News Release

Qualifying Highlights: Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Qualifying Results: Tekoa CC Acushnet River Valley GC Beverly G&TC Blissful Meadows GC George Wright GC South Shore CC   Related Links: Public Links Home Page Past Champions

For Immediate Release: July 23, 2007

Headline: 18 Golfers Advance During Day 1 of 2007 Massachusetts Public Links Qualifying

Norton, MA – Under dreary, sometimes rainy skies, a total of 30 amateur golfers played their way into the 2007 Massachusetts Public Links Championship. The first day of qualifying for this event was held at two sites: Tekoa Country Club in Westfield and Acushnet River Valley Golf Course in Acushnet.

Those players will now look forward to competing in Championship Proper, a 36-hole competition that will take place on August 14-15 at New England Country Club in Bellingham.

Today in Westfield, Mark Waskiewicz (Hickory Ridge CC) battled his way to a 1-over par 72 to secure medalist honors. After making the turn at 1-over par 37, Waskiewicz played even par golf down the stretch to finish in first place. One stroke back with scores of 2-over par 74 were Milton Torres, Jr. (Skyline CC), Kevin Horrigan (Ellinwood CC) and Jonathan Goguen (Townsend Ridge CC). Another notable qualifier was Mike Slosek (Skyline CC), who along with Torres, have qualified for three MGA Championship events this season – Massachusetts Open, Massachusetts Amateur and the Massachusetts Public Links Championships.

In Acushnet, it was Omorry James (William J. Devine GC), who pieced together an impressive 3-under par 69 round to lead that full field of qualifiers. James, another golfer who has qualified for the State Open, Amateur and Public Links Championships this season, made the turn at 1-over par 37 before finding his rhythm. On the back nine, James shot a 4-under par 32 to secure his ticket to New England Country Club next month.

Two back of James and the only other player in the field to post a sub-par round was Nathan Davis (John F. Parker Municipal GC), who fired a 1-under par 71. A total of 18 players advanced at Acushnet River Valley Golf Course.

Two more days of qualifying will be held this week:

July 24: Beverly G&TC (Beverly), Blissful Meadows GC (Uxbridge)
July 25: George Wright GC ( Hyde Park ), South Shore CC ( Hingham )

©2004 Massachusetts Golf Association.