News Release

For Immediate Release: July 11, 2007

Headline: Quarterfinal Matches of Massachusetts Amateur Championship Now Set for Thursday

Concord, MA – A total of 27 matches were held today at Concord Country Club during the third day of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. In the end, eight quarterfinalists survived and they have thus earned the right to return to Concord on Thursday to take part in the quarterfinals beginning at 8:00 a.m. The four victors will then set their sights on the afternoon semifinal rounds with hopes of advancing to Friday's final match.

The first player to advance to the quarterfinals this afternoon was eight-time Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year Frank Vana , Jr. (Boylston - Marlborough CC) , who defeated young Colin Brennan(Andover - Indian Ridge CC) by a score of 7 & 6. Vana, a two-time winner of this event who advanced to the quarterfinals last year, will now face John McNeill (Stow – B.A.G.S.) in tomorrow's first morning match.

McNeill had a strong day as he delivered the upset of the day by knocking off young Adam Rainaud (South Hadley - The Ledges GC) in the Round of 32. Rainaud was co-medalist of stroke play after posting a two-day total of 3-under par 137. McNeill, who finished second to Vana in the 2003 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship, went on to beat Tom Bagley (Leominster - Concord CC) in the afternoon by a score of 3 & 2. Earlier in the day, Vana had defeated another Indian Ridge Country Club foe, John Gilmartin (Andover - Indian Ridge CC) , 3 & 1.

Also advancing was the 1993 MGA Player of the Year and 2005 Massachusetts Senior Champion Joseph Keller (Osterville - Oyster Harbors Club). Keller stormed past Jim Forsgard (Hingham – South Shore CC) , 3 & 2, during the morning hours before beating young Brendon Ray (Norfolk – Walpole CC) in the afternoon by a score of 5 & 3. Taking on Keller will be Todd Ezold (Westfield – Hickory Ridge CC) , the 12 th seed who disposed of Brian Cawley (Lynnfield – Sheraton Colonial H&CC), 3 & 2, in the Round of 16.

Last year's finalist – Burgess Houston (Wellesley - Maplegate CC) – advanced in a nail biter against KevinVelardo (Wilmington - CC of Billerica). Houston rebounded from a 3 Down deficit through 13 holes to capture the victory with a birdie on the 482-yard, par 5 1 st hole. It was the 19 th hole of the match. Houston will now face John Hogan (Beverly - Ferncroft CC), who defeated Bill Drohen (Danvers – Bradford CC) in a back-and-forth battle that came down the bitter end. Hogan made a critical birdie on the 17 th hole, and Drohen could not answer as the players halved the 18 th hole. The final quarterfinal match will feature Dan Ladd (Weston - Weston GC) and A.J. Oleksak (Agawam - Crestview CC), who finished their matches during the late afternoon hours.

Round of 32 Highlights:

The day's first match between young Adam Rainaud and veteran John McNeill did not disappoint. Rainaud made eagle on the first hole and jumped out to a commanding 3 Up lead through three holes. McNeill, who finished T19 at last month's Massachusetts Open Championship, responded and squared the match by winning the next three holes. He went on to win that match by a score of 1 Up.
Down by one, Brian Cawley energized his game on the 8 th hole in a match against Jeremy Meade (South Boston – Nashawtuc CC) . After his tee shot sailed into the woods, Cawley found his ball just as his search time was expiring. He went on to win the hole as Meade sent his approach shot out of bounds. Cawley went on to win the next four holes en route to his 6 & 4 victory.
Before falling to Joe Keller in the Round of 16, youngBrendon Rayshowed his scoring prowess as he knocked off veteran Alistair Catto (South Hadley - The Orchards GC) by a score of 7 & 5.