News Release

For Immediate Release: July 25, 2005

Headline: 48 Competitors Advance to Massachusetts Public Links Championship Following Qualifying

Norton, MA–Forty-two players are one step closer to being named the best public course player in the state following qualifying rounds which were held as a prelude to the 24 \th Massachusetts Public Links Championship. Qualifying was held today at three sites – Brookline GC, Holden Hills Country Club and Hampden Country Club – in preparation for Championship Proper, which is scheduled for August 15-16 at Cranberry Valley Golf Course in Harwich, Massachusetts.

Adam Carlucci (Maplegate CC) made a strong statement this afternoon by capturing medalist honors by a four-stroke margin at Brookline Golf Club with a score of 2-under par 69. Carlucci made the turn at 2-under par 34 and finished off his round by shooting even par through his final nine holes. Finishing at 2-over par 73 were Mark O'Sullivan (Stow Acres CC) and Bob Stiles (Green Hill Municipal GC).

Joe Piarulli (Green Hill Municipal GC) was the only person to shoot even par this afternoon at Holden Hills Country Club in Jefferson. Although he made the turn at 1-over par 37, Piarulli saved his best golf for the back nine as he finished with a 1-under par 34. Piarulli finished two strokes better than his closest competitor.

In the western part of the state at Hampden Country Club, Adam D'Amario (Veterans Memorial GC) led a field of 14 qualifiers by shooting even par 72. Also qualifying at that site were 2003 Massachusetts Junior champion Aaron Siekierski (Webster-Dudley GC) and 2005 Massachusetts Amateur quarterfinalist Amos Nissenbaum (Scottish Meadows GC).

Additional qualifying rounds will be held on July 26 and July 28 at the following sites:

July 26 – Bradford CC, Lakeville CC
July 28 – Bass River GC

A total of 549 players are vying for 84 qualifying spots during this week’s qualifying rounds. Fifteen players, including 2004 champion Bill Drohen ( Bradford CC) , are exempt from qualifying this year.

The Massachusetts Public Links Championship was first played in 1982 with the goal of crowing the best bona fide public course players who do not hold membership at any course from which the public is excluded or at any private club maintaining its own course.