News Release

For Immediate Release: July 25, 2006

Headline: Frank Vana, Jr. & Jim Renner Are Medalists at U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifying

Norton, MA – After 36 holes of sectional qualifying, five golfers have earned a spot at next month’s U.S. Amateur Championship. Sectional qualifying for this USGA-sponsored event was held today at Stockbridge Golf Club and New England Country Club.

Leading the way in the western part of the state was seven-time Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year Frank Vana , Jr. (Marlborough, MA) who registered an impressive 7-under par 135 performance at Stockbridge Golf Club. Vana, who will now be making his 26th appearance at a USGA Championship event next month, got on a roll early as he finished the morning round with a 5-under par 66. He added a 2-under par 69 in the afternoon to clinch the first of two qualifying spots at that site. Also advancing in Stockbridge was Andrew Dibitetto (Rochester, NY).

In Bellingham, Jim Renner (Plainville, MA) turned in a score of 1-under par 141 and earned medalist honors for his strong performance at New England Country Club. After finishing his first 18 holes at even par 71, he added some insurance by posting a 1-under par 70 during the afternoon hours. Also qualifying at that site were two local amateur golfers, Doug Clapp (Walpole, MA) and Matt Parziale (Brockton, MA).

A second and final day of sectional qualifying will be held on Thursday, July 27th at Atkinson Country Club (Atkinson, NH). Those individuals will join today’s qualifiers at the U.S. Amateur Championship, scheduled to take place on August 21-27 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

Sectional qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Championship is being held at 98 sites located across the country. From the more than 4,000 golfers making the attempt at sectional qualifying, only 312 players (including exemptions) advance to the U.S. Amateur Championship.

The MGA annually conducts qualifying rounds for the major USGA Championships, including the U.S. Open, Senior Open, Amateur, Junior Amateur, Senior Amateur, Mid-Amateur and the Amateur Public Links.

About the Championship:
The U.S. Amateur, the oldest USGA championship, was first played in 1895 at Newport Golf Club in Rhode Island. The event, which has no age restriction, is open to those with a Handicap Index of 2.4 or lower. It is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs. For more information about the U.S. Amateur Championship, please visit the Championship's official web site at www.usamateur.org.