News Release

Qualifying Highlights: Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Results Links: Springfield CC Black Rock CC Ballymeade CC Red Tail GC Poquoy Brook GC The Georgetown Club Related News Links: State Open Home Page

For Immediate Release: May 26, 2004

Headline: Thomas Giles & Robert Bowser Lead Pack at Day 3 of Massachusetts Open Qualifying

Norton, MA – Thomas Giles (Stow Acres CC) and Robert Bowser (Miacomet GC) dominated play this afternoon during the third day of Massachusetts Open qualifying. Giles was medalist with a score of 2-under par 70 at Red Tail Golf Club in Harvard, while Bowser fired a 3-under par 69 at Ballymeade Country Club in North Falmouth.

Courtesy of a 3-under par 33 back nine, Giles edged a host of four players who turned in scores of even par 72 at Red Tail GC. Included in that group of second-place finishers were local golf professional Brendan Walsh (The Country Club), Jason Wachtl (Essex CC) and Jeff Sieber (Bedford, MA). John Gilmartin (Indian Ridge CC) was the low amateur at that site, registering a 1-over par 73 for a share of sixth place.

Despite threatening thunderstorms and unusually chilly weather in North Falmouth, Bowser managed to post a superb 3-under par 69 round at Ballymeade CC to finish atop the pack by two strokes. Bowser completed his first nine holes at even par, but turned on the heat down the stretch by posting a 3-under par 33 back nine. Sam Corden (Dayton, MD), David Schuster (Hawthorne, NJ) and amateur Jack Lander (Brae Burn CC) turned in 1-under par 71 scorecards to secure second-place honors. Jordan Burke (Marshfield CC), who shot a 3-over par 75, was the only other local amateur player to qualify. In total 12 players advanced from the Ballymeade CC site.

During the first two days of qualifying held on Monday and Tuesday, a total of 35 golfers advanced to the Championship. Brian Crawford (Granby, MA) and Scott Trethewey (The Milton-Hoosic Club) earned medalist honors at the Springfield Country Club and Black Rock Country Club sites, respectively.

The Massachusetts Open represents the only event on the MGA Championship schedule that is open to both amateur and professional golfers. Competitors for this year’s event must have an up-to-date MGA/USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4.

©2004 Massachusetts Golf Association.