Cody Paladino wins the 111th state amateur crown over Peter Ballo at New Haven Country Club.

It was seven years after his last appearance.

Check out the story by Jim Fuller, on the fabulous match.

Race Brook CC head pro Paul Barnsley is among those competing in the PGA Club Professional National Championship beginning Sunday in Oregon.

Check out the story here.

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  

OK, so I didn't go out on a limb:

1. Hunter Mahan: Is coming off a strong performance at the U.S. Open and pretty much owns TPC River Highlands with four top-4 finishes and a closing 61 in last year's final round.
2. Bubba Watson: Hasn't been in contention much this year, but the 2010 Travelers winner has been over par at River Highlands just once in his previous 16 rounds.
3. Justin Rose: For the second straight year, the U.S. Open champion comes to Cromwell. First time Rose has been back since blowing a fourth-round lead in 2010. The top-ranked player in this week's field would love to make that a distant memory.

Follow the action throughout the Travelers Championship on our live blog at www.nhregister.com/sports.

Or just follow @nhrJoeMorelli for tweet updates.

Kevin Josephson of the Personal Golf Network shot a 4-under-par 66 at New Haven Country Club to finish two rounds of the rain-delayed Connecticut State Amateur in the lead at 3-under 137.
Chris Wiatr (CC of Waterbury) is second at 2-under 138. Jason Hogan (Watertown GC) leads three golfers at 1-over 141 and Jeff Evanier (Clinton CC) stands at 142.
The second round of stroke play was postponed due to inclement weather. The round will resume Wednesday morning, with the top 64 golfers advancing to match play. Even if a playoff is needed to determine the remaining golfers who advance, match play will also begin Wednesday morning.