MGA: Massachusetts Golf Association Illustration Illustration

News Release

For Immediate Release: August 12, 2003

Although the celebration came one day later than planned, the team of Jim Ruschioni (Oak Hill CC) and Paul Nunez, Jr. (Longmeadow CC) captured the 7th Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship this morning at Worcester Country Club. The two-day event was extended through Wednesday after severe rain and lightening storms caused the suspension of play on Tuesday afternoon.

The delay didn't deter the team of Ruschioni and Nunez as the pair finished at 6-under par 120 to sneak past the second-place team of Norm Zanetti (Pocasset GC) and Larry Baker (Pleasant Valley CC). Ruschioni and Nunez, who began the final round with a two-stroke lead after firing a score of 6-under par 57 on Tuesday, made things interesting down the stretch. Both players made one birdie on the day, but a bogey on the 17th hole left them only stroke ahead of Zanetti and Baker. Showing champion-like poise, Nunez drained an uphill 2-footer on the 18th hole to secure his team's victory. This year represented the first time that Ruschioni and Nunez were eligible for this event as they both turned 55 years old earlier this year.

Just two strokes back of the leaders were the teams of Thomas Martin (Woodland GC) and James Logue (Salem CC) and James Kehoe (Ferncroft CC) and Chuck Costello (Ferncroft CC), who finished at 4-under par 122. Martin and Logue captured a share of third place courtesy of a second round low score of 5-under par 58. Kehoe and Costello were also strong as the tournament wore on, registering a 3-under par 60 on Wednesday.

Two-time defending champions Ed Fletcher (Quashnet Valley CC) and Jack Maher (Hyannisport Club) improved by three strokes during the second round - thanks to three birdies by Fletcher - as they posted a 3-under par 60 for a two-day total of 123. This year marks only the third time in the event's seven-year history that Fletcher was not part of the winning team. He was victorious with Fordie Pitts, Jr. (Hyannis GC) in 1997 and 1998 and then with Maher in 2001 and 2002.

Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship Notes:
• This year's field of 99 two-person teams took part in two rounds of 16-hole stroke play. The number of holes per day was decreased from 18 to 16 due to damage from disease suffered to the 9th and 10th greens. Per the recommendation of the USGA agronomists who visited the site late last week, those greens remained closed throughout the duration of the event. As a result, the players scheduled to begin on Hole 10 started their rounds on Hole 11.
• Following Monday's first round, the entire field was re-paired according to score from high to low.
• The inaugural Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship took place in 1997 at Oak Hill Country Club and was won by the team of Fordie Pitts, Jr. and Ed Fletcher.

Highlights From August 11, 2003:

Two new faces stole the show at the 8th Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship, which is being held this week at Worcester Country Club. The newly-turned 55-year-old team of Jim Ruschioni (Oak Hill CC) and Paul Nunez, Jr. (Longmeadow CC) posted seven birdies and only one bogey this afternoon to finish with a 6-under par 57 and a two-shot lead over the field following the first round of play.

Ruschioni and Nunez lead the field of 99 two-person teams that are taking part in two days of 16-hole stroke play at Worcester CC. The number of holes per day was decreased from 18 to 16 due to damage from disease suffered to the 9th and 10th greens. Per the recommendation of the USGA agronomists who visited the site late last week, those greens will remain closed throughout the duration of the event. As a result, the players scheduled to begin on Hole 10 started their rounds on Hole 11.

The change in format did not hinder the first round leaders, however. Ruschioni and Nunez, who just recently became eligible for this event, began their round with a bogey on the first hole but quickly rebounded by making birdie on four of their next eight holes. After making the turn, Ruschioni posted two more birdies while Nunez added one of his own to bring the duo to 6-under par for the event.

Two strokes back of Ruschioni and Nunez are the brother duo of Timothy and Andrew Neher (Weston GC), who posted three straight birdies en route to a 3-under par 29 through the first eight holes. Tim kicked off the birdie run with a deuce the par-3 13th hole, while Andy followed suit with birdies on the next two holes. Despite a bogey on the 232-yard, par-3 4th hole, the pair rebounded with a birdie on the 177-yard, par-3 8th hole to finish with a 59.

Equaling that impressive score was the pair from Ludlow Country Club - James McDonald (Ludlow CC) and Andrew Piecuch (Ludlow CC) - who turned in an unblemished round. McDonald led the way by making birdie on Holes 1, 4 and 15. Piecuch capped off the round with a birdie of his own on the 407-yard, par-4 16th hole.

One of the highlights of the day came courtesy of Dennis Colbert (Wachusett CC), who registered a hole in one on the 177-yard, par-3 8th hole. Colbert's miraculous shot catapulted him - as well as teammate David Bisnette (Westminster CC) to 4th place with a score of 3-under par 60.

Two-time defending champions Ed Fletcher (Quashnet Valley CC) and Jack Maher (Hyannisport Club) are six shots back of the leader following the first round of play. The champions of this event in 2001 and 2002 posted three bogies and three birdies on the day to finish with an even par 63.

Following Monday's round, the entire field was re-paired according to score and will now return to Worcester on Tuesday for a second and final day of 16-hole stroke play.

This year's Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship field consisted of 99 two-person teams. The inaugural Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship took place in 1997 at Oak Hill Country Club and was won by the team of Fordie Pitts, Jr. and Ed Fletcher.