News Release

For Immediate Release: July 30, 2007

Headline: Grillo, Salah Stand Atop the Leaderboard After Day 2 of State Junior Championship

Bernardston, MA – Defending champion Antonio Grillo (Farm Neck GC) performed as expected today at Crumpin-Fox Club as he fired a 4-under par 68 during the second round of the Massachusetts Junior Championship. That day-low score propelled Grillo to the top of the leaderboard heading into the third and final round.

Grillo shares co-leader honors with Josh Salah (Bass Rocks GC) as both players stand at even par 144.

Grillo, who just last week competed at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, found himself seven shots back of the leader and in a tie for 14th place after a 4-over par 76 on Day 1. Showing true championship poise, Grillo played exceptional golf today as his round featured six birdies. After making the turn at 1-under par 35, Grillo cruised through the back nine by posting birdies on the 10th, 11th and 14th holes.

Salah, a Gloucester High School junior, followed up his first round score of 1-under par 71 with a 1-over par 73 this afternoon. After registering one birdie and two bogies on the front side, Salah dropped to 2-over par with a bogey on the 13th hole. A critical birdie on the 389-yard, par 4 18th hole, however, lifted him to 1-over par for the round and even par for the tournament. Salah has enjoyed a month of July to remember as just last week he made Bass Rock Golf Club history by becoming the youngest golfer to win the club championship. And one week prior to that, Salah finished first at the CYO Match Play Tournament that was held at Ponkapoag Golf Course.

Dan Fanion (The Ranch GC) stands alone in second place at 4-over par 148, while first-round leader Ian Thimble (George Wright GC) struggled a bit today as he fired an 8-over par 80 to fall five strokes back of the co-leaders.

Following today's second round, the starting field of 122 was reduced to the low 30 Junior, 22 Pre-Junior and 10 Boys Division players. Those competitors will return to Crumpin-Fox Club on Wednesday to compete in a third and final round.

Pre-Junior Division:
Maintaining his lead in the Pre-Junior Division was Richard Werenski (The Orchards GC) with a two-day total of 6-over par 150. Werenski posted a 2-over par 74 on Monday and followed that up with a 4-over par 76 today. Werenski, who earlier this month captured the Boys (13-15) Division title at the Ronald Skole Memorial Junior Golf Championship held at Crestview Country Club, posted one bogey and eight pars on the front side. The highlight on the back nine for Werenski was a birdie on the 506-yard, par 5 14th hole. Werenski holds an eight-shot lead over Sean Gaudette (Hickory Ridge CC), who boasts a two-day score of 14-over par 158.

Boys Division:
Peter French (Maplegate CC) held tight to his lead in the Boys Division with a solid 4-over par 75 this morning. French, who made three birdies on the day, stands six shots ahead of Michael Werenski (The Orchards GC) and last year's Boys Division winner Nick McLaughlin (Far Corner GC). McLaughlinposted the low-round of the day in the Boys Division, a 2-over par 73.