News Release

For Immediate Release: May 31, 2006

Headline: Field of 150 Players Is Now Set for 2006 Massachusetts Open Championship

Norton, MA – Less than two weeks ago, more than 500 players had hopes of advancing to the 2006 Massachusetts Open Championship. Now, following five days of qualifying held at six different courses over a 10-day period, the Championship Proper field has been trimmed to 150. The fifth and final day of qualifying was held today at Cranberry Valley Golf Course in Harwich.

Following today's 18-hole round, a total of 14 qualifiers – including three amateur players – advanced. Leading the charge was local golf professional Brent Wanner (The Captains GC), who just weeks earlier posted a stellar medalist performance at U.S. Open local qualifying at Pinehills Golf Club. Wanner continued to impress today as he fired a day low score of 4-under par 68 en route to top honors at Cranberry Valley Golf Course. Wanner, the 1999 Christopher Cutler Rich MGA Junior Player of the Year, made it look easy by making the turn at 1-under par 35 and cruising to a 2-under par 33 score on the back nine.

Another familiar name and notable qualifier was Mike Haberl (Hyannisport Club), current golf professional at Hyannisport Club and former head golf professional at MGA Links at Mamantapett – the MGA's 18-hole, par 3 facility located in Norton that serves as home of The First Tee of Massachusetts. During his three-year tenure, Haberl was responsible for increasing the MGA Links junior membership from six to 600 members. Today, however, Haberl showed his prowess on the golf course by firing a 3-over par 75 to earn a berth to next month's Championship.

The entire 150-player field – which includes 40 exempt players – will now set their sights on Championship Proper, which will be held at Charles River Country Club on June 19-21. Notable exempt players who will be looking to capture the Clarence G. Cochrane Memorial Trophy next month include defending champion Eric Egloff (Sandy Spring, MD), four-time champion Geoffrey Sisk (Marshfield. MA), three-time Massachusetts Amateur Champion and current Canadian Tour player Jim Salinetti (Lee, MA) and two-time, defending Massachusetts Amateur Champion Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC). Just one year ago, Egloff captured the title by defeating Salinetti on the sixth playoff hole at Vesper Country Club.

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.