Marlborough's Vana vanquished

in Mass. Amateur final

By Justin A. Rice/Daily News correspondent
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Jul 18, 2009 @ 12:56 AM

BROOKLINE — Going into the 101st Massachusetts Amateur, Frank Vana Jr. had Bill Drohen's number. After the two met in yesterday's Massachusetts Amateur Championship final at The Country Club, Drohen and his older brother Andy had the upper hand.

Bill, who lost in his three Mass. Amateur semifinal appearances - twice to Vana - before yesterday, won the first final he played in, beating Vana 4 and 3 in their 36-hole championship match.

His victory came on the same course where his older brother defeated Vana in the 2003 Mass. Amateur final.

"It's a great place," Vana said of TCC shortly after Bill kissed the trophy. "Only I'm 0-2 (here) so it was a little salt in the wound. But it's a great place."

A nine-time Massachusetts Golf Association Player of the Year who plays out of Marlborough Country Club, Vana beat Bill Drohen in the semis in 2004 and 2005 en route to winning the title. Yesterday, the tables were turned.

"Frank's the best player in the state and the most decorated (amateur) since Francis Ouimet," Bill said. "You beat the best when you're playing your best. He's a nice guy and all my best goes out to him. But it's my turn."

Bill, 36, who lives in Stoughton, caddied for Andy, 40, who lives in Granville, in his 2003 Mass. Amateur victory over Vana. Yesterday, the roles reversed with Andy carrying Bill's bag.
"I was just trying to keep him cool," Andy said after the match.

Bill and Andy have also both overcome fairly large obstacles recently in their golf games. Andy struggled with his swing and mental game for two years before losing in the Round of 32 on the first day of match play Wednesday. Bill, on the other hand, hasn't played more than two days of golf in a row since having reconstructive shoulder surgery the day after Christmas.

"Last time when I caddied (for my brother), I was just as emotional as today," said Bill, whose wife is also seven months pregnant. "To do it at the same place and have him on my bag, it's storybook."

Vana, who has played on the Mass. State golf team with both Drohens, acknowledged their story is a great one, but added, "being on the other end doesn't feel good."
While the 46-year-old also said it's no fun to play five days of golf only to lose in the final round, he never once showed his disappointment outwardly.

"That's his temperament," father Frank Vana Sr. said after the match. "Frank loves to play golf and he takes what it gives him. A lot of times you run into someone who's really hot like Billy was and you lose. Frank has finished second so many times over the years, you roll with the bounces and he does too. I don't think he's upset. He's looking toward the next tournament."
Despite the loss, Vana was the definition of consistency this week at TCC. He did not trail his opponent in match play until the first hole of yesterday's afternoon round. He said fatigue wasn't a factor yesterday.

"I feel pretty good, sure we're all tired," he said. "I hit some bad shots but I don't think it was because I was tired."

Consecutive birdies on his first two holes of the afternoon round gave Bill his first lead of the day. Bill also made four birdies on the front nine to go 2-up after 27 holes, and he didn't lose it.
Vana's cause was also hurt by the fact that Bill made six of his nine birdies in the afternoon alone while Vana only had four birdies on the day.

"It seems like I was on the wrong side of the hole out there," Vana said. "It's harder to make putts when you're on the wrong side. It kind of catches up with you out there."
That's exactly what happened on the 33rd and final hole of the day when Vana missed a par 5-putt and Bill raised his arms, hugged his brother and kissed his wife.

"Frank's a great competitor, it looks like his putter let him down, especially at the end," Bill said. "He's a great friend so it's great to beat him. I'm sure he's proud of me."

Noteworthy: Both caddies in yesterday's final match had experience working the loop at TCC. While Andy Drohen caddied at TCC during his days at Northeastern University, Vana's friend and caddy, Dick Permerlani of Pittsfield, worked the 1963 U.S. Open at TCC while he was a UMass student.

"That was way too long ago (but) I recognize holes," Permerlani said between rounds. "I've been walking the course and able to help a little more in terms of knowing where to hit it.
He said it was "kind of cool" that he and Andy both had caddied there before.
"(The Drohen's) have a little advantage in the caddy department," he said, referring to the fact that Bill also caddied his brother's 2003 Mass. Amateur title match.
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