MGA: Massachusetts Golf Association IllustrationIllustration

News Release

For Immediate Release: September 21, 2005

Headline: Ruschioni Holds Slim Lead Heading Into Final Round of State Mid-Amateur Championship

Fitchburg, MA – Home-club favorite Jim Ruschioni (Oak Hill CC) maintained his slim, one-stroke lead over the field heading into tomorrow’s third and final round of the 22nd Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship, which is being held this week at Oak Hill Country Club.

Ruschioni finished the first two rounds with a score of 1-under par 139, which is one shot better than five-time champion of this event Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC) and John Hadges (Thorny Lea GC), who are at even par 140.

Following the second round of play, the 120-player field was reduced to the low 34 scorers. Those competitors will return to Fitchburg tomorrow morning to compete in a third and final round of 18-hole stroke play to determine the 2005 champion. This year’s cut line fell at 11-over par 151.

Unlike his stellar 2-under par 68 round on Monday, Ruschioni endured an up-and-down second round which included five bogeys and four birdies. Following bogeys on the 3rd and 4th holes, the 18-time Oak Hill CC club champion and two-time George M. Cohen MGA Senior Player of the Year caught fire as he made the turn by posting birdie on the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th holes. Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep that momentum going down the stretch as he made bogey on the 14th, 15th and 16th holes. If Ruschioni prevails tomorrow, it would be his fourth Massachusetts Mid-Amateur title as he was victorious in 1985, 1991 and 1997.

Nipping on his heels at even par 140 are Hadges and Vana, who turned in scores this afternoon of even par 70 and 1-over par 71, respectively. On the day, Hadges posted four birdies, four bogeys, one double bogey and an eagle. That eagle came on the 456-yard, par 5 10th hole after Hadges had made the turn at a sizzling 2-under par 33 clip. While Hadges met with success on the front nine, Vana battled back from a disappointing 2-over par 37 front nine with an eagle on that same 10th hole and then a birdie on the 416-yard, par 4 11th hole. Had it not been for a costly double bogey on the 432-yard, par 4 14th hole where he sailed his first tee shot out of bounds, Vana would have been seeing red at the end of the day.

Also still very much in the hunt is the day’s low scorer, John Gilmartin (Indian Ridge CC), who posted a 2-under par 68 and finds himself two shots back of the leader and paired with Vana on the final day. Past champions of this event, Kevin Carey (Dennis Pines GC) and Steven Tasho (Thorny Lea GC), are three and five shots back of the leader, respectively. Other past champions who made the cut this year include Jon Fasick (New England CC) and defending champion Andy Drohen (St. Anne CC).

Round 2 Highlights:
• Frank De Piano (Mount Pleasant CC) may not have made the cut at this year’s event, but this is surely a tournament that he will not soon forget. De Piano, who fired a second round score of 4-over par 74, posted his second career hole in one on the 169-yard, par 3 8th hole this afternoon with his trusty rescue club.
• Despite claiming medalist honors during his qualifying round on the Cape and to the disappointment of his new fan base, Tony Jackson (Edgartown GC) did not make the cut after finishing with a two-round total of 12-over par 163.