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For Immediate Release: September 20, 2005
Headline: Ruschioni Holds 1-Stroke Lead After Day 1 of Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship
Fitchburg, MA – There is clearly no place like home for two-time George M. Cohen MGA Senior Player of the Year Jim Ruschioni (Oak Hill CC) as he jumped out to a one-shot lead over the field following the first round of play at the 22nd Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship, which is being held this week at Oak Hill Country Club.
Ruschioni, a 17-time club champion at the Fitchburg course, posted a round of 2-under par 68 for that one-stroke edge over Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC), Robert Blackmar (Sterling CC) and Dan Mastrototaro (Cyprian Keyes GC). Despite windy and oftentimes rainy playing conditions, Ruschioni got off to a fast start by making birdie on his first two holes of the day – the 456-yard, par 5 10th and 416-yard, par 4 11th holes. After making the turn at 1-under par 34, Ruschioni finished strong with two birdies and one bogey on the back to close out his 2-under par round. Ruschioni is no stranger to this event as he was victorious in 1985, 1991 and 1997.
Breathing down Ruschioni’s neck at 1-under par 69 are Vana, Blackmar and Mastrototaro, who fired scores of 1-under par 69. Vana, who won this event five straight times from 1999 to 2003, is coming off a stellar performance at last week’s U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship where he advanced to the Round of 16. On this day, Vana battled through a tumultuous first nine holes which included three birdies and three bogies to make the turn at even par 35. He then settled into the round and posted six consecutive pars before making birdie on the 462-yard, par 5 7th hole. He closed out his 1-under par 69 round with birdies on 8th and 9th holes.
Blackmar, who finished tied for sixth place at last year’s Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship, turned in one of the most impressive putting performances of the day as his round featured four birdies, three bogeys and only 21 putts. Blackmar chipped in for birdie on the 434-yard, par 12 th and 461-yard, par 4 15th holes and then chipped in for par on the 150-yard, par 3 17th hole en route to his second-place score. Mastrototaro, one of the few round one leaders who finished during the late afternoon, fired a 2-under par 33 before finishing off with a 1-over par 36 on the back nine. Mastrototaro’s round included four bogeys, three birdies and an eagle on the 462-yard, par 5 7th hole.
This year’s fan favorite competitor, Tony Jackson (Edgartown GC), is 13 strokes back of the leader after firing a 11-over par 81. Jackson, who is playing in his first MGA Championship event this week, made headlines last month for his medalist qualifying round at The Captains Golf Course.
Round 1 Highlights:
• A total of eight past Massachusetts Mid-Amateur champions are competing in this year’s event. Past champions include Vana, Ruschioni, Steven Tasho (Thorny Lea GC), Kevin Carey (Dennis Pines GC), Jon Fasick (New England CC), Robert Bradley (Ponkapoag GC), Paul Murphy (Charles River CC) and Andy Drohen (St. Anne CC).
• More than 450 applications were received for this year’s Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship. A total of 99 qualifiers joined the 21 exempt players.