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For Immediate Release: July 12, 2004

Headline: Hester Jumps Out to One-Stroke Lead at Day 1 of Massachusetts Amateur Championship

Williamstown, MA – Playing like the champion he was just three years ago, Brendan Hester (Pleasant Valley CC) fired a score of 4-under par 67 to take the lead following day one of the 2004 Massachusetts Amateur Championship, which is being contested this week at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown. Hester, who won this event in 2001, currently holds a one-shot lead over the field heading into the second and final day of stroke play.

Hester began his round on the back nine and quickly dropped to 1-under with a bogey on the 470-yard, par 4 11th hole. That would be the only blemish on his scorecard as Hester went on to post birdies on the 14th, 15th, 3rd, 4th and 6th holes. Nipping at Hester’s heels are Doug Clapp (Walpole CC), who posted two bogies and five birdies on the day, and D.J. Hynes (Wellesley CC), who shot 3-under par 68. After making the turn at even par 36, Clapp made birdie on three of his next four holes, while Hynes registered five of his seven birdies on the back nine.

Also very much in the hunt is five-time MGA Player of the Year Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC), who finished at 2-under par 69. Vana, who was runner-up at this event last year, pieced together a solid round where he made only one bogey and three birdies. He was 1-under par on both the front and back nines.

While the mid-amateur players stole the spotlight on day one, the young contingent of amateur players still lurks atop the leaderboard. Collegiate standouts Jim Renner (Foxborough CC) and Kevin Silva (CC of New Bedford) as well as recent graduates Michael Welch (Furnace Brook GC) and Bill Drohen (Haverhill CC) stand just four shots back of Hester at 1-under par 70. Also finishing at 1-under par 70 was Alan Vorce (Marlborough CC).

The entire 144-player field will return to Taconic GC on Tuesday for a second day of stroke play. Following the second round, 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.

Highlights From Day 1:
- In what had to be the most up-and-down round of the day, defending champion Andy Drohen (St. Anne CC) bounced back from a back nine score of 4-over par 40 (he started on the 10th tee) with an astounding 4-under par 31 on the front nine. Drohen’s crazy scorecard featured one double bogey, three bogies and five birdies.
- New York Rangers starting goaltender, Mike Dunham (The Ridge Club) struggled on the back nine en route to his round-one score of 9-over par 80.
- When Hester was victorious at this event in 2001, his final-round competitor was 17-year old Renner.

©2004 Massachusetts Golf Association.