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For Immediate Release: July 16, 2004

Headline: Frank Vana, Jr. Captures 96th Massachusetts Amateur Championship Title

Williamstown, MA – For years people have said that five-time MGA Player of the Year Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC) has won everything that is Massachusetts amateur golf except for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. That can no longer be said. The veteran player from Worcester further solidified his spot as the most dominant player in Massachusetts golf on Friday afternoon by capturing the 2004 State Amateur Championship title at Taconic Golf Club. Vana defeated Mike Cole, 5 & 4, in the 36-hole final match to lay claim to The Massachusetts Cup.

Vana, who defeated Bill Drohen in the semifinals on Thursday, showed finesse with the putter all afternoon long. After holding on to a 4 Up lead throughout most of the afternoon, Vana sealed his victory with a 32-foot uphill putt on the 31st hole. That birdie putt gave Vana a 5 Up lead with only five holes remaining. The two players made par on the next hole... giving Vana the victory and share of a title that has been won by such greats as Francis Ouimet, Jesse Guilford, Fred Wright and Ted Bishop. Vana, who was named the MGA Player of the Decade for the 1990s, has now captured nine MGA Championships: State Amateur (2004), State Four-Ball (2002-03), State Mid-Amateur (1999-2003) and the State Father & Son (2003).

Vana and Cole used the early morning holes to feel each other – and the course – out as they made all pars through the first six holes. Vana was the first to strike as he took advantage of a Cole bogey on the 402-yard, par 4 7th hole to take a 1 Up lead. Cole found himself in trouble when, lying three on the back of the green, his 40-foot downhill sailed 10 feet past the hole. Cole was unable to make that bogey putt and conceded Vana’s par putt. The players battled, but Vana looked to take some wind out of Cole’s sails when he made a spectacular eagle on the par 5 18th hole. Vana’s drive originally landed in the deep right rough. Somehow he managed to power a 4 iron out of the rough and drop the shot 15-feet below the hole on the green. He then went on to make that putt and extend his lead to 2 Up after 18 holes.

Following the afternoon break, Cole found himself in almost immediate trouble when he sent his drive on the 20th hole into the right rough up against a tree. His punch shot was blocked by a series of branches and fell beneath a pine tree. With Vana safely on the green in two, Cole conceded the hole after his third shot sailed into the left bunker. Another costly bogey by Cole on the following hole gave Vana a strong 4 Up lead that he would not relinquish.

©2004 Massachusetts Golf Association.