News Release

For Immediate Release: July 22, 2004

Headline: Michael Welch Wins His Second Straight New England Amateur Championship Title

Orange, CT – Mike Welch (Furnace Brook GC) delivered a come-from-behind victory on Thursday afternoon at Race Brook Country Club to capture his second consecutive New England Amateur Championship title. Welch, who finished with a three-day total of 6-under par 274, becomes only the sixth golfer in the event’s 75-year history to win this event two straight years. The last golfer to accomplish such a feat was Rhode Island’s Brad Faxon in 1980-81.

Welch narrowly defeated local favorite Brett Stegmaier (New Haven CC) and the leader after two rounds of play, Kevin Quinn (Charles River CC), by one stroke. Welch, who started the day three strokes back of Quinn, began his drive for the title during the afternoon round when he shot out of the gates and made birdie on three of his first seven holes to pull even with the leaders at 6-under par. The only stumble that Welch took was on the 209-yard, par 3 12th hole where he made bogey to drop back to 5-under par, one stroke behind Quinn. A birdie on the 17th hole, however, quickly made up for that miscue. Welch thought that he had his fifth birdie of the day on the 18th hole – that would have put him at 7-under par for the tournament – but his birdie putt just rolled off to the side, giving him the easy tap in for par and a final round score of 3-under par 67.

Meanwhile, Stegmaier kept the crowd on its toes throughout the day with a roller coaster final round. After making the afternoon turn at 2-over par 37, it appeared that the University of Florida sophomore had run out of gas as he had fallen three strokes behind the leaders. However, Stegmaier battled back and posted three birdies, one eagle and two bogies through the next eight holes. With Welch already in the clubhouse at 6-under par, Stegmaier stepped up to the 18th hole needing to make par in order to force a playoff. Unfortunately for Stegmaier, his approach shot sailed over the green and he was unable to get up and down. He finished the tournament at 5-under par 275 and even par 70 for the day. Had Stegmaier been able to pull out the win, he would have become the first Connecticut player to win since J.J. Henry was victorious in 1998.

Quinn, who entered the final day with a three-stroke lead over the field, was steady all day long until he made his way to the 183-yard, par 3 15th hole where he suffered a double bogey to drop him two shots back of Stegmaier. Up until that point, Quinn had made par on 12 straight holes. The veteran player who win this event in 2002, claimed a piece of second place courtesy of a clutch birdie on the 18th hole.

Making a charge up the leaderboard during the final day to claim sole possession of third place was 2004 Massachusetts Amateur champion Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC), who finished with a three-day total of 3-under par 277. Vana was even par through the first two rounds, but picked a good time to sink birdie putts as he made a total of eight birdies on Thursday to go 1-under par and 2-under par during his morning and afternoon rounds, respectively.