News Release

For Immediate Release: October 12, 2007

Headline: Massachusetts Successfully Defends Tri-State Matches Title; Has Now Won Four Straight Championships

Narragansett, RI – When the Tri-State Matches began back in 1907, Massachusetts was a true powerhouse as it won 32 of the first 35 competitions. Since that time, Connecticut and Rhode Island have proven to be more than worthy opponents.

Fast forward 100 years and Massachusetts is again a dominant force in this event. The 10-man team from the Bay State successfully defended its Tri-State Matches title this afternoon at Point Judith Country Club in Narragansett, Rhode Island with a 17 1/2 point victory over Rhode Island. Massachusetts finished with 57 1/2 points. This marks the fourth straight year that Massachusetts has claimed the title as its own. The last time a team won as many consecutive titles was nearly 30 years ago when Connecticut ticked off six straight victories from 1976-82.

This time around, Team Massachusetts utilized all of its weapons to dismantle its opponents. During the first day of foursomes matches, it was a quartet of mid-amateurs - Frank Vana, Jr. (Marlborough CC), Jack Kearney (Elmcrest CC), Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich CC) and John Hadges (Thorny Lea GC) - who led the way in points. On the second day, a new set of heroes stole center stage and led the team to victory.

Under much more pleasant conditions, senior Alistair Catto (The Orchards GC), who is poised to earn his first MGA Senior Player of the Year honor this year, and Philip Smith (Vesper CC) both collected the maximum number of 6 points in their singles matches. Catto turned heads this season by advancing to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, while Smith established himself as one of the state's strongest mid-amateur players with an impressive victory at the Massachusetts Mid-Amateur Championship.

Also dominating today for Massachusetts was Clapp, the only Bay State player to qualify for the 2007 U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships, and Brendon Ray (Ledgemont CC), the youngest player on Team Massachusetts. Both players finished with 4 1/2 singles points.

Facing a 9 1/2 point deficit heading into Friday's singles matches, Rhode Island couldn't muster enough firepower to dethrone the defending champions. Charlie Blanchard (Wannamoisett CC) and Andy Calcione (Valley CC) led their team with 5 1/2 points each. The team finished with 40 points.

Standing in third place was Connecticut with 37 1/2 points. Rob Tedoldi (Talwood CC) and Dave Szewczul (Tunxis Plantation GC) did their part by posting 6 and 4 1/2 points, respectively, today. On Thursday, Tedoldi and Szewczul teamed up in the foursomes matches to register a team-high 4 1/2 points.

Since 1907, teams from Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut have come together each fall to compete for the regional title. Individual amateur golfers are selected each year by the respective state golf associations.

In the event's 74-year history, Connecticut still leads the way with 39 titles, while Massachusetts and Rhode Island have won 25 and 12 championships, respectively.