MGA: Massachusetts Golf Association IllustrationIllustration

News Release

For Immediate Release: September 13, 2005

Headline: Starting Times, Pairings Released for 2005 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship

Norton, MA – With one week remaining before the 22nd playing of the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship, the MGA today released starting times and pairings for the first two rounds of the event. The Championship will take place on September 20-22 at Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

The 120-player field will compete in 18 holes of stroke play on Tuesday and Wednesday. Following the first two rounds, the 30 low scorers and ties or anyone within five strokes of the leader will continue on to a third and final round of stroke play on Thursday, September 22nd.

This year’s Championship will surely be one to remember as there are no shortages of headlines emerging from this year’s talented field. Defending Champion Andy Drohen (St. Anne CC) will be looking to defend his title after emerging victorious at Blue Hill Country Club one year ago in the 18-hole, rain-shortened event.

Six-time MGA Player of the Year Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC) will also be on hand to challenge for his record sixth Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship. Meanwhile, two-time MGA Senior Player of the Year Jim Ruschioni (Oak Hill CC) will be looking to capture his fourth Massachusetts Mid-Amateur title on his home course in Fitchburg.

Also vying for this prestigious Championship that debuted in 1984 will be Brendan Hester (Pleasant Valley CC), who has been playing his best golf of the season over the past few months by advancing to the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships, as well as Bill Drohen (Bradford CC), the 2004 Massachusetts Public Links champion and 2005 Massachusetts Amateur Championship semifinalist. Later this month, Drohen will be representing Team Massachusetts at the 2005 USGA State Team Matches, which will be held at Berkeley Hall Club (Hilton Head, SC), with older brother Andy Drohen and Vana.

Another competitor to watch will be 1992 MGA Player of the Year Jack Kearney (Elmcrest CC). Kearney, who earlier this summer captured his first career Hornblower Memorial title at Plymouth Country Club, earned the right to compete at this year’s Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship after posting a spectacular 3-under par 67 medalist round at qualifying held at Oak Ridge Country Club on August 30th.