By Joe Morelli, Register Staff

jmorelli@nhregister.com / Twitter: @nhrJoeMorelli

ORANGE — Matt Smith has never forgotten how last year’s final match in the Connecticut Amateur Championship went. How could he?

He led former champion Tommy McDonagh 3-up with 11 holes to play, only to have McDonagh come back to win 3 and 2 at Rolling Hills Country Club.

So the motivation is there for Smith, a member at Quinnatisset CC in Thompson. He won both of his matches Thursday to reach his second straight final, this time against Ben Conroy at Race Brook CC in the 110th edition of the State Amateur.
“It (last year) has been on my mind as I prepared for this tournament,” said Smith, 22, a Thompson resident. “I know I can’t get ahead of myself. If I do, I will lose like I did last year.”

READ ON FOR MORE ON THE QUARTERFINAL AND SEMIFINAL-ROUND AMATEUR RESULTS

The opening round of qualifying was completed this morning for the 110th Connecticut Amateur at Race Brook Country Club in Orange.

Those results can be found here.

The second round has already begin and without any further weather delays, should be completed today. Thunder and lightning Monday forced approximately six hours worth of delays.

The low 32 players will be brought back for match play beginning Wednesday morning.

If you are asking yourself,  "Who is Marc Leishman?" So are we.

The Australian posted an 8-under-par 62 to win his first PGA Tour title, hooting a 4-round total of 14-under 266. He wins by one stroke over Bubba Watson and Charley Hoffman, two of several goflers who had a legit chance to win the 61st Travelers.

None better than Hoffman, who had a two-shot led on the 17th tee when he hit his drive into the water, resulting in a double-bogey 6. He then bogeyed 18.

Leishman finished his round 2 hours, 20 minutes before the final group putted out.

For more on the final round, please check in with www.nhregister.com later this evening or Monday morning.