WETHERSFIELD >> It will be a pair of former college golf teammates and roommates squaring off in today’s 114th State Amateur final at Wethersfield CC.


Zach Zaback (above), a member at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, will take on former UConn teammate Corey Birch from Silver Spring CC in Ridgefield in the 36-hole final beginning at 7:30 a.m. They were roommates the last three years before both graduating from UConn in May.


“First things first, I want to win,” Zaback said. “I’m not going to deny the fact it’s against one of my best friends, a teammate, a guy I lived with for three years. ... I’m used to playing against him every day, so it will be fun. We know each other’s games really well.”



For Zaback, it’s a chance to earn his second Amateur crown in the last three years. He won at Lake of Isles in 2014. It took 20 holes in Thursday’s afternoon semifinal match before Zaback was able to eliminate Brent Dietz (Cedar Knob GC).

 more on Thursday's semifinals