MGA: Massachusetts Golf Association IllustrationIllustration

News Release

For Immediate Release: June 23, 2004

Headline: Geoff Sisk Captures His Fourth Massachusetts Open Championship Title

Sutton, MA – It’s going to be tough for Geoff Sisk (Marshfield CC) to forget this week. After finishing 40th at the U.S. Open Championship last week, the 39-year-old professional raced back from Long Island just in time to win his fourth Massachusetts Open Championship title. Sisk, who won this event in 1995, 1997 and 2002, played impeccable golf this afternoon at Pleasant Valley Country Club and finished with a score of 7-under par 206, which was two strokes better than his nearest competitor, Eli Zackheim (Portland, OR).

With the victory, Sisk lays claim to the Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial Trophy and a winner’s check for $15,000. Sisk becomes only the fourth player in this event’s 96-year history to capture four titles. He now joins the company of Alex Ross (1906-10, 1912), Harold McSpaden (1936-38, 1941), Bob Crowley (1957, 1962, 1966, 1973) and Paul Harney (1967-1970, 1977).

Heading into the final round, Sisk found himself in a dead heat at 5-under par 137 with Zackheim, a rising young star who plays on the Cleveland Golf Tour. Zackheim was shaky at the start, making two straight bogeys on the first two holes. He quickly turned things around, however, and posted birdies on the next three holes to bring him back even with Sisk at 6-under par for the tournament. It wasn’t until the 16th hole when the wheels fell off the Zackheim cart as he made two costly bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes. That would be all the opening that Sisk would need as he capped off his round with a birdie on the 18th hole for the two-stroke victory.

In the battle for low amateur, five-time MGA Player of the Year Frank Vana Jr. (Marlborough CC) captured his second Commonwealth Cup in three years by finishing with a score of 1-under par 212. The next closest amateur competitors were Jim Renner (Foxborough CC) and Mike Welch (Furnace Brook GC) at 1-over par 214.

Following the first two rounds of play, the top 46 players, which represented the 40 lowest scorers and ties or anyone within seven strokes of the leader, advanced to Wednesday’s final round. This year’s cut was set at 5-over par 147.


The photo of Geoff Sisk featured on the home page was courtesy of David Colt/North Shore Golf magazine.