News Release

For Immediate Release: October 3, 2005

Headline: Gene Ryzewicz Leads All Following Round 1 of 2005 New England Senior Championship

Wallingford, CT– With one round down and one to go, Gene Ryzewicz (Connecticut GC – CT) finds himself atop the leaderboard at the 2005 New England Senior Championship, which is being held this week at Wallingford Country Club in Wallingford, Connecticut. Ryzewicz was the only player to shoot under par this afternoon as he finished with at 1-under par 70 and currently holds a one shot lead over Dave Houghton (The Captains Course – MA).

Due to foggy conditions in the Wallingford area this morning, the field was forced to compete in a shot gun start this morning and afternoon. With similar conditions expected for tomorrow, tournament organizers have arranged for the entire field to compete in a 10:00 a.m. shotgun on Tuesday morning. The victor of the 2005 title will be determined following that second and final round of 18-hole stroke play.

Ryzewicz, who was victorious at the 2004 CSGA Senior Championship, began his round on the 12th hole and proceeded to make bogey on the 13 th hole and a birdie on the 17th hole to make the turn at even par. A solid back nine, which featured a birdie on the 204-yard, par 3 4th hole, was good enough for Ryzewicz to turn in his stellar 1-under par 70 score. This event is a comeback of sorts for Ryzewicz, a member of the 2004 Connecticut Tri-State Team, who has been unable to play in many competitive events this year due to a wrist injury.

Right on Ryzewicz's heels is Houghton at even par 71. Houghton was on fire at the onset as he offset a bogey on the 14 th hole with birdies on the 10th, 11th, 15th and 17th holes to make the turn at 3-under par. The back nine was not as friendly for Houghton as he posted bogeys on the 18th, 3rd and 6th holes to finish at even par for the day.

Four players – Shawn McLoughlin (Ridgewood CC – CT), Ronald Murray (Val Halla GC – ME), John Catarino (Weathersfield CC – CT) and Del Kinney (Wyantenuck CC – MA) – stand in a tie for third place after posting scores of 2-over par 73.

McLoughlin, who earlier this summer advanced to the second round of match play at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship and was also victorious at the Westchester (NY) Senior Amateur Championship, began his round on the 18 th hole and quickly made his mark by making birdie on two of his first three holes. Although a bogey on the 4th hole halted his momentum, McLoughlin still made the turn at 1-under par. His final nine holes were unfortunately not as pleasant for McLoughlin. After making birdie on the 320-yard, par 4 10th hole, he then registered a double bogey on the 325-yard, par 4 12th and a bogeys on the 13th and 15th holes. Starting one hole behind McLoughlin was Catarino, who also began strong as he posted two birdies – on the 544-yard, par 5 5th and 403-yard, par 4 7th holes – and two bogeys to make the turn at even par. On the back nine, he made six pars and two bogeys.

Also posting a 2-over par 73 was Kinney, who just last week finished tied for 10th at last week’s Massachusetts Senior Championship. Kinney began his up-and-down round with a par on the 8th hole, a bogey on 9th hole and a birdie on the 10th hole! Kinney rebounded from bogeys on the 13th and 16th holes with his second birdie of the day on the 337-yard, par 4 17th hole. He then made six straight pars before posting a disappointing bogey on his second last hole of the day – the 162-yard, par 3 6th hole. Rounding out the group at 2-over par 73 was Murray, a former golf professional who competed with the afternoon group. Murray made three straight pars before posting bogey on the 16th hole. He finished off his round with four bogeys and two birdies on the day.