LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. (June 26, 2006) - Playing in an on-and-off drizzle this morning at Fresh Meadow Country Club, defending champion Andrew Giuliani shot a two-under par 68 to take the first-round lead at the Ike Championship presented by Canon, USA. He holds a one-stroke lead over 2005 Long Island Amateur champion John Keller of North Hills Country Club, Robert Diskin of Rockrimmon and Roger Hoit of Baltusrol, who each shot one-under 69.

Among the 42 players to survive the first-round cut of 76 was current MGA Player of the Year points leader Allan Small of Fairmount.  Small, who won the 2006 New Jersey Mid-Amateur and Hochster Memorial, was able to contend with the increasingly windy conditions and turn in an even-par round of 70, the low score of the afternoon groups.  Fresh Meadow, which played at 6,631 yards, proved a formidable test to the field of 106 players. 

Mark Farrell, the 2005 MGA/MetLife Public Links champion, made the cut with a two-over-par 72, as did former Met Amateur and 2006 NYC Amateur champion Mike Stamberger. Eight players, including 2005 MGA Player of the Year Ronald Vannelli of Metuchen and 2005 Carter Cup champion Morgan Hoffman of Arcola, finished with rounds of 74.

Giuliani, who is the only former champion in the field, will be paired in the second round at 8:36 a.m. with John Keller.

Giuliani birdied the fourth and ninth holes to make the turn at two-under. He slipped a bit with bogeys at holes 14 and 16, but birdies at Nos. 15 and 17 helped him finish with even par on the back nine and preserve his two-under round.

“I’m excited to defend my title,” Giuliani, a Duke University sophomore, said. “I can see the difference in the type of player I am now, especially my ball striking and my ability to control ball flight.”

The third round will be played Tuesday afternoon, after which the champion will be crowned. If necessary, a three-hole aggregate playoff will determine the winner. 

The MGA is pleased to announce the MSG Network and Fox Sports NY will air an Ike highlights show. MSG will air it on Saturday, July 15th at 12:00 p.m. Fox Sports NY will air the highlights show on Tuesday, July 25th, at 2:00 p.m. and Thursday, July 27th, at 8:30 a.m.

For more information on the local players and live scoring updates from the Ike, please visitwww.mgagolf.org.

 

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