News Release

For Immediate Release: June 18, 2004

Headline: 95th Massachusetts Open Championship Set to Kick Off at Pleasant Valley Country Club

Norton, MA – The 2004 Massachusetts Open Championship will begin at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, June 21 at Pleasant Valley Country Club. This year's field will consist of 150 players, which includes both amateurs and professional players.

Online Results Schedule:
Monday, June 21: Nine-hole splits and final scores for both the morning and afternoon groups will be posted.

Tuesday, June 22: Nine-hole splits and final scores for both the morning and afternoon groups will be posted.

Wednesday, June 23: Nine-hole splits will be posted for all groups. Hole-by-hole scores will be posted for the final four twosomes.

About the State Open:
The State Open represents the only event on the MGA Championship schedule that is open to both amateur and professional golfers. Amateur competitors for this year’s event must have an up-to-date MGA/USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4. Championship Proper will consist of 54 holes of stroke play. A total of 150 competitors, including 45 exemptions, are scheduled to compete in this year’s event.

The Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial Trophy will be presented to the Champion. A professional purse of $75,000 will be distributed to the low forty (40) finishers and ties. The Commonwealth Cup will be presented to the low amateur. Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will also be awarded.

Schedule of Events:
Championship Proper will consist of 54 holes of stroke play over the course of three days with a field limited to 150 players.

Monday, June 21
First Round, 18 Holes.

Tuesday, June 22
Second Round, 18 Holes.
The forty (40) lowest scorers and ties or anyone within 7 strokes of the leader for the first 36 holes will continue play on June 23.

Wednesday, June 23
Final Round, 18 Holes.
Any tie for first place (including tie for low amateur) will be decided immediately by a three-hole aggregate playoff.

History of Pleasant Valley Country Club:
Rich in history and tradition, Pleasant Valley Country Club has built a nationally acclaimed reputation since its debut in 1961. Known simply as “P.V.”, professional golf came to Pleasant Valley Country Club beginning with the 1962 LPGA Lady Carling Open. The PGA Tour began its annual retreat to Sutton in 1965. Since then, Pleasant Valley has hosted 47 Championships on both the LPGA and PGA Tours.

Pleasant Valley CC & the MGA:
This year marks the second time that Pleasant Valley Country Club has hosted the Massachusetts Open Championship. In 1964, Bill Ezinicki captured his second State Open title at “PV”. Since its opening in 1961, Pleasant Valley Country Club has opened its doors to two major MGA Championships:
* 1964 Massachusetts Open Championship (Bill Ezinicki)
* 1974 Massachusetts Amateur Championship (Bill Mallon)

Past Champions in the Field:
* Rodney Butcher (1998)
* Jim Hallet (1985)
* Brian Quinn (2003)
* Kevin Quinn (1999)
* Geoffrey Sisk (1995, 1997, 2002)
* Charles Volpone (1971, 1972)

2004 Qualifying Medalists:
* Brian Crawford (Granby, MA)
* Scott Trethewey (The Milton-Hoosic Club)
* Thomas Giles (Stow Acres CC)
* Robert Bowser (Miacomet GC)
* Philip Fecteau (Firefly GC)
* Joseph Horowitz (Long Beach, NY)

The ‘Open’ Numbers Game:
525 - number of entries received for the 2004 State Open
221 - highest score total for 54 holes at the State Open (Paul Harney, 1970)
203 - lowest score total for 54 holes at the State Open (Rodney Butcher, 1998)
42 - number of exemptions for the 2004 State Open
50 - age of the oldest State Open Champion (Jim Browning, 1965)
19 - age of the youngest State Open Champion (Kevin Johnson, 1986)
15 - number of State Open Championships won in a playoff
6 - most victories at the State Open by one player (Alex Ross (1906-1910, 1912)
6 - number of amateurs who have won the State Open
5 - most consecutive victories at the State Open (Alex Ross (1906-1910)
5 - number of players who have won the State Open and the State Amateur
2 - number of times Pleasant Valley Country Club has hosted the State Open (1974, 2004)

A Look Back at 2003:
The 2003 Massachusetts Open Championship was one for the history books. In the face of a steady rain that hung over Tedesco Country Club throughout the final afternoon, Brian Quinn (King of Prussia, PA) managed to post an impressive 2-under par 68 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 became 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 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). Two-time Massachusetts Public Links champion Eric McPhail (New Sandy Burr CC) finished at 6-over par 216 to capture The Commonwealth Cup.