MGA: Massachusetts Golf Association IllustrationIllustration

News Release

For Immediate Release: August 1, 2006

Headline: Antonio Grillo Holds 4-Shot Lead Over Field at Massachusetts Junior Championship

Canton, MA – The starting field of 126 players has been reduced to the low 32 Junior, 21 Pre-Junior and 10 Boys Division players following the first two rounds of stroke play at the 88th playing of the Massachusetts Junior Championship, which is being held this week at Blue Hill Country Club in Canton. Those 63 players have earned the right to return to Canton on Wednesday – beginning at 7:00 a.m. – to compete in a third and final round of 18-hole stroke play.

Leading the way in the Junior Division is Antonio Grillo (Farm Neck GC), who followed up his first-round score of 2-under par 70 with an equally impressive 1-under par 71 this afternoon. In the face of blistering heat, Grillo struggled a bit on the front nine as he posted three bogies. He quickly turned things around on the back nine, however, as he carded five birdies – on the 11th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th holes – and one bogey through the final nine holes.

Grillo heads into the final round with a score of 3-under par 141 and a four-shot lead over Eleazar Encarnacion (Marlborough CC), who is second overall with a two-day total of 1-over par 145. Encarnacion made birdie on the 9th and 11th holes and then finished off his 1-over par 73 round with five straight pars. One shot back of Encarnacion is first-round co-leader Craig Kublin (Blue Hill CC), who stands at 2-over par 146. Kublin fired a day-low score of 2-under par 70 on Monday.

Grillo, Encarnacion and Kublin will be the final group to tee off on Wednesday. They will begin their final round of play at 10:09 a.m. off the 1st tee.

Pre-Junior Division:
Richard Werenski (The Orchards GC) moved into a tie for first place with a two-round total of 7-over par 151. Werenski, last year's Boys Division champion who yesterday posted a 4-over par 76, battled his way up the leaderboard by registering an even par 72 this morning. Werenski made birdie on the 6th, 10th and the 18th holes. He finished strong as he was 1-under par through his final five holes.

First-round co-leader, Thomas Sennett (Taconic GC) posted a 3-over par 75 today. Highlights from his round included a birdie on the 1st hole and a stretch of 1-under par golf through his first six holes on the back nine. Werenski and Sennett hold a three-stroke lead over Ricky Stimets (Oyster Harbors Club) and Bradley Kushner (CC of New Seabury).  

Boys Division:
Nick McLaughlin (Far Corner GC) stands atop the Boys Division following an impressive even par 72 performance on Tuesday. McLaughlin, who finished fourth in the Boys Division last year and heads into tomorrow's third round with a score of 11-over par 155, currently holds a one-stroke lead over first-round leader Blake Lebrew (Granite Links GC) and Michael Werenski (The Orchards GC).