News Release

For Immediate Release: July 26, 2004

Headline: Local Players Doug Clapp, Brendan Hester Qualify for U.S. Amateur Championship

Fitchburg, MA – After 36 holes of local qualifying, four golfers have earned a spot at next month’s U.S. Amateur Championship. Local qualifying for this USGA-sponsored event was held today at Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

Ron Harvey Jr. (Picadilly, NB) traveled all the way from Canada to compete in U.S. Amateur qualifying…and it turned out that his journey was well worth the trip. Harvey began the day with a blistering 5-under par 65 and followed that up with a day-low score of even par 70 to capture medalist honors by one stroke.

Local competitor Douglas Clapp (Walpole, MA) finished at 4-under par 136 to claim the second qualifying spot. Ricky Jones (Thomaston, ME) and Brendan Hester (Sutton, MA), the 2001 Massachusetts Amateur champion, secured the final two qualifying spots by posting a two-round total of 2-under par 138.

A second and final day of local qualifying will be held on Monday, August 2nd at Longmeadow Country Club (Springfield, MA) and Golf Club of New England (Stratham, NH). Those individuals will join today’s qualifiers at the U.S. Amateur Championship, scheduled to take place on August 16-22 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, NY.

About the U.S. Amateur Championship:
The U.S. Amateur Championship was born in 1895 and is the oldest golf championship in this country — one day older than the U.S. Open. Except for an eight-year period, from 1965-72, when it was stroke play, the Amateur has been a match-play championship. Throughout its history, the U.S. Amateur has been the most coveted of all amateur titles. Many of the great names of professional golf, such as Gene Littler, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lanny Wadkins, Craig Stadler, Jerry Pate, Mark O’Meara, Hal Sutton, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, grace the Havemeyer Cup.