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For Immediate Release: June 18, 2007

Headline: Ehrlich, Corcoran Share Lead Following Day 1 of Massachusetts Open Championship

Salem, MA – Two traveling golf professionals made the most of their trip to Salem this week as Scott Ehrlich (Blue Bell, PA) and Rob Corcoran (Melbourne, FL) fired identical scores of 4-under par 66 at Kernwood Country Club this afternoon to jump out to a one-shot lead following the first round of the Massachusetts Open Championship.

Those two first-round leaders will join the rest of the 150-player field and return to Salem tomorrow to take part in a second round of play. Following that round, the field will be reduced to the 40 lowest scorers and ties or anyone within seven strokes of the leader. Only those players will return to Kernwood Country Club on Wednesday for a third and final round of play.

On this day, Ehrlich, who splits his time between the New England Pro and Hooters Tours, made seven birdies and three bogeys en route to his 4-under par 66. The Pennsylvania-based professional started on the 10 th tee and came out firing with three birdies through his first four holes. Two bogeys – on the 16 th and 17 th holes – did not slow him down as he went on to make birdie on the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th holes. A lone bogey on the 4 th hole led him to a 3-under par 32 on that front nine.

Corcoran was the other player to go low as he posted his 4-under par 66 during the late afternoon hours. He began his round on the 1 st tee and posted two birdies – on the 1 st and 5 th holes – and one bogey to make the turn at 1-under par 34. Despite never seeing this course before today, the Long Island golf professional who spends his winters in Florida made three birdies on the back nine to finish at 4-under par for the day.

Finishing one stroke back with scores of 3-under par 67 were Michael Harris (Shorewood, WI) and Adam Hanson (Palm Beach Gardens, FL). The first 67 of the day was posted by Harris, who experienced a less than perfect start to his 2007 State Open. After finishing up his round yesterday at the Nationwide Tour's Rochester Area Charities Showdown at Somerby in Byron , Minnesota , Harris flew to Boston only to have his bag and clubs lost en route. Playing in newly-purchased golf attire and borrowed clubs, Harris , who just one year ago finished second in this event, did not miss a step as posted four birdies and one bogey on the day.

The low amateur score, a 1-under par 69, was posted by Brian Higgins (Franklin CC). Higgins, a former golf professional, has been a mainstay on the amateur circuit for years. In 2002, he finished as runner-up at the Massachusetts Amateur Championship to Rob Oppenheim (Indian Ridge CC), who is also in today's field. Oppenheim posted a 4-over par 74.

Massachusetts Open Championship – Round 1 Notes:

• Defending champion Geoff Sisk (Marshfield , MA) returned home this weekend after competing in the U.S. Open Championship in Oakmont, PA. He is in fine position as he posted a score of 2-under par 68.
• In what can be called the battle of the goaltenders, Mike Dunham (Nashawtuc CC) from the New York Islanders shot a 3-over par 73 which was two shots better than former University of Vermont netminder and current golf professional Travis Russell (Essex Jct, VT). In addition to playing on the hockey team in Burlington, Russell, who finished at 5-over par 75 today, was a standout on the golf team.

©2004 Massachusetts Golf Association.