News Release

For Immediate Release: June 15, 2006

Headline: Qualifying Concludes for Massachusetts Amateur Championship; Field of 144 Now Set

Norton, MA – Despite rain storms that postponed play for two days last week, qualifying for the 98th playing of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship has concluded. A third and final day of qualifying was held today at four sites – Foxborough Country Club, Haverhill Country Club, Hickory Ridge Country Club and Marshfield Country Club.

A total of 57 qualifiers advanced from those four courses and have thus earned the right to compete at Championship Proper, which will be held on July 10-14 at Worcester Country Club.

Here are highlights from today's qualifying sites.

Foxborough CC – 15 qualifiers:
Michael Arter (Sharon CC) rose above the rest of the field by firing a day-low score of 1-over par 73 in Foxborough. Arter edged four players – James Shriver (Norfolk GC), Steve Neidermire (Maplegate CC), Ray Wright (Framingham CC) and Mike Finocchi (Heather Hill CC) – for the top spot at that site. Interestingly, the final 10 qualifying spots were captured by players who finished with scores of 5-over par 77.

Haverhill CC – 14 qualifiers:
Philip Smith (Vesper CC) was the lone player to shoot under par in Haverhill as he posted an impressive medalist score of 1-under par 69. Finishing two shots back of Smith with a score of 1-over par 71 were a pair of Indian Ridge Country Club players, Colin Ahern (Indian Ridge CC) and Shawn-David Scott (Indian Ridge CC). Also qualifying in Haverhill were Kevin Velardo (CC of Billerica) and Shawn Roderick (Haverhill CC), two players who qualified for and will be competing in next week's Massachusetts Open Championship.

Hickory Ridge CC – 14 qualifiers:
In the western part of the state, the competition was fierce as one had to shoot 1-over par 73 or better in order to secure one of the 14 qualifying spots. Leading the way were David Laravee (Ludlow CC) and AJ Oleksak (Oak Ridge Golf Club), who pieced together rounds of 2-under par 70 for medalist honors. Youth and veteran experience were well represented as other notable qualifiers included Adam Rainaud(The Ledges GC), a sophomore standout at the University of Louisville, and Paul Nunez, Jr. (Longmeadow CC), one of the state's top senior circuit players.

Marshfield CC – 14 qualifiers:
Despite a 90-minute rain delay, a total of 14 competitors advanced in Marshfield. Jordan Burke (Needham GC) played superb golf as he posted a 3-under par 67 to finish atop the leaderboard. Burke made the turn at 2-under par 33 and cruised on to a 1-under par 34 on the back nine. Mike Gunderson (Marshfield CC) displayed his home-course knowledge by turning in a score of 1-under par 69, which was good for sole possession of second place.

Massachusetts Amateur Qualifying - Day 3 Notes:
• A total of 144 competitors – including 20 exempt players – will compete at Championship Proper, scheduled for July 10-14 at Worcester Country Club.
• More than 770 applications were received for this year's Massachusetts Amateur Championship, which is the most-subscribed event on the MGA Championship schedule.
• Entries for the Massachusetts Amateur Championship are open to amateur golfers who hold membership in an MGA member club and have an up-to-date MGA/USGA GHIN Handicap not exceeding 4.4 (as determined by the May 12, 2006 Handicap Revision).