Last year’s finalists in the Connecticut Junior Amateur golf tournament are just one match away from meeting for the second straight year at Watertown Golf Club.
Defending champion John Vanderlaan (Heritage Village CC) and Patrick Hallisey (TPC River Highlands) both advanced to today’s quarterfinals. One more win by each and they would meet in the semifinals this afternoon. Hallisey will face Connor O’Brien (Tashua Knolls GC) while Vanderlaan will face Chandler Morris (CC of Waterbury) in the morning quarterfinals. Morris eliminated Vanderlaan’s brother Michael in 24 holes in the second round.
In the top half of the bracket, Evan Grenus (TPC River Highlands) takes on Jason Hogan (Watertown GC) while Nate Dong (Tallwood CC) takes on Tom Gosart (Tashua Knolls GC).
John Abbott of Higganum was the only area player to win a match on Tuesday, beating A.J. Cooney of North Branford. He was then eliminated by Dong.
Other area players falling in the opening round of match play Tuesday were Rasmey Kong (Course at Yale), Eric Austin (Race Brook CC), Tim Rotermund (Madison CC) and Gabe Van Ness (Clinton CC).

 

Rasmey Kong of North Haven (above) and a member at The Course at Yale fired a 1-over-par 72 to lead the area players who qualified for match play at the 72nd Junior Amateur tournament at Watertown Golf Club.

A.J. Cooney of North Branford and Gabe Van Ness of Clinton shot 74 and 75, respectively, to also qualify for match play which begins today. Eric Austin of Race Brook CC and Tim Rotermund of Madison CC both shot 77 and survived a playoff to reach match play.

Evan Grenus (TPC River Highlands) shot a 3-under 68 to earn medalist honors Monday. Patrick Hallisey (TPC River Highlands)  and Chandler Morris (CC of Waterbury) shot 69 and 70, respectively.

New Haven Country Club will host a Celebration on Thursday to honor the life of former Connecticut State Golf Association president Bruce Guthrie, who passed away on June 25 at 73.

Guthrie, a North Haven resident and past president at New Haven CC, was awaiting a liver transplant and battled for several months. He also served as president of the New England Golf Association from 2009-10 and was chairman of the CSGA; Hall of Fame Committee at the time of his passing.

Dave Seamen was friends with Guthrie since 1951. They began their friendship as caddies at New Haven CC.

“He’s been intimately connected with the game of golf in Connecticut,” said Seamen, a member at New Haven CC.

John Walsh, also a member at New Haven CC and a former CSGA president himself, knew Guthrie since the late 1980s.

“He was an advocate for amateur golf in Connecticut,” Walsh said. “He loved being a starter at our event because it was an opportunity to meet and greet each player. He was a great leader in our association and he knew how to treat people.”

The celebration will begin at 11:30 a.m. Contributions in his memory are asked to be sent to the First Tee of Connecticut, 55 Golf Club Road, Cromwell, 06416 or to www.thefirstteeconnecticutorg.

When Pete Monaco called Ed Grant last year about playing a 100-hole golf marathon at Laurel View Country Club, Grant, the head pro there, was all for it.

When Monaco called back again a few month ago to ask the same question, Grant had the same response. Then came Monaco’s next question.

“He asked if I had any interest in doing it with him,” Grant said. “How could I say no? It’s for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.”

So last Monday, Grant, Monaco, a former Wallingford resident now living in Cromwell, and Jason LeMay, a Rocky Hill resident, teed off on different holes at Laurel View CC beginning at 5 a.m. All played 100 holes. Grant said he raised $1,000  for the Make-A-Wish Foundation through his members at the club.

READ MORE ABOUT GRANT'S LONG DAY INTO NIGHT AT LAUREL VIEW