News Release

For Immediate Release: July 18, 2006

Headline: Steckowych Leads By Two Following Round 1 of New England Amateur Championship

Falmouth, ME– It's been five years since Craig Steckowych (Portsmouth CC - NH) was atop the leaderboard of the New England Amateur Championship, but following a 6-under par 66 performance on Tuesday he finds himself leading the pack. Following the first round of play at The Woodlands Club in Falmouth, Maine, Steckowych leads the 165-player field by two strokes.

Steckowych, the two-time New Hampshire Amateur Champion who won this event in 2001, began his title pursuit on the 10th tee and posted a blemish-free scorecard. He carded birdies on the 507-yard, par 5 11th, 176-yard, par 3 13th and the 350-yard, par 4 16th holes to make the turn at 3-under par 33. He kept it rolling on the back nine by making back-to-back birdies on the 2nd and 3rd holes and then adding another three holes later on the 6th hole.

Two back of Steckowych with scores of 4-under par 68 are George Donnell (Quidnessett CC - RI) and Bill Drohen (Bradford CC - MA). Donnell, who like Steckowych started on the 10th hole, made the turn at 2-under par 34 and then went on to post three birdies and one bogey through his final nine holes. He capped off his round with a birdie on the 380-yard, par 4 9th hole. Drohen, meanwhile, carded birdies on the 1st, 5th, 9th and 18th holes to put himself into contention heading into the second round. Just last week, Drohen finished as stroke play medalist at the Massachusetts Amateur Championship before being defeated in the second round of match play.

Sitting in sole possession of fourth place with a score of 2-under par 70 is Trevor Murphy (St Johnsbury CC - VT), last year's first-round leader. Defending champion Jim Renner (Highland CC - MA) is 4-over par 76 following a first round that included two birdies, four bogeys and one double bogey.

The most interesting round of the day came courtesy of the 2006 Maine Amateur Champion Shawn Warren (Gorham CC - ME). Although still very much in the hunt with a score of 1-over par 73, Warren was 7-under par through his first 14 holes. It was then that he ran into some trouble. Warren finished his round, which started on the 10 th tee, double bogey, bogey, quadruple bogey and bogey.

The entire 165-player field will return to Falmouth on Wednesday to compete in a second round of 18 holes of stroke play. Following Wednesday’s round, the field will be reduced to the low 40 scorers and ties, and only those individuals will return to The Woodlands Club on Thursday for a final day of 36 holes of stroke play.

About the New England Amateur Championship:
The New England Amateur Championship is open to golfers from Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont who hold an established, up-to-date handicap index of 5.4 or less. There is no qualifying held for this event. Former champions include Fred Wright, Brad Faxon, Billy Andrade and James Driscoll.

About the New England Golf Association:
The New England Golf Association (NEGA) is comprised of officers and leaders from the six New England golf associations and conducts three major amateur championships each year: New England Amateur Championship, New England Junior Invitational and the New England Senior Championship.