News Release

For Immediate Release: July 26, 2005

Headline: 28 Competitors Advance to Massachusetts Public Links Championship Following Qualifying

Norton, MA– An additional 28 individuals have earned the right to compete next month at the 24th Massachusetts Public Links Championship following a second round of qualifying that was held today. Qualifying was held at two sites – Lakeville Country Club and Bradford Country Club – in preparation for Championship Proper, which is scheduled for August 15-16 at Cranberry Valley Golf Course in Harwich, Massachusetts .

Dominating the field in Bradford was Robert Avellino (Far Corner CC), who fired a medalist score of 1-under par 69. Avellino, who finished tied for 22nd at last year’s Massachusetts Public Links Championship, made the turn at 2-under par 33 and then cruised to the finish line. The closest competitors to Avellino were four players – Ryan Furey (Merrimack GC), Steve St. Amand (The Meadow at Peabody GC), Robert Evangelista (Colonial GL) and Doug Briggs (Trull Brook GC) – who finished five strokes back at 4-over par 74.

Fresh off his Round of 32 appearance at the 2005 Massachusetts Amateur Championship, Ryan Riley (Norton CC) continued his solid play by earning medalist honors in Lakeville with a low round of 2-under par 70. Riley, the only player to break par at that site, made the turn at even par and then finished the back nine at a 2-under par 34 clip. Riley edged out the brother duo of Carter Fasick (Indian Meadows GC) and Jon Fasick (New England CC) by two strokes. Although both Fasick brothers are no strangers to this event, Jon captured the Massachusetts Public Links title back in 1994.

A total of 42 competitors advanced during yesterday’s qualifying rounds which were held at three sites. A third and final day of qualifying will be held on Thursday, July 28th at Bass River Golf Club.

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.