News Release

For Immediate Release: June 13, 2003

The life of a touring professional is not an easy one. Golf is a unique game in that there are no contracts, no guarantees of a big paycheck at the end of the week. Instead, professional golfers have to travel from tournament to tournament, each week hoping that they'll be able to string together enough birdies and enough cash to cover their expenses. Although a small percentage of players eventually claw their way onto the PGA tour, most are stuck playing mini-tour events, hoping to one day break through. It's a tough way to make a living, but for many players, the dream justifies the sacrifices.

Geoff Sisk is a little bit different. As an All-American golfer out of Temple University, he definitely had the game to take a shot at the "big tour." Early in his career, he traveled from stop to stop on the smaller circuits, and by 1997 was playing tournaments on the PGA Tour. But just as his game was coming around, other changes were taking place in his life. In addition to his successes on the golf course, Sisk was also starting a family. This added a new dimension to his career, one that made the constant travel even more taxing.

"I have two young daughters, and it was difficult to be away from them and my wife for so long," he said.

So Sisk made an interesting - and unique - decision. Rather than continue playing tournaments throughout the country, he made the choice to stay close to home. He found a club pro job at Marshfield Country Club that not only gave him a steady paycheck, but also allowed him to keep his game sharp. Additionally, Sisk also found a home on the New England Pro Tour, which plays events throughout the Northeast, many of which are within driving distance of home.

"The New England Pro Tour does a fabulous job with their tournaments, and we play some great golf courses," he said. "The events keep me competitive."

Competitive would be an understatement, as Sisk has had unprecedented success in this area of the country. In addition to two New England Open titles and a Maine Open Championship, Sisk became only the sixth player in history to win three Massachusetts Open Championships after taking the title at Longmeadow Country Club in 2002. In addition to this local success, Sisk also stepped into the national spotlight at U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying in Purchase, NY. After a disappointing first-round 73, he roared back during his second and final round, firing a three-under 67 that earned him a coveted spot in the national championship at Olympia Fields Country Club.

Coming into the U.S. Open, Sisk believed that his game was a natural fit for golf's most difficult major.

"My game is well suited to this championship because I drive the ball straight, and you need to hit fairways and greens," he said. "My goal coming in was to make the cut because no one knows what can happen on the weekend."

Unfortunately, Olympia Fields proved a difficult test during Sisk's first round on Thursday. While he was able to keep the ball in the fairway, a few loose iron shots left him struggling to save par.

"My irons were atrocious," he said. "And it seemed like every green I missed I left myself an impossible up-and-down."

Although he was able to finish with a flourish with a birdie at 18, he limped home with a disappointing 76. The question was, would he repeat his second-round heroics at the Open to make the cut?

Coming into his second round, Sisk knew he would be fighting an uphill battle, as he would begin Friday on the back nine, which had proven more difficult throughout the week. Although temporarily discouraged by a bogey on 12 (his fourth hole), Sisk stuck his short-iron approach into to 14 to four feet and sank the birdie putt. He then strung together a series of the pars, nearly acing the 247-yard par-three seventeenth with a shot that brought the sizeable gallery to its feet, and was even par for the day heading into his back nine. Unfortunately, he lost a drive into the right rough on the second hole and ended up making double. Although he was able to make consecutive birdies at seven and eight to finish with a respectable even-par 70 for his second round, his 146 (six over par) for the first two rounds put him over the cut line by three shots.

Though clearly disappointed with his play during his third U.S. Open, Sisk is able to see the silver lining that this experience has for the rest of his career, and specifically for his chances as he defends his Massachusetts Open Championship at Tedesco Country Club.

"Playing in this tournament at this level definitely gives me an advantage," he said. Many guys aren't free and easy when they're playing in front of so many people, so it really helps with your comfort level."

As for his future career, Sisk is confident that his strategy of staying close to home will pay off with eventual success at PGA Tour qualifying school. And after spending the week with the best players in the world, there is no doubt in his mind that he has the game for "the big tour."

"I feel like, when I come to the U.S. Open, I'm an equal," he said. "That's the attitude that you have to have, otherwise you have no chance."

©2004 Massachusetts Golf Association.