News Release

For Immediate Release: August 15, 2007

Headline: Bill Drohen Wins His Third Massachusetts Public Links Championship Title By Three Strokes

Bellingham, MA – Champions find a way to win, and that's exactly what Bill Drohen (Bradford CC) did on Wednesday afternoon to capture his third Massachusetts Public Links Championship. Under the backdrop of New England Country Club in Bellingham, Drohen pieced together a 5-under par 66 final round – including a record 5-under par 30 on the back nine – to storm past his competitors and claim his third title in four years.

With the victory, Drohen becomes only the second golfer in the event's 26-year history to claim three titles. He has now won this event in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

Drohen finished the tournament with a score of 5-under par 137, which was three shots better than David Holmes (Blackstone National GC) and Burgess Houston (Maplegate CC). His 5-under par 66 was just one shot shy of the course record which is a 6-under par 65 set by John Curley.

It didn't always look so rosy for the 32-year-old Danvers resident, however. While the other leaders were surging at the turn, Drohen appeared to be fading into the background as he was even par through his first nine holes and set to face the toughest nine holes that New England Country Club has to offer. That challenge did not faze Drohen as he proceeded to make six birdies through his final eight holes to stun the rest of the field and capture the title. That back-nine score even included a bogey on the 10th hole. Drohen made birdie on the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 17th holes.

One of the stunned players left in Drohen's wake was Holmes, who put together a fabulous 2-under par 69 final round to finish at 2-under par 140 overall. Holmes, who has played solid golf all summer long by qualifying for the Massachusetts Open, Amateur and Public Links Championships, was 4-under par at the turn this afternoon after making two birdies and one eagle on the front nine. After making birdie on the 403-yard, par 4 13th hole, Holmes was 5-under par for the tournament and appeared poised to win his first MGA Championship. Three bogeys through his final five holes, however, opened the door of opportunity for Drohen.

Playing in front of the final groups following a day one score of 1-over par 72 was Houston, the reigning Massachusetts Amateur Champion. Houston made the most of his first Massachusetts Public Links Championship as he fired a 3-under par 68 this afternoon to finish at 2-under par 140 overall. On the day, Houston registered five birdies – on the 1st, 8th, 9th, 11th and 15th holes – and two bogeys to claim a piece of second place.

First-round leader Daniel Falcucci (Cyprian Keyes GC) was unable to match his Tuesday score of 2-under par 69 as he posted a 3-over par 74 to finish fourth overall.

Past champion Steve St. Amand (The Meadow at Peabody GC) may not have captured his fourth title – he won this event in 1989, 1990 and 1993 – but he did score the shot of the day. On the 171-yard, par 3 12th hole, St. Amand used his 5 iron to score a hole in one. Interestingly, one of his playing partners made birdie while the third made par so the trio collectively scored a 1-2-3 on the 12th!