News Release

For Immediate Release: August 2, 2004

Headline: Liam Billard Seizes One Stroke Lead at Day 1 of Massachusetts Junior Championship

Great Barrington, MA – With this year’s Massachusetts Junior Championship being held at Wyantenuck Country Club in Great Barrington, Liam Billard (Wyantenuck CC) knew that he had an edge on the competition. The 15-year-old’s home-course knowledge proved strong during today’s first round of play as he posted a day-low score of 1-under par 69 to take a one stroke lead over the competition. Billard, who is competing in the Pre-Junior Division, is eligible to capture the overall title since the Junior and Pre-Junior Divisions are playing from the blue tees this week.

Billard, who made the turn at even par 35 following two bogies and two birdies on the front side, caught fire on the back nine by registering three birdies through his next five holes. His only major hiccup on the day came on the 389-yard, par 4 15th hole where he made a double bogey.

One stroke back of Billard at even par 70 are Junior Division competitors Jay Driscoll (Wollaston GC) and the 2002 champion of this event, Mark Purrington (CC of New Bedford). Purrington, who was the last player to win this event as a Pre-Junior, was steady throughout his round, posting three birdies and four bogeys on the day. He made the turn at 1-under par after nestling a bogey on the 7th hole in between birdies on the 356-yard, par 4 6th and the 487-yard, par 5 8th holes. Although he made bogey on three of his next eight holes, Purrington finished strong with birdies on the final two holes.

Driscoll experienced more of an up-and-down round as his front nine score of 2-under par 33 was followed by a 2-over par 37 on the back nine. After playing near flawless golf through 10 holes, Driscoll registered a bogey on the 164-yard, par 3 11th hole and then a double bogey on the 401-yard, par 4 17th hole. Sitting in second place in the Pre-Junior Division behind Billard is John Kelly (Twin Hills CC) with a score of 3-over par 73.

The entire field will return to Wyantenuck Country Club on Tuesday for a second round of stroke play. Following the first two rounds of stroke play, the low 30 Junior, 20 Pre-Junior and 10 Boys Division scorers and ties will continue on to Wednesday’s 18-hole final round.

Highlights from the Boys Division:
- Noah Walker (The Harmon Club) posted a score of 8-over par 78 to take a one-stroke lead over the Boys Division field. Walker posted 40 on the front and 38 on the back to edge Bradley Kushner (CC of New Seabury), who turned in a 9-over par 79 for sole possession of second place. The most erratic round of the day was posted by Richard Werenski (The Orchards GC). The youngster suffered a 10 on the par 4 3rd hole en route to a front nine score of 13-over par 48, but he rebounded superbly with an even par 35 on the back nine.