A review of the 2015 season and the Championships conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association 2 0 1 5 CHAMPIONSHIP ANNUAL TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 30 Connecticut Public Links Championship WELCOME LETTER LOOK WHO’S BACK After a multi-year hiatus from competitive golf and a host of close calls and near misses, Chet Hrostek made a triumphant return to the winner’s circle. 8 Connecticut Open Championship YOUTH CONQUERS ALL 32 Connecticut Women’s Open Championship Cody Paladino completed a personal grand slam of Connecticut golf by winning the ONE FOR THE BOOKS Connecticut Open, Amateur, Public Links and Palmer Cup. And did we mention he’s only twenty-six years old? Put this one in the books - the new 36-hole tournament scoring record belongs to a seventeen year-old who has now won the Women’s Open three times. 14 Russell C. Palmer Cup THE PERFECT DAY 34 Tournament of Champions FIRST TO THE TOP Trailing the leaders by eight strokes heading into the final day, Ben Day withstood the pressure and charged up the leaderboard to capture his first CSGA championship. Josh Cameron and Mark Durand earned their first CSGA victories of their respective careers by capturing the 10th Tournament of Champions at Bull’s Bridge Golf Club. 16 Senior Match Play Championship FRIENDLY FINALE 36 Connecticut Senior Amateur Championship MAKE IT THREE Bill Hermanson met his friend of nearly forty years in the final match, who happened to be a four-time champion and perennial favorite. Bill Hermanson capped off an amazing season by winning his first Senior Amateur title and his third CSGA championship of the season. 18 Connecticut Amateur Championship HE’S ALL GROWN UP 38 Connecticut Mid-Amateur Championship HANGING TOUGH Evan Grenus made the transition from junior golf to amateur golf look easy, winning the Junior Amateur and Connecticut Amateur titles in consecutive years. After breaking through for his first win at the Public Links, Chet Hrostek battled fast greens and windy conditions to capture his second CSGA major championship. 26 Connecticut Junior Amateur Championship THE COMEBACK KID 40 2015 TOURNAMENT RESULTS Trailing early in his each of his last three matches at the Junior Amateur, Andrew Sciarretta turned up the heat when it mattered most. 60Dick Tettelbach Player of the Year 84 CSGA Volunteer of the Year TOP OF THE CLASS FRED FAWCETT John Flaherty might not have won a CSGA championship in 2015, but his consistent CSGA Volunteer and certified Rules Official Fred Fawcett has been actively involved with play throughout the year earned him his first Player of the Year title. the CSGA for over fifteen years. 64 Dick Siderowf Senior Player of the Year 86 CSGA Club of the Year WINNING BREEDS WINNING H. SMITH RICHARDSON Bill Hermanson needed one of the best seasons in Connecticut senior golf history to H. Smith Richardson has a distinguished history of hosting tournaments, instructing unseat six-time defending champion Dave Szewczul. junior and adult golfers and encouraging league and tournament play. 68 2015 CSGA Club Champions DEFYING THE ODDS 88 2015 Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame Inductees In our annual compilation of club champions from across the state, the CSGA salutes the men and women who achieved greatness by capturing their respective Club Championships in the 2015 season. 92 State Legislature Updates 74 CSGA Scholarship Fund in honor of Widdy Neale 94 76 Necrology Connecticut Section of the PGA of America 96 78 Next Year’s Championship Sites The First Tee of Connecticut 82 98 Stats and Facts from the 2015 Season 2015 Scotland & Ireland Member Trips BY THE NUMBERS Connecticut State Golf Association WELCOME 35 Cold Spring Road, Suite 212 Rocky Hill, Connecticut 06067 (860) 257-4171 www.csgalinks.org Dear CSGA Member, Executive Committee President Stan McFarland, Manchester CC T his third edition of the “CSGA Championship Annual” Vice-Presidents documents another exciting year of championships Shelly Guyer, Oak Hills Park GC and commemorates the many stories from the 2015 Peter Kaufmann, Woodway CC Ben Briggs, Silvermine GC competitive season. Inside, you will see a superb collection of vivid photos Secretary Bill Cremins, CC of Waterbury and interesting stories from all of our championships and competitions, as we celebrate the accomplishments of our many Treasurer Jim Healey, Jr., Hartford GC tournament players both on and off the course. In addition, you Special Advisers will find stories on our 2015 special award recipients, Hall of Jack Bracken, Hartford GC Fame inductees, and comprehensive results from tournaments Judy Smith, Orange Hills CC conducted around Connecticut. Staff 2015 was a great year for golf in our state, and we Executive Director thank every individual who helped make this possible. To our Mike Moraghan member clubs, individual members, tournament entrants, our Director, Operations, Rules & Competitions CSGA staff, volunteers, officials, high school golf coaches, and Ryan Hoffman professional colleagues in affiliated organizations, we thank Director, Competitions & Communications you for your shared commitment to the game we love and Brent Paladino serve in Connecticut. Director, Club Relations Bill Bigler Best Regards, Manager, Competitions Administration Christopher Austin Controller Stan McFarland David Seaman Administrative Associate Stan McFarland Lynn Robsky President, Connecticut State Golf Association USGA P.J. Boatwright, Jr. Interns Katie Vrabel Daniela Lendl Publication Managing Editor Brent Paladino Written and Edited By Brent Paladino, Mike Moraghan, Ryan Hoffman, Bill Bigler Contributors Christopher Austin, Katie Vrabel, Becky Blaeser, Joe Morelli Photos Mike Moraghan, Brent Paladino, Katie Vrabel, Elizabeth Gentile, Rick Odermatt, David Newman, David Colt, Steven Mack, Joe Morelli, Bill Quinnell, and the USGA (Steve Gibbons, Chris Keane & Joel Kowsky) 6 Connecticut State Golf Association 2015 www.csgalinks.org A TEAM EFFORT Message from CSGA Executive Director, Mike Moraghan W ithin our staff at the CSGA your hands right now, we work under the motto the third edition of our “Best Idea Wins.” It doesn’t Championship Annual. matter who comes up with an idea, as Ryan produced a long as it’s a good idea. Something that comprehensive Officials can make us better as an organization Manual in 2014 that was and in all the things we do on behalf far more explanatory and of our member clubs and golfers detailed than anything throughout Connecticut. we’d previously provided Conversations that start in to our volunteers, and with somebody’s office, or in our conference assistance from Brent, room or in the kitchen next to the conducted our first ever microwave and the big printer often on-line Rules seminar (we evolve into projects that make us better. were the only state golf We’re open-minded to incorporating best association in the country practices we observe in other states and to offer such a program around the world, as well as ideas that this year). Moving forward come from our Executive Committee we’ll now conduct in- and our dedicated volunteers. depth Rules education Ryan Hoffman regularly combs every year alternating through other golf association’s websites between the traditional Mixed Team Championship with the to see what they are doing and how they classroom Rules Workshop and virtual CWGA’s Mixed Championship for a are organized. A couple of years ago education via computer. successful event at Tumble Brook, and Ryan and Bill Bigler brought forth the Bill continues to monitor in 2016 for the first time ever, the CSGA idea of creating the “CT Golf PlayBook” GHIN/USGA developments while also will work in concert with the Women’s an idea gleaned from other associations, contributing to their evolution through Amateur Committee to conduct Oregon in particular. 2016 will be the direct contact and committee work. He the Connecticut Women’s Amateur 4th year the CSGA has produced the also created an updated and improved Championship. PlayBook, which has been successful in version of our Club Representative With trips to Scotland and driving business to CSGA member clubs Manual, and through his contacts Ireland this year (see pages 82-83) and and creating a new revenue stream for with Arizona and other associations, a trip to Cape Town for the Southern those clubs and the CSGA. has expanded our eRevision partner Africa Golf Hall of Fame induction and We recognize that there relationships. Museum opening, we came home with is no need to reinvent a successful Some of the success we’ve a number of ideas we may eventually organization that has been around since had in lobbying the State Legislature apply to both recreational golf in the end of the 19th century. But we can in Hartford (see page 92) comes from Connecticut, and our own CSGA Annual always improve our operation, and find ideas we acquired during the annual Meeting and Hall of Fame ceremony. ways to adapt and progress in what is International Association of Golf So add up all the little things clearly the fastest moving and most Administrators (IAGA) conference. A and it would seem we actually are rapidly changing time period in world recent IAGA legislative presentation doing quite a bit to make our 116 year- history. offered jointly by California and Texas old organization into the best state Toward that end Chris Austin (two states that couldn’t be further apart golf association we possibly can make has invested a great deal of time politically) provided useful strategies it. Having an outstanding group of investigating ways we can improve the that we’ve since incorporated into our volunteers and fulltime staff who are registration system for our One-Day own practice. willing to entertain innovative thinking tournaments. Chris also reorganized In our tournaments operations and embrace new ideas is the foundation our course rating operation this year. we’re also expanding our support of of this process. As we close out another Brent Paladino has brought us into the both the Connecticut Women’s Golf successful year, stay tuned for more to 21st century with social media, photo Association (CWGA) and the Southern come from the CSGA team in 2016. galleries, our digital magazine The CSGA New England Women’s Golf Association Links and the book you are holding in (SNEWGA). In 2015 we merged our Above: CSGA Executive Director Mike Moraghan speaking at the 2015 Southern Africa Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Moraghan’s former student, Lewis Chitengwa of Zimbabwe was inducted posthumously in June. Cover Photograph: John Flaherty on the twelfth hole at The Patterson Club. Opening spread: The eighteenth green during the final round of the 81st Connecticut Open Championship at The Patterson Club. Table of Contents: The practice putting green at Bull’s Bridge Golf Club provides a scenic view before the final round of the 28th Connecticut Mid-Amateur Championship. www.csgalinks.org Connecticut State Golf Association 2015 7 8 Connecticut State Golf Association 2015 www.csgalinks.org 81ST CONNECTICUT OPEN The Patterson Club // Fairfield, Conn. // July 27 - 29 Youth CONQUERS ALL Cody Paladino of Wethersfield Country Club completed a personal grand slam of Connecticut golf by becoming the first player in CSGA history to win the Connecticut Open, Amateur, Public Links and Palmer Cup. And did we mention he’s only twenty-six years old? www.csgalinks.org Connecticut State Golf Association 2015 9 C ODY PALADINO of made some great par saves on the fifth birdied #9, 11 and 14 to jump to six Wethersfield Country Club and sixth holes, and when I saw the under-par for the championship, just held a one stroke lead heading leaderboard on the sixth green, I saw two shots behind the lead. into the final day and never looked that no one was really making a big “I hit the ball great today, and back, posting a one under-par round of move. So I was totally fine starting out made a few good putts out there,” said 70 for a two stroke victory at the 81st with eight straight pars. The pins were Flaherty. “When I made the turn at three Connecticut Open Championship at very difficult and it was hard to get the under-par, I was thinking I had a chance The Patterson Club. ball close to the hole.” if I could get it going on the back nine. In Paladino, the 2006 and 2013 After making the turn in one my opening round, I shot 30 on the back CSGA Player of the Year, began the day under-par and -7 for the championship, nine, so I knew I could make birdies on with a one stroke lead over Pete Ballo of he tacked on another birdie the par-5 that side.” Woodway Country Club and amateur 11th to get to -8. Standing on the twelfth With a host of players chasing Nick Harrington of The Windham Club. tee his lead was three, but he would not him, Paladino hit his tee shot on the But with a total of thirteen players be without chasers. par-3 12th hole into the greenside within five shots of the lead, he knew he “I had a feeling if someone bunker. Knowing he needed to keep had to play well to have a chance at the was going to shoot four or five under, it the momentum going, he rolled in a title. would have to be a really special round,” clutch par save to maintain his two shot Paladino opened his round with said Paladino. “So I just kept focusing advantage. eight straight pars, and standing in the on what I was doing and tried not get “The par save on #12 was fairway at the par-5 ninth he held a two complacent out there.” really a key moment in the round,” said stroke lead over four-time Connecticut Indeed, there would be a host of Paladino. “After making birdies on #9 Open Champion Kyle Gallo of Tallwood players who used the back nine to put and 11, I hit it in the bunker and after Country Club. From there, Paladino hit together a special round and catapult making that save, I felt like I could focus his approach to within a foot, good up the leaderboard. Among them was and play solid golf from there on out.” enough for a birdie and a three shot lead amateur John ] ] “I had a feeling if someone was going to shoot four at the turn. Flaherty of TPC or five under, it would have to be a really special “The birdie on 9 was a huge River Highlands, round. So I just kept focusing on what I was doing kick-start and really got the day going the first round and tried not get complacent out there.” in the right direction,” said Paladino. “I co-leader who 10 Connecticut State Golf Association 2015 www.csgalinks.org