News Release

For Immediate Release: June 2, 2005

Headline: Snickenberger, Ray Lead Pack at Massachusetts Open Qualifying at Framingham CC

Framingham, MA – Two up-and-coming amateur players stole the spotlight this afternoon to capture medalist honors at Massachusetts Open qualifying which was held at Framingham Country Club. Alex Snickenberger (Wellesley CC) and Brendon Ray (Walpole, MA) both fired a low score of 1-over par 73 to lead a pack of 19 qualifiers at that site.

Both players rallied from rocky starts to finish at 1-over par 73. Snickenberger, a freshman at Boston College, began his round by posting bogey on the 1st and 2nd holes, while Ray finished atop the pack courtesy of a stellar back nine score of 2-under par 34. Earlier this month, Ray led his Central Connecticut golf team to a 27th-place finish at the West Regional of the NCAA Tournament.

Those two youngsters led a field of 21 qualifiers at Framingham who have now earned the right to compete at Championship Proper, which will be contested at Vesper Country Club on June 20-22.

The Massachusetts Open Championship debuted in 1905 when Donald Ross captured the inaugural title. Since that time, some of the greatest golfers in the history of the game have earned this prestigious Championship including Walter Hagen, Jesse Guilford, Francis Ouimet, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson and Paul Harney.

The Massachusetts Open represents the only event on the MGA Championship schedule that is open to both amateur and professional golfers. Competitors for this year’s event must have an up-to-date MGA /USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4.