News Release

For Immediate Release: July 8, 2004

Headline: 2004 Massachusetts Amateur Preview

Norton, MA – The Massachusetts Amateur Championship is the oldest and most venerated event conducted by the Massachusetts Golf Association. The State Amateur, which was first played in 1903 at Myopia Hunt Club, crowns the best amateur player in the state and is unique in its appeal and format. The combination of stroke play and Match Play over the course of five days challenges even the top players.

Schedule of Events:
Monday, July 12, 2004
First Round, 18 Holes Stroke Play
- Morning Tee Times Begin at 7:00 a.m.
- Afternoon Tee Times Begin at 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Second Round, 18 Holes Stroke Play
- Morning Tee Times Begin at 7:00 a.m.
- Afternoon Tee Times Begin at 11:30 a.m.
(The low 32 scorers will continue on to Match Play Competition. In the event of a tie, a sudden-death playoff will be used to determine the final Match Play participants.)

Wednesday, July 14, 2004
First Day of Match Play
- Round of 32 Matches Begin at 7:00 a.m.
(Remaining 16 move on to afternoon match)
- Round of 16 Matches (Afternoon)
(Remaining 8 move on to Thursday’s matches)

Thursday, July 15, 2004
Second Day of Match Play
- Quarterfinal Matches Begin at 8:00 a.m.
(Remaining 4 move on to Semifinals)
- Semifinal Matches (Afternoon)
(Remaining 2 move on to Finals)

Friday, July 16, 2004
Third Day of Match Play
- Morning 18 Holes Begin at 8:00 a.m.
- Afternoon 18 Holes Begin 45 minutes following the conclusion of the morning round)
(In the event of a tied match, (a) the winner shall be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole playoff, and (b) the stipulated round is deemed to extend to as many holes as are required for a match to be won.)

Location & Directions:
Taconic Golf Club
19 Meacham Street, P.O. Box 183
Williamstown, MA 01267
Phone: 413-458-399

Directions to Taconic Golf Club:
From Route 2: Take Rte. 2 (Mohawk Trail) to Route 43 South. Turn left on Route 43 South and follow until turning onto Meacham Street. One half mile ahead on right.

From Mass Pike: Mass Pike to exit 2 (Lee). Bear right onto Route 20 and follow until it merges with Route 7 North. Follow Route 7 North into Williamstown and turn right at blinking light onto Route 43 North. Follow Route 43 North for four miles to a left on Meacham Street.

Club/Course History:
Taconic Golf Club is owned by Williams College. The club was officially established on September 5, 1896... a few weeks later, the first true seven holes were laid out. One of those, the present 17th, is Taconic’s oldest and one of the oldest extant holes in the country. Wayne Stiles, of the Boston firm of Stiles & Van Kleek, was retained to design a par 73, 18-hole course in 1927. That course was revised in 1955 to its present 6,640 yard (gold tees), par 71 layout. Rated one of the top collegiate courses in the nation, both the 1958 and 1972 NCAA Championships were held at Taconic Golf Club. Most recently, Taconic Golf Club hosted the 1999 NCAA Division III Men’s Championship. Taconic Golf Club hosted the 1956 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship... one contestant, the 16-year-old phenom Jack Nicklaus, made a hole-in-one with an eight iron on the 175-yard 14th hole during a practice round! Taconic Golf Club has also hosted two other USGA Championships - the 1963 U.S. Women’s Amateur, won by Anne Quest Sander (her third title), and the 1996 U.S. Senior Amateur, won by O. Gordon Brewer.

Par and Yardage:
The field will compete on Taconic Golf Club’s 18 hole layout. The course is set at 6,640 yards and will play to a par of 71. The course record for men from the blue tees is 64, established by long-time club professional - and Williams’ golf coach - Rick Pohle on July 13, 1994 during Taconic’s Pro-Member Tournament. The course record for women is 71, set by Mary Gale during the 1994 WGAM Endicott Cup Matches.

Taconic Golf Club and the MGA:
Three MGA State Amateurs have been contested at Taconic Golf Club - winners were John Tosca, Jr. (1959), Tracy Mehr (1971) and Steven Tasho (1981). Additionally, Taconic Golf Club member Trevor Gliwski won the 1992 State Amateur contested at Longmeadow Country Club.

History of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship:
- This year marks the 96th playing of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship.
- The first Massachusetts Amateur Championship was played in 1903, at the Myopia Hunt Club, and was won by Arthur Lockwood.
- The event was not played in 1917-1918 or 1942-1945 because of the two World Wars.
- This will be the fourth Massachusetts Amateur Championship hosted by Taconic Golf Club. It hosted this event in 1959, 1971 and 1981.
- In the past 12 years, five Massachusetts Amateur Champions have turned professional: Trevor Gliwski, Flynt Lincoln, James Driscoll, Jim Salinetti and Rob Oppenheim. (Please note that Flynt Lincoln has since been reinstated as an amateur and is competing in this year’s event.)
- Other past winners who have gone on to professional careers include: Bruce Douglass, Ed Polchlopek, James Hallet, Fran Quinn, Jr. and Kevin Johnson.
· - The last back-to-back winner of the event was Kevin Johnson, who was victorious in 1987 and 1988.
- The youngest players to win the Massachusetts Amateur Championship were Ted Adams (1939) and James Driscoll (1996), who were both 18 at the time.
- The oldest player to win the Massachusetts Amateur was Ed Fletcher, who at the age of 53, won the title in 1995 at Concord Country Club.
- Competing in the tournament this year is Steve Tasho, the champion from the 1981 Massachusetts Amateur Championship, which was held at Taconic Golf Club .
- Andy Morse won the last MGA State Championship conducted at Taconic Golf Club, the 1992 State Open. Morse fired a 67 from the gold tees in the first round on his way to a 209 total score, the only player in the field to finish under par for 54-hole competition.

Schedule of Results Posting on www.MGAlinks.org:
Throughout the five-day Massachusetts Amateur Championship, the MGA will be posting updated scoring results on its official web site at www.MGAlinks.org.

Monday, July 12 (First Round, 18 Holes)
9-Hole Splits & Final Day Results Posted

Tuesday, July 13 (Second Round, 18 Holes)
9-Hole Splits & Final Day Results Posted

Wednesday, July 14:
Match Play, Round of 32 (morning) Real-Time Scoring for all 16 Matches
Match Play, Round of 16 (afternoon) Real-Time Scoring for all 8 Matches

Thursday, July 15
Match Play, Quarterfinals (morning) Real-Time Scoring for all 4 Matches
Match Play, Semifinals (afternoon) Real-Time Scoring for both Matches; Hole-by-Hole Descriptions

Friday, July 16
Final Round, 36 Holes Real-Time Scoring for 36 Holes; Hole-by-Hole Descriptions