News Release

For Immediate Release: May 12, 2008

Headline: Former New England Amateur Champion Is Tops at U.S. Open Local Qualifying

Norton, MA – The 2005 New England Amateur Champion, Jim Renner (Plainville, MA), put on a show for the local crowd as he posted a 1-under par 71 score during today's U.S. Open Local Qualifying held at TPC of Boston in Norton.

On this day, under cold and windy conditions, Renner was the one player who was able to master the course that is most famous for hosting the Deutsche Bank Championship as he posted the only under-par score of the day. The Plainville native, who started his round at 7:57 a.m., made the turn at 1-under par 35. He managed to stay even throughout the difficult back nine to finish at 1-under par overall.

Renner led a field of local qualifiers as six Bay State golfers advanced to Sectionals in Norton today. Kernwood Country Club head golf professional Frank Dully (Salem, MA), who finished second at the 2007 Massachusetts Open Championship, turned in an even par 72, while fellow professional players James Burke (Newton, MA), Mike Welch (Quincy, MA) and Bobby Pandolfi (South Yarmouth, MA) also qualified. Two amateur players – Brandon Parker (Auburn, MA) and Peter Williamson (Hanover, NH) – also played exceptional golf to keep their U.S. Open Championship spots alive.

By virtue of qualifying today, these seven competitors have earned the right to advance to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying, which will be held the week of June 2 at sites across the nation. This year's U.S. Open Championship is scheduled for June 12-15 at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, CA.

The MGA annually conducts qualifying rounds for the major United States Golf Association (USGA) Championships, including the U.S. Open, Senior Open, Amateur, Junior Amateur, Senior Amateur, Mid-Amateur and the Amateur Public Links. For more information about the U.S. Open Championship, please visit the USGA's web site at www.usga.org.