News Release

For Immediate Release: May 22, 2007

Headline: Four Professional Golfers Finish As Co-Medalists at Day 3 of State Open Qualifying

Bellingham, MA – Local golf professional Joe Rocha (Essex CC) fired a day-low score of 2-under par 70 this afternoon to lead a field of competitors during the first day of Massachusetts Open qualifying, which was held at Maplegate Country Club.

A total of 20 golfers advanced to Championship Proper, which will be held on June 18-20 at Kernwood Country Club.

Rocha, a Lynnfield native and St. John's Prep and North Carolina State graduate who has been serving as an assistant golf professional at Essex County Club for the past 11 years, showed his prowess on the links today as he sprinted out of the gates with a 2-under par 34 on the front nine. He kept his composure down the stretch to shoot an even par 36 on the back nine and seal medalist honors in Bellingham. Winning events is nothing new to Rocha who – just one year ago – was victorious at the New England PGA Assistants Championship.

One stroke back of Rocha was amateur Daniel Falcucci (Cyprian Keyes GC), who finished at 1-under par 71. Falcucci was one of six amateurs to advance at Maplegate Country Club this afternoon.

The Massachusetts Open Championship debuted in 1905 when Donald Ross captured the inaugural title. Since that time, some of the greatest golfers in the history of the game have earned this prestigious Championship including Walter Hagen, Jesse Guilford, Francis Ouimet, Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson and Paul Harney.

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.

Massachusetts Open Qualifying - Day 1 Notes:

Four more days of Massachusetts Open qualifying will take place on the following days: May 24 (Salem CC); May 29 (Wahconah CC); May 30 (Black Rock CC, Foxborough CC) and May 31 (Ballymeade CC).
More than 500 applications, including 38 exemptions, were received for this year’s Massachusetts Open Championship.
Following the qualifying rounds, 150 golfers will compete at the Championship, which will be held at Kernwood Country Club on June 18-20. Championship pairings and tee times will be faxed out prior to the event.