News Release

For Immediate Release: July 14, 2005

Headline: Frank Vana, Jr. & Ben Spitz Set for 2005 Massachusetts Amateur Final Showdown

Manchester, MA – Following two rounds of stroke play and four matches over a period of four days, the final 36-hole match for the 97 th playing of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship is now set. Ben Spitz (Fairway Club) and defending champion Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC) will face off on Friday morning beginning at 8:00 a.m. at Essex County Club. Following the first 18 holes, the players will take a brief lunch break before heading back onto the course for the final 18 holes of the championship.

Spitz advanced to the finals of the State Amateur for the first time in his career after defeating veteran Joe Keller (Hyannisport Club) in 19 Holes. It took 22 Holes for Vana to secure his second straight berth into the finals after a grueling back-and-forth battle against Bill Drohen (Bradford CC). One year ago, Vana knocked off Drohen in 19 Holes at Taconic Golf Club in the semifinals before capturing his first State Amateur title.

Spitz, a sophomore at the University of Rhode Island and former golf standout at Norwell High School , saved his best golf for his semifinal match against Keller as he finished with five birdies, one eagle, two bogies and one double bogey. The double bogey came on the 18 th hole, which coupled with a Keller bogey, forced the match into extra holes. On that 19 th playoff hole, Keller sent his approach shot just short and right of the green. He then chipped to about eight feet and missed his downhill putt for par. Spitz, meanwhile, was on the green in two and calmly two putted for the victory.

In the later match, Vana and Drohen traded bogies down the stretch and finished 18 holes all square. After both players matched each other par-for-par through the first three playoff holes, Vana finally ended the match with a par on the 233-yard, par 3 4 th hole. Vana sent his tee shot 25 feet above the hole, putted to two feet and then drained his second putt. Drohen found himself 45 feet below the hole and was unable to make the 7-footer that he was left with after his first putt.

Highlights from the Quarterfinals:
- Dreams of a second State Amateur title at Essex County Club came to an end for past champion Flynt Lincoln (Longmeadow CC) as he was defeated by Spitz on the 17 th hole, 2 & 1. Lincoln, who won this event in 1993, cruised through the first two rounds of match play before meeting his match in Spitz.
- Jack Kearney (Elmcrest CC) was ousted in the quarterfinals by his good friend Vana, who defeated Kearney by a score of 2 & 1. Kearney, who earlier this year was victorious at the Hornblower Invitational, made two costly bogies on the back nine to open the door for Vana who posted 10 one putts on the round.
- Keller played steady golf during the morning round to defeat Ray Richard (Thorny Lea GC), 3 & 2. Keller carded one birdie and one bogey through 16 holes en route to his victory. Richard was one of three Thorny Lea GC golfers to advance to Match Play this year.
- Amos Nissenbaum (Scottish Meadows GC), who was making his second consecutive Match Play appearance, was unable to counter Drohen’s steady play. On the round, Nissenbaum posted four bogeys, one double bogey and one birdie to fall by a score of 3 & 2.