News Release

For Immediate Release: August 17, 2004

Headline: Bill Drohen Dominates Field to Win Massachusetts Public Links Title by Five Strokes

Bellingham, MA – On this day Bill Drohen (Bradford CC) was just too good. The Haverhill resident fired a dominating 3-under par 69 for a two-day total of 8-under par 136 to capture the 2004 Massachusetts Public Links Championship, which was held this week at Maplegate Country Club.

Drohen, who along with Adam Rainaud (The Ledges GC) fired a course record 5-under par 67 on Monday, was just too dominating on Tuesday afternoon as he ran away with the title by a total of five strokes. The day-low score of 69 matches what used to be the competitive course record at Maplegate Country Club. With the victory, Bill becomes the third Drohen to become an MGA champion as older brother Andy was victorious at the 2003 Massachusetts Amateur Championship and father James won the 2003 Massachusetts Senior Championship. Bill’s win this afternoon caps what has been a great season thus far for the young amateur player. Earlier this season he captured the Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship with Andy and then advanced to the match play portion of the British Amateur Championship and the semifinals of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship.

Finishing in a tie for second place with a score of 3-under par 141 were John McNeill (B.A.G.S.) and Rainaud. This event marks the third time that McNeill has finished second in an MGA Championship event. Back in 1996, he finished second at the Massachusetts Public Links Championship, while last year McNeill made a strong move on the final day of play at the 2003 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship to finish in second place. This time around, McNeill was consistent down the stretch by posting a final-round score of 1-under par 71. Rainaud could not keep his first round magic going as he posted a 2-over par 74 on Tuesday to fall five strokes back of Drohen.

Phil Miceli (Sagamore Spring GC) claimed sole possession of fourth place with a 1-under par 143, while Daniel Falcucci (Cyprian Keyes GC) and Andy Drohen were two strokes back at 1-over par 145. Last year’s champion, Edward Fletcher (Quashnet Valley CC) struggled on the final day – he shot 5-over par 77 on Tuesday – to finish in a tie for 18th place with a score of 6-over par 150.