News Release

For Immediate Release: September 24, 2007

Headline: Frank Vana, Jr. Fires 4-under par 66 to Hold 5-Shot Lead at Day 1 of State Mid-Amateur

Cohasset, MA – Seven-time Champion Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC) made his presence at the 2007 Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship felt early.

Fresh off competing for Team Massachusetts at last week's USGA State Team Championship, the 45-year-old Vana posted a 4-under par 66 to jump out to a five-shot lead following the first round of play at Cohasset Golf Club. Vana, who won this event in 1999-2003 and again in 2005-06, finished his round with five birdies and one bogey.

Standing five back of Vana with scores of 1-over par 71 are Craig Stevens (Worcester CC), Jack Kearney (Elmcrest CC) and two-time champion of this event Kevin Carey (Dennis Pines GC).

The entire field will return to Cohasset Golf Club on Tuesday to compete in a second round of 18-hole stroke play. Following that round, the field will be reduced to the low 30 scorers and ties or anyone within five strokes of the lead. Only those players will return to Cohasset on Wednesday for the third and final round.

On this day, Vana displayed veteran poise as he carved up a challenging Cohasset Golf Club layout. After beginning his round on the 10th tee, the eight-time Richard D. Haskell MGA Player of the Year made his first – and what proved to be last – miscue on the day when he sent his approach shot on the 267-yard, par 4 13th hole over the green and into the rough. He recovered quickly, however, with a birdie on the 376-yard, par 4 16th hole and then made two straight pars to make the turn at even par 34. Then, on a back nine where many players struggled to make par, Vana put on a birdie-making show. He made birdie on the 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th holes. He also made a critical 10-foot, downhill par putt on the 576-yard, par 5 4th hole which proved to set the stage for his three straight birdies.

Carey enjoyed an up-and-down round as he finished with five birdies, three bogeys and one double bogey. His most remarkable stretch came on the back nine where he went birdie-birdie-bogey-birdie-double bogey-bogey to make the turn at 1-over par 35! Stevens, who qualified earlier this month at Country Club of New Bedford, was 1-under par through his first 11 holes before suffering a triple bogey on the 225-yard, par 3 12th hole. A birdie – his third of the day – on the 376-yard, par 4 16th hole brought him back to 1-over par for the day. Kearney, the 1992 MGA Player of the Year, finished his first nine holes at 2-under par following three birdies and one bogey. Three straight bogeys to start his second nine pushed him to 1-over par for the round. He capped off his round with six straight pars.

Posting the most unique 9-hole score of the day was Alistair Catto (The Orchards GC), who earlier this month advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship. Through his first nine holes, Catto successfully made a golfing version of a full house that included a birdie, par, bogey, double bogey, triple bogey and quadruple bogey.