News Release

For Immediate Release: September 25, 2007

Headline: Frank Vana, Jr. & Philip Smith Separated by 3 Heading Into Day 3 of State Mid-Amateur

Cohasset, MA –With two rounds down and one to go, seven-time champion Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC) holds a three-shot lead over the field with a two-day total of 3-under par 137. Vana currently leads Philip Smith (Vesper CC), the 2007 Norfolk County Classic winner, by three strokes. Smith is the only other player in the field to have posted a score of even par 140 or better through the first two days of play.

Following the second round of play, the 120-player field was reduced to the low 30 scorers. Those competitors will return to Cohasset tomorrow morning to compete in a third and final round of 18-hole stroke play to determine the 2007 champion. This year's cut line fell at 12-over par 152. The final group of Vana and Smith will tee off at 9:36 a.m.

Moving up the leaderboard after posting a day-low score of 3-under par 67 was Philip Smith (Vesper CC). Heading into this event, Smith, a reinstated amateur from Tyngboro, was questionable to play as he suffered a mid-season back injury.

His back certainly seemed healthy today as Smith dominated not only a challenging Cohasset Golf Club layout but a nasty wind that produced gusts of up to 20 miles per hour. Smith posted a stellar front nine that featured three birdies – on the 1st, 7th and 9th holes – and zero bogeys. He continued the momentum and at one point was 4-under par for the round when he made birdie on the 267-yard, par 4 13th hole. A bogey on the 178-yard, par 3 15th hole dropped him back to 3-under par and proved to be the only mistake of the day for Smith. He stands at even par 140 overall.

Vana started off strong once again by making two birdies – on the 1st and 3rd holes – through his first three holes. He made the turn at 2-under par 34. With the wind picking up, the back nine proved to be a bit trickier for the veteran. A birdie on the 384-yard, par 4 10th hole was followed by back-to-back bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes. Both bogeys came as a result of three putts. Vana got one back quickly with a birdie on the 13th hole, but his 100-yard approach shot on the 14 th hole sailed over the green and he was unable to get up-and-down for par. He finished off his round by making bogey on two of his final three holes to finish at 1-over par 71.

Following a 1-over par 71 performance on Monday, Craig Stevens (Worcester CC) held his ground this afternoon with a 2-over 73. He currently stands in third place at 4-over par 144. John Gilmartin (Indian Ridge CC) and Brian Higgins (Franklin CC) are tied for fourth with scores of 6-over par 146.

All three past Massachusetts Mid-Amateur championship who competed in this year's event made the cut. Returning for the final round on Wednesday are Frank Vana , Jr. – 1999-2003, 2005-06; Kevin Carey (Dennis Pines GC) – 1994-95; and Steven Tasho (Thorny Lea GC) – 1998.