News Release

For Immediate Release: September 15, 2005

Headline: Bay State Golfers Shine Through at U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship; Three Advance to Match Play

Norton, MA – Representatives from the Bay State shined through at the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, which was held this week at The Honors Course in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Three local competitors who qualified for the event following sectional qualifying - Brendan Hester (Northbridge, MA), Frank Vana, Jr. (Boylston, MA) and Andy Drohen (Granville, MA) - advanced to the second round of match play at this prestigious USGA event.

Leading the charge for Massachusetts was Hester, who despite not playing in several MGA events this year, has been playing his best golf of the year over the past few months. The Pleasant Valley Country Club member made it all the way to the quarterfinals before being defeated by a red-hot Michael McCoy of West Des Moines, Iowa, by a score of 7 & 6. As a result of his performance this past week, Hester earned an exemption from sectional qualifying for next year's U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.

While Hester was moving his way through the match play bracket, Vana and Drohen also met with success in their matches. Vana advanced to the Round of 16 following victories over David Strawn (Charlotte, NC) and David Noll, Jr. (Dalton, GA) before being defeated by Kenneth Kellaney (Phoenix, AZ) on the 18th hole by a score of 1 Down. Drohen knocked off Chris James, (Austin, TX) in 19 holes before falling to Parker Smith (Morristown, TN), 5 & 3, in the Round of 32.

Also competing in this year's U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship but not advancing to match play were Ed Butz (Williamstown, MA), Brian Higgins (Bellingham, MA) and Jim Whitney (South Hamilton, MA).

For complete coverage of the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, please visit the official web site at www.usmidam.org.