News Release

For Immediate Release: September 11, 2003

After four days of qualifying at six sites, the field of 120 golfers is finally set for the Massachusetts Golf Association's Centennial Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship, which will take place from September 29 through October 1 at Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton, Massachusetts.

The fourth round of qualifying was held this afternoon at Indian Ridge Country Club in Andover, Massachusetts. Topping the field with a score of even par 72 was Ken Whalley (Ferncroft CC), who jumped out to an early start by shooting 2-under par 34 on the front nine. Although he was 2-over par on the back nine, Whalley still finished as the only player to shoot even par on the day.

Just one stroke back of Whalley were Steven Birnbaum (B.A.G.S.) and Charlie Johnson (Ferncroft CC), who turned in 1-over par 73 scorecards. While Birnbaum is a relative newcomer to MGA Championship events, Johnson has enjoyed one of his best seasons of MGA Championship golf as earlier this month he qualified for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship which was held at The Country Club in Brookline.

This afternoon's 1-over par 73 round was also an early wedding present for Johnson, a standout golfer at St. John's Prep in Danvers in the 1980s, as he will be getting married in the weeks following the Championship event.

Five golfers, including two-time Massachusetts Senior Amateur Champion Jim Holbrook (Indian Ridge CC), finished in a tie for fourth place at 2-over par 74.

Scott Sagan (Kernwood CC) and James Wilson (Ferncroft CC) captured the final two qualifying spots with a score of 5-over par 77. A total of 18 qualifying spots were awarded this afternoon at Indian Ridge CC.

The Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship is an annual event that is open to amateur golfers who are 30 years of age or older, hold membership at an MGA member club and have an up-to-date MGA/USGA GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 5.4. The inaugural event was held in 1984 at Country Club of New Seabury.

A total of 550 applications, including 25 exemptions, were received for this year's Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship.

Highlights From September 10, 2003:

Only 18 qualifying spots remain for the Massachusetts Golf Association's Centennial Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship following a third day of qualifying, which was held today at Cranberry Valley Country Club and Segregansett Country Club. The Championship event will take place later this month at Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton, Massachusetts.

Randy Lombardi (Segregansett CC) used his local knowledge to earn co-medalist honors at the Taunton course. Lombardi posted even par 72 to finish atop the leader board alongside Derek Johnson (Highland CC), who salvaged his low score by firing a 3-under par 33 on the back nine. Finishing just one stroke back of the two medalists at 1-over par 73 were Andrew Loconto (Heritage CC), John McNeil (B.A.G.S.) and Gary Palmer (Segregansett CC). Home-course knowledge certainly made a difference at that site as a total of four Segregansett CC members advanced to the Championship.

Also qualifying at Segregansett was the 1990 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur champion, Jon Fasick (New England CC), who posted a 3-over par 75 to finish in a tie for seventh place with Tim Phinney (Segregansett CC). Fasick, a veteran of the Massachusetts amateur golf scene, was also victorious at the 1994 Massachusetts Public Links Championship. Another notable qualifier at Segregansett CC was Brian Baker (LeBaron Hills CC), who earlier this summer advanced to the Round of 18 at the Massachusetts Amateur Championship.

Meanwhile at Cranberry Valley CC, Jay Donovan (The Orchards GC) and Bobby Beach (Highland CC) posted a 2-over par 74 to claim the title of co-medalist. Both players shot even par 36 on the front nine and 2-over par 38 on the back nine. A total of 18 competitors advanced at the Harwich site.

Highlights From September 9, 2003:

The second of four qualifying rounds have come to an end and 18 more players have advanced to the Massachusetts Golf Association's Centennial Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship, which will be held later this month at Myopia Hunt Club. The second day of qualifying for was held this afternoon at Plymouth Country Club.

Domenic Petruzzelli (Thomson CC) led all players this afternoon by firing a score of 1-over par 70. Petruzzelli posted identical 35s on the front and back nine to edge second-place finisher James Forsgard (Widow's Walk GC) by one stroke.

A total of 18 players advanced at today's qualifying round in Plymouth. Included on that list were two-time Massachusetts Mid-Amateur champion Robert Bradley (Ponkapoag GC), who captured the title in 1989 and 1996, as well as the 1992 champion, Joe Keller (Oyster Harbors Club). Bradley shot 7-over par 76 this afternoon, while Keller turned in a 4-over par 73 to finish in a tie for third place with home club competitor Paul Lacamera (Plymouth CC).

Also qualifying today was R.D. Haskell (The Country Club), who earlier this summer advanced to the match play portion of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship.

Highlights From September 8, 2003:

Following the first of four days of qualifying, 24 players have earned the right to compete at the MGA's Centennial Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship, which will be held later this month at Myopia Hunt Club. Qualifying for this event was held this afternoon at Springfield Country Club and Berkshire Hills Country Club.

At the largest qualifying site of the day - Springfield CC - Paul Nunez, Jr. (Longmeadow CC) finished atop the leader board with a score of even par 72. Nunez, who most recently paired with Jim Ruschioni to capture the 2003 Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship title, was consistent throughout the day as he posted 36s on both the front and back nine. Tom Rourke (Ferncroft CC), David Smith (Wyckoff CC) and David Laravee (Ludlow CC) finished two strokes back of Nunez at 2-under par 74. The final seven - out of a total 16 qualifying spots - were claimed by players who posted a score of 5-over par 77.

Andrew Congdon (Wyantenuck CC) took advantage of a solid start to his qualifying round to cruise to medalist honors at Berkshire Hills CC in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Congdon, who was the only player to break par at that site, made the turn at 2-under par 33 en route to his final score of 2-under par 70.

While no other player was able to conquer that front nine like Congdon, two players - Gary Barcher (Elmcrest CC) and Frank Remmes (Sharon CC) - did finish in a tie for second place with a score of 1-over par 73. A total of eight players advanced to the Championship from that site, including Del Kinney Jr. (Wyantenuck CC) who claimed the final qualifying spot after defeating a handful of players in a playoff at 5-over par 77.