News Release

For Immediate Release: August 4, 2008

Headline: Two Teams Share Lead After Day 1 of State Senior Four-Ball Championship

Agawam, MA – Defending champions Robert Tribou (Pocasset GC) and William Tribou (Poquoy Brook GC) made a strong statement today by matching a low score of 4-under par 68 to grab a share of the lead at the 2008 Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship being held this week at Crestview Country Club.

The Tribou brothers currently share the lead with former champions Jim Ruschioni (Monoosnock CC) and Paul Nunez (Longmeadow CC). Just one year ago, the Tribous trailed the Ruschioni and Nunez pair by one stroke heading into the final round of this event. A similar 4-under par round posted on the final day, however, lifted the Tribous to the top of the leaderboard and earned them their first-ever MGA Championship victory.

This time around the pair will have the luxury of not trailing by one stroke as they equaled the once-again fabulous start by Ruschioni and Nunez, champions of this event in 2003 and 2004.

The Tribous jumped out of the gates strong this morning (they began their round at 8:40 a.m. on the 10th tee) with two birdies and one bogey through their first nine holes. William was the catalyst on that nine as he made two birdies, on the 360-yard, par 4 10th and 400-yard, par 4 13th holes. The two players hitched a ride on the birdie train down the stretch as William carded three and Robert added one birdie en route to their 3-under par 33 back nine and 4-under par 68 overall score.

Although Ruschioni and Nunez did not register as many birdies as the Tribous this morning, the team played perfect partner golf as they finished with four birdies – each player had a pair – and 14 pars on the day.

In what will surely be a fight to the finish, three teams – Frank Mullins (Thorny Lea GC) & Dan Reagan (Thorny Lea GC), Jon Fasick (New England CC) & Carter Fasick (Indian Meadows GC) and Chuck Costello (Ferncroft CC) & Paul Harder (Ferncroft CC) – are just one stroke back with scores of 3-under par 69.

Following today's first round, the entire 88-team field was re-paired according to score.