News Release

For Immediate Release: August 2, 2004

Headline: Local Players Mike Welch, Frank Vana, Jr. Qualify for U.S. Amateur Championship

Norton, MA – After 36 holes of local qualifying, seven golfers have earned a spot at next month’s U.S. Amateur Championship. Local qualifying for this USGA-sponsored event was held today at Golf Club of New England (Stratham, NH) and Longmeadow Country Club (Longmeadow, MA).

Leading the way at Golf Club of New England was Tim Acquaviva (Andover, MA), who earned medalist honors with a score of 4-under par 140. Acquaviva, who is a standout golfer at Rollins College, was 1-over par 73 following his first 18 holes but turned on the heat in the afternoon with a score of 3-under par 67. Acquaviva is continuing what has been a sold summer of golf as he is coming off a sixth-place finish at last month’s New England Amateur Championship. Also qualifying at that site was Brett Wilson (Dover, NH) and 2004 New England Amateur champion Michael Welch (Quincy, MA) with scores of 2-under par 142 and even par 144, respectively.

In the western part of the state, Bryan Bigley (Schenectady, NY) was the man out front as he posted a 2-over par 142 for sole possession of medalist honors. Right behind Bigley was 2004 Massachusetts Amateur Champion Frank Vana Jr. (Shrewsbury, MA), who turned in a two-round total of 3-over par 143. Vana too is having a spectacular summer as he advanced to U.S. Open Sectional qualifying and most recently finished third at the New England Championship and second at the Ouimet Memorial Tournament. Also qualifying at that site with a score of 3-over par 143 was David Jones (Norwich, CT). Meanwhile, Manny Dasilva (Middletown, CT), survived a three-hole playoff against Jesse Larson (Mendon, VT) to capture the fourth and final qualifying spot.

In earlier qualifying action held last week, four players -- Ron Harvey Jr. (Picadilly, NB), Douglas Clapp (Walpole, MA), Ricky Jones (Thomaston, ME) and Brendan Hester (Sutton, MA) – advanced at Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

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.

The MGA annually conducts qualifying rounds for the major United States Golf Association (USGA) Championships, including the U.S. Open, Senior Open, Amateur, Junior Amateur, Senior Amateur, Mid-Amateur and the Amateur Public Links.

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.