Age may be plus for Vana at Mass. Amateur.

Byline: Bill Doyle

COLUMN: GOLF NOTES

Frank Vana Jr. of Boylston didn't hesitate when asked if he had added anything to his golf game this year.

"Yeah, age," he replied.

Growing older may actually be an advantage when the 99th Massachusetts Amateur Championship is contested tomorrow through Friday at Concord Country Club. The only other time Concord CC hosted the state amateur in 1995, Ed Fletcher became the oldest golfer to win it. He still is. Fletcher was 53 at the time. Vana is only 44, but that's twice the age Ben Spitz was when he won the state amateur last year at Worcester Country Club.

Vana beat Spitz, 6 and 5, in the 18-hole final at Essex Country Club to repeat as Mass. Amateur champion in 2005. Spitz defeated Burgess Houston, 5 and 4, in last year's final.

A shoulder injury will prevent Spitz, who plays out of the Harmon Club in Rockland, from defending his title this week.

Vana, the state's most dominant amateur over the past two decades, has to be considered among the favorites this week.

He fared well in 1995 at Concord, reaching the semifinals before losing to John Curley in 20 holes, and the tee, green and bunker restorations over the past couple of years to the Donald Ross layout suit his game. During a recent practice round at Concord, Vana fired a 4-under 66, the best round since the completion of the renovations.

"It was the easiest 66 in the history of 66s," said Oak Hill member Tom Bagley, who played with Vana that day. "The second hole, he got it up and down for par. Other than that, he didn't come close to making bogey."

"They made a lot of changes," Vana said. "They took a lot of trees down, built some new tees, some new bunkers. They've lengthened it. It's excellent."

Wayward drives will be punished more severely than in 1995. Ten to 15 yards of knee-high fescue sit between the tree line and the 10 yards of rough on most holes.

"So you're standing up there on the tee, and all you see is that knee-high fescue," said Leominster's Jim Ruschioni, who also played a recent practice round.

So what happens if you drive into the fescue?

"You hope to get a good lie so you can advance it," Ruschioni said, "but if you don't, you have to chop it out sidelines back in the fairway."

Concord will play 6,702 yards - 300 more than when Rob Oppenheimer of Andover set the course record in 2003 - and to a par of 70.

Playing 36 holes of medal play and 108 of match play in five days takes a toll.

"I'm in good shape," Vana said, "but it's still an endurance battle. It depends on the heat. If it's hot, that makes it a little tougher. It's a long week, and you have to be patient."

Vana still hits the ball as long as most of the college kids, and he certainly has the advantage of experience.

"It's not a guarantee," he said, "but sometimes in certain circumstances it helps for sure."

There's also the intimidation factor. Some young golfers get rattled or too jacked up while playing Vana, the eight-time MGA Player of the Year.

"Whatever edges you can get help," he said.

Vana does not try to psych himself up for each match.

"I just stay calm and focused," he said. "That works best for me."

If Vana can prevail, he'll become the fourth oldest Mass. Amateur champion. If Ruschioni, 59, ends up on top, he'll become the oldest ever.

Ruschioni, who plays out of Indian Meadows in Westboro, lost early in match play in the 1995 Mass. Amateur, but he enjoyed plenty of success at Concord CC in the late 1980s, winning the Concord Four-Ball three times with John Morin of Wachusett CC and the Boston Globe Tournament of Champions. He'll defend his Mass. Senior Championship at the Golf Club of Cape Cod in October.

Ruschioni's back stiffened up in the cool weather last Sunday when he tied for third in the Worcester County Amateur at Wachusett Country Club, so he's rooting for warmer temperatures this week at Concord.

"Not 95," he said, "but 80 is good."

Tournament at Blackstone National...

Geoff Sisk will defend his title in the North American Pro Golf Tour Blackstone Open beginning tomorrow at Blackstone National Golf Club in Sutton.

Sisk shot 14 under for 54 holes last year at Blackstone. Eric Cormier, a former Red Sox farmhand who grew up in Milford and plays out of Blackstone, will be among the field of 70 golfers who will play 36 holes tomorrow. The top 40 percent and ties will play the final 18 holes on Tuesday. Of the $60,000 purse, $10,000 will go to the winner.

Sisk won his sixth Massachusetts Open last month, and he has been the leading money winner on the NAPGT in four of its first six years.

The NAPGT was known as the New England Pro Golf Tour and Cleveland Golf Tour in previous years.

NAPGT president Brian Hebb of Littleton formed New England's sole mini-tour in 2001 and stayed on as president last year after selling it to Greens Worldwide Inc. of North Carolina. Under new ownership, the tour did not last the season.

Matthew Hoeske of Fitchburg and Alan Stewart formed the NAPGT this year and lured Hebb back as president. Fields and purses have still not caught up to what they were last year, but the tour continues to work to regain trust among the golfers, who pay entry fees of $900 for each event.

The sold-out Blackstone Open pro-am will take place today with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. Proceeds will go toward multiple sclerosis research conducted by the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The sister of Blackstone owner Michael Gordon has MS. This will be the second of 10 NAPGT events.

Andrew Svoboda, who won the first stop in Atkinson, N.H., last month, will play at Blackstone. So will Kyle Gallo, a former Nationwide Tour golfer, and Oppenheimer, who lost a playoff last week to miss out on qualifying for the British Open.

The NAPGT will make one other stop in Central Massachusetts - the Shaker Hills Open at Shaker Hills GC in Harvard Aug. 6-8. Shaker Hills will also host the prestigious Dolly Sullivan Tournament conducted by the Women's Golf Association of Massachusetts Aug. 1-2. Sullivan was a niece of Francis Ouimet, winner of the 1913 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline where he used to caddie.

Altomare keeping busy...

These are busy, but exciting times for Brittany Altomare, 16, of Shrewsbury.

Altomare, who will be a junior at Shrewsbury High this fall, last week finished 30th in the Rolex Tournament of Champions at Ohio State University Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio. She shot 77-75-75 for the first three days to tie for 20th, but finished with a 10-over 81 to place 30th.

This weekend, Altomare played in a U.S. Women's Amateur qualifier in Ohio.

Beginning Wednesday, she will try to repeat as the girls champion in the 31st Westfield Junior PGA Championship in Westfield Center, Ohio. Last August, Altomare shot even-par 284 to become the first champion from Massachusetts and the first New England winner since Billy Andrade of Bristol, R.I., in 1981. Andrade went on to win four PGA Tour events. Other winners in the Westfield Junior PGA include 2007 U.S. Women's Open champion Cristie Kerr, Dottie Pepper, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and David Toms. Altomare's Westfield Junior PGA victory earned her a berth on the U.S. Junior Ryder Cup team last year.

After the Westfield Junior PGA, Altomare is scheduled to play in the McDonald's Betsy Rawls Girls Championship in Malvern, Pa., July 16-19. The following week, she will compete in the U.S. Junior Girls Championship in Lakewood, Wash.

NEPGA Pro-Pro

The New England PGA Pro-Pro Championship will be held tomorrow at Mount Pleasant CC in Boylston. Fifty-six two-man teams will play a best-ball competition.

Local pros Gary Young of Pleasant Valley, Chris Hulme of Whitinsville, Terry O'Hara of Cyprian Keyes and Joe Carr of Bedrock are scheduled to play. The teams tee off at 7:30 a.m., and second round will be played in the afternoon.

TIP

Check your triangle

As Tara McKenna, head pro at Tatnuck CC, addresses the ball for her tee shot, her arms and shoulder should form a tilted triangle.

For a right-handed golfer, the lead left hand should be higher on the grip, causing the left shoulder to lift. The right arm and elbow should be relaxed and not stiff.

The right hand is positioned lower on the grip which slightly lowers the right shoulder. The creases of your elbows should be parallel to the target line.

The ball should be lined up under the left armpit and inside the left heel. That places her head a good four inches behind the ball.

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Tatnuck CC pro Tara McKenna demonstrates this week's tip. (2) Frank Vana Jr. of Boylston won consecutive Mass. Amateur titles in 2004-05. (3) Is Brittany Altomare the next Cristie Kerr?

PHOTOG: (1) T&G Staff/CHRIS CHRISTO (2, 3) FILE PHOTOS