News Release

For Immediate Release: August 2, 2005

Headline: Brennan Fires 69 to Lead All Heading Into Final Round of State Junior Championship

Devens, MA – A blistering second-round score of 3-under par 69 by Colin Brennan (Indian Ridge CC) on Tuesday vaulted him atop the leaderboard heading into the third and final round of play at the 2005 Massachusetts Junior Championship, which is being held this week at Red Tail Golf Club in Devens. Brennan, who carded a two-day total of even par 144, currently holds a two-stroke lead over first-round co-leaders Evan Harmeling (Andover CC) and Antonio Grillo (Farm Neck GC) and Jay Driscoll (Wollaston GC) and Davis Mullany (Wyantenuck CC).

Following the first two rounds of stroke play, the field was reduced to the low 30 Junior, 22 Pre-Junior and 10 Boys Division scorers. Only those players will return to Red Tail Golf Club on Wednesday to compete in a final 18-hole round to determine the 2005 Massachusetts Junior Champion.

Brennan, who attends Andover High School, made the turn this afternoon at 2-under par 34 courtesy of birdies on the 516-yard, par 5 2nd and 512-yard, par 5 4th holes. Brennan continued his flawless play on the back nine by posting eight pars and one birdie to finish at 3-under for the round. Sitting just behind Brennan with a score of 2-over par 146 is Harmeling, who appeared poised to go low after posting a front nine score of 2-under par 34. The wheels temporarily fell off the bus for Harmeling on the back nine, however, as he registered one bogey and two double bogies. He rallied on the challenging 499-yard, par 5 18th hole with a birdie to finish his second round with a score of 2-over par 74.

Meanwhile, Mullany continued his consistent play on day two with an even par 72. His playing partner Driscoll stormed back from a first-round score of 6-over par 78 to post a tournament low score of 4-under par 68 this afternoon to grab a share of second place.

Also sitting in a tie for second place overall is Grillo, who is competing in the Pre-Junior Division which includes competitors between the ages of 14 and 16. Grillo followed up his round-one low score of even par 72 with a 2-over par 74 this afternoon. The Martha’s Vineyard product made the turn at 1-over par 37 following two bogies and one birdie on the front nine. He then rebounded from a double bogey on the 154-yard, par 3 11th hole by posting two birdies and one bogey through his final seven holes.

Grillo, who stands at 2-over par 146 for the tournament, currently holds a seven-shot lead over fellow Pre-Junior competitor Bradley Kushner (CC of New Seabury). Although he is playing in the younger age division, Grillo is eligible to capture the State Junior title because the Junior and Pre-Junior divisions play off the same tees.

In the Boys Division, 13-year-old Richard Werenski (The Orchards GC) stormed out to a six-stroke lead after posting an even par 72 this morning for a two-day total of 3-over par 147. Werenski found his rhythm early as he registered birdies on the 4th and 142-yard, par 3 5th holes to make the turn at 2-under par 34. Although he was unable to match his superior performance on the back nine, Werenski battled back from a double bogey on the 453-yard, par 5 10th hole to finish even par through his final eight holes.

Sitting in a tie for second place in the Boys Division with a score of 9-over par 153 are Stephen Soucy (Mount Pleasant GC) and Werenski’s 11-year-old brother Michael Werenski (The Orchards GC). Although first-round leader Aaron Klimchuk (Wahconah CC) was unable to maintain his lead, he advanced to the final round of play after finishing with a two-day total of 13-over par 157.