News Release

For Immediate Release: July 6, 2005

Headline: Starting Times, Pairings Released for 2005 New England Amateur Championship

Norton, MA – With only a few short weeks remaining before the playing of the 2005 New England Amateur Championship, the New England Golf Association (NEGA) released starting times and pairings for the first and second rounds of play.

This year's New England Amateur Championship -- which pits the best amateur players from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire against each other -- will be held at Valley Country Club (Warwick, RI) on July 19-21.

Two-time and defending championship Michael Welch (Furnace Brook GC) will look to capture his third consecutive title at Valley CC. Last year, Welch delivered a come-from-behind victory at Race Brook Country Club (CT) to capture the title. With the victory, Welch became only the sixth golfer in the event’s 75-year history to win the event two straight years. The last golfer to accomplish such a feat was Rhode Island’s Brad Faxon in 1980-81.