to 150.

The fourth and final day of Massachusetts Amateur qualifying was held this afternoon at The Ranch Golf Club in Southwich, Massachusetts. Andy Drohen (St. Anne CC) was the only player to break par as he finished atop the pack with a score of 1-under par 71. Drohen snuck past four other competitors - Mike Ryan (The Orchards GC), Jay Donovan (The Orchards GC), Nick Pokora (Oak Ridge GC) and David Laravee (Ludlow CC) - who all registered an even par 72. Also qualifying this afternoon in Southwick was 2001 Massachusetts Junior Champion Steve Alminas (Elmcrest CC), who posted a 2-over par 74.

The 127 qualifiers from this week's action will join the 23 exempt players at Championship Proper. The 95th playing of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship will take place on July 14-18 at The Country Club.

Highlights From Day 3:

The third day of qualifying for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship has come and gone. Following qualifying rounds at Cohasset Golf Club and Framingham Country Club, 21 golfers have secured a spot at next month's highly-anticipated Championship event, which will be held at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Tom Sullivan registered a score of even par 72 at Framingham CC and that was all the Trull Brook GC member would need to collect medalist honors at that site. Sullivan bested a talented field of competitors that included 2001 Massachusetts Amateur Runner-Up Jim Renner (Foxborough CC) and 1991 Massachusetts Amateur Champion John Salamone (Framingham CC). Renner and Salamone shot qualifying rounds of 2-under par 74 and 4-under par 76, respectively, this afternoon and will take aim at the title once again next month.

The 68-person field at Cohasset GC battled through a brief rain delay, but in the end it was Daniel Sullivan (Furnace Brook GC) and R.D. Haskell (The Country Club) who turned in the best score of the afternoon. Both competitors finished with a score of 2-over par 72 to share medalist honors. In what was a very tight 18-hole round, the final qualifiers were only three shots back of the leader.

One of those final qualifiers may be a new face to the amateur golfing scene, but he is a well-known figure in the world of professional hockey. Former Olympian and current New York Rangers goaltender Mike Dunham (The Ridge Club) shot a 5-over par 75 to earn a spot at next month's Championship event. Dunham, who earlier this year posted his 100th NHL career win with the Rangers, shot an identical score of 75 at Massachusetts Open Qualifying last month but failed to qualify.

Highlights From Day 2:

Twenty-two golfers earned the right to compete at next month's Massachusetts Amateur Championship following a second day of qualifying. Qualifying was held this afternoon at Black Rock Golf Club and Essex County Club.

In today's action, 1996 Massachusetts Junior Champion and former Princeton University golf standout Nat Hoopes (The Kittansett Club) as well as Lee Incandella (Belmont CC) shot an identical score of 1-over par 73 at Black Rock GC to capture a share of medalist honors. The pair edged Thomas Gadles (Thorny Lead GC) and Brian Baker (LeBaron Hills CC), who finished one stroke back at 2-over par 74.

On the North Shore, it was Andy Hydorn (Bradford CC) and Kevin Murphy (Bradford CC) who led the field of 13 qualifiers and two alternates. Hydorn and Murphy were the only two competitors to play even par golf, posting a score of 70. Finishing right behind Hydorn and Murphy were three Essex CC members who displayed their local knowledge. Joe Cunningham, who also plays out of The Country Club, and Kevin Daly (Essex CC) posted a 2-over par 72, while Jim Deveney, Jr. (Essex CC) was right behind at 3-over par 73.

Highlights From Day 1:

The first of four days of Massachusetts Amateur qualifying has come to an end and a host of golfers have earned the right to compete at next month's Championship event. Qualifying was held today at eight sites across the state: Charter Oak CC, CC of Pittsfield, Meadow Brook GC, Mount Pleasant CC, Nashawtuc CC, Needham GC, Oakley CC, Woods Hole GC.

In today's action, Jack Kearney (Elmcrest CC) finished with the low score of the day, a 1-under par 70 at CC of Pittsfield. Kearney, the 1992 Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year, edged Matthew Scarafoni (CC of Pittsfield) and Del Kinney, Jr. (Wyantenuck CC) by two strokes to earn medalist honors.

Meanwhile on the eastern side of the state, Nashawtuc CC opened its doors to 97 competitors, which represents this year's largest qualifying field. Sitting atop the leaderboard at that site was Tim Mooradian (Hopedale CC), who shot even par on the back nine to finish at 1-over par 73. Charles O'Brien (Sharon CC) and Chris Anderson (Thorny Lea GC) were nipping at Mooradian's heels as they posted a 2-over par 74 for a share of second place.