Ben Day of New Haven Country Club and Jeffrey Evanier of Clinton CC were among the first-round winners at the 111th Connecticut State Amateur Wednesday behing held at New Haven CC.
Day, the No. 7 seed after two rounds of stroke play, eliminated No. 26 Chris Maxwell (Tunxis Plantation CC) 2 and 1 while Evanier, the No. 8 seed, beat No. 25 Geoff Schneider (Rolling Hills CC) 5 and 4.
Among the other match-play winners were top-seeded Kevin Josephson (Personal Golf Network) and No. 31 Geoff Vartelas (Lyman Orchards GC), who advanced to the semifinals last year. Two rounds of match play will be held today, followed by the semifinals Friday morning and the 36-hole final beginning at 6:50 a.m. Saturday.

CONNECTICUT STATE AMATEUR

(at New Haven CC)

First round

Wednesday's results

Kevin Josephson (Personal Golf Network) def. Jon Groveman (Connecticut GC), 3 and 2; Larry Haertel (Round Hill Club) def. Kevin Ward (Grassy Hill CC), 1-up; Jeff Evanier (Clinton CC) def. Geoff Schneider (Rolling Hills CC), 5 and 4; Dave Szewczul (Tunxis Plantation CC) def. Clark Robinson (Ellington Ridge CC), 3 and 2; Jason Hogan (Watertown GC) def. Andrew Coats (Topstone GC), 7 and 5; Greg Reilly (CC of Darien) def. William Delano (CC of New Canaan) 2 and 1; Peter Ballo (Woodway CC) def. Greg Palmer (CC of Waterbury), 19 holes; Pat Griffin (Blue Fox Run GC) def. Nick Torrance (Lake of Isles), 2 and 1; Geoff Vartelas (Lyman Orchards GC) def. Chris Wiatr (CC of Waterbury), 5 and 3; Paul Schaeffer (Rockledge CC) def. Phil Perry (Black Hall Club), 2 and 1; Ben Day (New Haven CC) def. Chris Maxwell (Tunxis Plantation CC), 2 and 1; John Jackopsic (Gillette Ridge GC) def. Branden Chicorka (EClub of River Valley), 2 and 1; Cody Paladino (Wethersfield CC) def. Chris Rousseau (Tashua Knolls GC), 20 holes; Alex DiClemente (Fairview Farm GC) def. Adam Vaccari (Torrington CC), 4 and 3; Glen Boggini (Twin Hills CC) def. Addison Owens (Washington Club), 19 holes; John Flaherty (TPC River Highlands) def. Rob Artus (Clinton CC), 5 and 3.

Second round

Today

Josephson vs. Haertel, 7 a.m.; Evanier vs. Szewczul, 7:10; Hogan vs. Reilly, 7:20; Ballo vs. Griffin, 7:30; Vartelas vs. Schaeffer, 7:40; Day vs. Jackopsic, 7:50; Paladino vs. DiClemente, 8; Boggini vs. Flaherty, 8:10

Quarterfinals to follow beginning at noon