News Release

For Immediate Release: May 24, 2006

Headline: Amateurs Dominate at Day 3 of State Open Qualifying Held at Indian Ridge Country Club

Andover, MA – A trio of amateur players – Richard Berberian (Crystal Springs GC), Aaron Ungvarsky (CC of Billerica) and Jason Parajeckas (Woburn CC) – fired a score of even par 72 at Indian Ridge Country Club on Wednesday to capture a share of medalist honors following the third day of Massachusetts Open Championship.

As a result of their performance today, a total of 22 competitors, including 10 amateur players, earned the right to compete at Championship Proper, which will take place on June 19-21 at Charles River Country Club.

It is no surprise that these youngsters find themselves atop the leaderboard. Just last month, Parajeckis, who is coming off his junior golf campaign at the University of Connecticut, played exceptional golf at the Massachusetts Four-Ball Championship as he and his partner Aaron Siekierski stood in second place following the first round of play. Parajeckis and Siekierski will return to Cape Cod in June to finish off the second round which was postponed due to inclement weather.

Ungvarsky and Berberian are also young up-and-comers as Ungvarsky competes for the Binghamton University (NY) golf team, and just last year, Berberian qualified for and competed in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

Other notable amateur qualifiers include Andy Hydorn (Renaissance GC), Jordan Burke (Needham GC), Mike Slosek (Forest Park CC), John Gilmartin (Indian Ridge CC), Nick Coon (Andover CC), Byron O'Brien (Spofford, NH),and Stephen Kilcoyne (Oakley CC).

The Massachusetts Open represents the only event on the MGA Championship schedule that is open to both amateur and professional golfers. Competitors for this year’s event must have an up-to-date MGA/USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4.

Massachusetts Open Qualifying - Day 3 Notes:
• Two more days of Massachusetts Open qualifying will be held at the following sites: Charter Oak Country Club (May 30), Waubeeka Golf Links (May 30) and Cranberry Valley Country Club (May 31).
• More than 500 applications, including 40 exemptions, were received for this year's Massachusetts Open Championship.