MGA: Massachusetts Golf Association Illustration Illustration

News Release

For Immediate Release: June 19, 2003

Despite a steady rain that hung over Tedesco Country Club throughout Wednesday afternoon, Brian Quinn (King of Prussia, PA) managed to post an impressive 2-under par 68 this afternoon to finish with a score of 5-under par 205 and to capture his first Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial Trophy. With the victory, Quinn also gets to take home a winner's check worth $15,000.

Brian Quinn also becomes the third Quinn brother to capture the Massachusetts Open title. His brother Fran, Jr. was victorious in 1990 while Kevin followed suite in 1999. The Quinn brothers now represent the only such trio to have their names etched on the Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial Trophy. The only other brother duo to collect the Massachusetts Open title was Alex Ross (1906-1910, 1912) and Donald Ross (1905, 1911).

Quinn entered the final day with a one-stroke lead over Scott Johnson (Oakley CC) and a two-stroke lead over Steve Sokol (Oxford, CT) and defending and three-time Massachusetts Open champion Geoffrey Sisk (Marshfield CC). Quinn and Johnson, paired together for the final round, remained just a stroke apart through most of the day. It wasn't until Johnson hit the ball out of bounds on the 376-yard, par-4 15th hole when Quinn was able to pull away from the field and cruise onto to his three-stroke victory.

Sisk, who last week competed at the U.S. Open Championship in Olympia Fields, IL, made a run down the stretch by shooting a 1-under par 69 but fell just short at 2-under par 208.

Capturing the Commonwealth Cup, awarded to the low amateur of the event, was two-time Massachusetts Public Links champion Eric McPhail (New Sandy Burr CC), who finished at 6-over par 216. McPhail, who started the event with a disappointing 8-over par 78 on Day 1, stormed back to post a 69 during the next two rounds. Heading into the final day, McPhail trailed six other amateur players by as many as four strokes. However, his three-birdie, two-bogey performance this morning was good enough to earn him his first-ever low amateur title.

A total of 51 players out of the starting field of 150 advanced to the third and final round of play on Wednesday. This year's cut was set at 7-over par 147.

Highlights From June 18, 2003:

Brian Quinn (King of Prussia, PA) shot a 4-under par 66 on Tuesday to take a one-stroke lead over the field at the 94th Massachusetts Open Championship, which is being held this week at Tedesco Country Club. Quinn, who enters Wednesday's action with a two-day score of 3-under par 137, holds a one-stroke lead over first round leader Scott Johnson (Oakley CC).

Quinn's score of 66 is one shot shy of the course record of 65 - a mark that Johnson matched during the first day of play. Only Pat Bates (1993) and Charlie Volpone (1971, 1972), both Massachusetts Open past champions, have shot that course record at Tedesco CC.

Despite starting his round with a bogey on the 432-yard, par-4 1st hole, Quinn went on to make five birdies - two of which came on the 134-yard, par-3 8th and 505-yard, par-5 9th holes. In total, Quinn registered six birdies and only two bogies on the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Johnson followed up his spectacular first-round performance with a 3-over par 73 this afternoon to finish the second round with a score of 2-under par 138. Johnson was a bit inconsistent through 11 holes, posting five bogeys and two birdies but settled down to play even par golf over the final eight holes.

A mere one shot back of Johnson at 1-under par 139 are three-time and defending champion Geoffrey Sisk (Marshfield CC) and Steve Sokol (Oxford, CT), who both shot 3-under par 67 this afternoon. Sisk finished with two bogies and five birdies on the day, while Sokol was hot down the stretch posting four birdies over his final seven holes. Also still very much in the hunt is 2001 Massachusetts Open Champion Rich Parker (Lebanon, NH), who sits at 1-over par 141.

Several notable names missing from the qualifying list are four-time Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC) and 2001 Massachusetts Amateur Champion Rob Oppenheim (Indian Ridge CC). Oppenheim shot an 8-over par 148, while Vana finished at 9-over par 149.

A total of 51 players have made the cut, which fell at 7-over par 147. Those players will return to Tedesco CC tomorrow morning for the final round of play. The first tee time is scheduled for 7:00 a.m., while the lead group of Quinn and Johnson will begin their round at 10:20 a.m.

Highlights From June 17, 2003:

Scott Johnson broke out to a two-stroke lead at the 94th Massachusetts Open Championship in record style. The current golf professional at Oakley Country Club shot a course record 5-under par 65 at Tedesco Country Club during the first day of competition. Johnson, a former assistant golf professional at Tedesco CC, took advantage of his local knowledge and turned in an unblemished scorecard that featured five birdies, four of them coming on the front nine.

Interestingly enough, the only two people to register a 65 at Tedesco CC were Pat Bates (1993) and Charlie Volpone (1971, 1972), both former Massachusetts Open champions. Bates, a current PGA Tour professional, accomplished this feat most recently when he turned that same score during his successful Massachusetts Open title run in 1993.

Johnson began his round this morning on the 10th tee and played even-par golf through the first eight holes. A birdie on the 439-yard, par-4 18th hole sparked an impressive front-nine finish. Johnson registered birdies on the 1st and 5th holes (both par-4s) and then capped off his round with birdies on the 238-yard, par-3 7th and 134-yard, par-3 8th holes.

Nipping at Johnson's heels is Steve Alminas (Elmcrest CC), the 2001 Massachusetts Junior Champion. Alminas, who also started on the 10th hole, began his round with four straight birdies and finished at 3-under par 67. One shot back of Alminas at 2-under par 68 is TJ Cosgrove (Orlando, FL), who played out of the Worcester area prior to moving to Florida to pursue his professional golf career.

The only other players who were able to break par this afternoon were Billy Downes (Enfield, CT), Michael Carbone (Brewster, MA) and Matthew Donovan (CC of Pittsfield). All three players posted a 1-under par 69.

Defending champion Geoffrey Sisk (Marshfield CC), who last week competed at the U.S. Open Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, IL, is still very much in the hunt with a 2-over par 72.

The entire field will return to Tedesco CC on Tuesday to compete in a second day of stroke play. Following that round, the 40 lowest scorers and ties or anyone within seven strokes of the leader will continue play on Wednesday, June 18.