News Release

For Immediate Release: May 10, 2004

Stow, MA -- Two thirds of the field had come and gone before Michael Fecteau (Rowley CC) and Steve St. Amand (The Meadow at Peabody GC) turned in the low score of the day – an 8-under par 64 – to jump out to a one-stroke lead following the first round of play at the 2004 Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship, which is being contested this week at Stow Acres Country Club in Stow, Massachusetts.

Fecteau and St. Amand orchestrated a near flawless round, which included nine birdies and only one bogey. After making the turn at 4-under par 32, the team heated up thanks to three straight birdies posted by St. Amand. The only bogey on the round came on the South Course’s 179-yard par 3 15th hole.

Nipping at their heels are two former champions, the teams of Dean Godek (Agawam Municipal GC) and Alistair Catto (The Orchards GC) and Jim Ruschioni (Oak Hill CC) and Jay Ruschioni (Oak Hill CC), both of whom finished the first round with a score of 7-under par 65. Godek and Catto, winners of this event in 1989 and 1999, turned in a round that included two eagles and five birdies. The only blemish on that scorecard was a double-bogey on the 444-yard, par 4 11th hole on the North Course. Godek and Catto quickly erased that miscue, however, as they made eagle on the par-5 12th hole.

Meanwhile, Jim and Jay Ruschioni, who won this event in 1996 and 2001, delivered a similar stellar round by registering eight birdies and only one bogey on the day. After making the turn at 1-under par 35, the father-and-son duo turned on the heat down the stretch as they made five consecutive birdies on the back nine, three made by Jay and two by his father.

Four teams sit just two strokes back of the leaders: Marc Chandonnet (Long Meadow GC) and Chris Courtney (Long Meadow GC); Brian Baker (LeBaron Hills CC) and Tim Gardner (CC of Halifax); Michael O’Brien (Indian Ridge CC) and Kurt Flionis (Lexington GC); and Andy Drohen (St. Anne CC) and Bill Drohen (Bradford CC).

Also very much in the hunt at 5-under par 67 is the team led by defending champion Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC). Vana, who has won this event the past two years with longtime partner Michael McCarthy, competed this afternoon with Kevin Carey (Dennis Pines GC) after McCarthy suffered a back injury earlier in the week. Other former champions in this year’s field include Jon Fasick (New England CC) and Carter Fasick (Indian Meadows GC) [1986, 1991, 1997-98], Cy Kilgore (Tedesco CC) and Bill Jenks (Brae Burn CC) [1995].

The entire 200-team field will return to Stow Acres Country Club on Tuesday to compete in a final round of play. This year’s event is being contested on Stow Country Club’s North and South Courses. The teams will switch courses for the second round of play.

The Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship debuted in 1981 and has become one of the most popular events on the MGA Championship schedule. The event is open to two-person teams of amateur golfers who hold membership in an MGA member club and have an up-to-date combined MGA/USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 6.0.