In Joe Connerton’s first year as head pro at The Hartford Golf Club, the club hosted the 2009 Connecticut Open, the state’s biggest golf tournament not named the Travelers Championship.


Now in his eighth year, Connerton and rest of the members at The Hartford GC are getting ready to host another big tournament: The New England Amateur. That 72-hole tournament begins July 19.


“(Course superintendent) John Burke and his team have done a great job getting the course into fantastic condition,” Connerton said. “It’s just an honor to have the best amateurs in New England coming here. We are looking forward to it.”



Hartford GC is celebrating its 120th anniversary. This ends a four-course run for the amateur in the New Haven area: Woodbridge CC in 1990, New Haven CC in 1998, Race Brook CC in 2004 and The Course at Yale in 2010.

CHECK OUT MORE ON THE NE AMATEUR AND SOME OTHER BIG STATE-WIDE TOURNAMENTS HAPPENING OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS

Four more golfers, headlined by former U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk, have committed to play in the Travelers Championship, the tournament announced on Friday.

Furyk, who finished tied for second in the U.S. Open last month, won his only major championship at the 2003 Open. He missed seven months of action due to a left wrist injury, then returned to the PGA Tour in May. He is currently 19th in the world rankings and is making his fifth appearance at the tournament and first since 2011.

Also coming is Luke Donald, one the former No. 1 player in the world still in search of his first major title. He tied for seventh in his first appearance at the Travelers Championship last year. Donald is currently ranked 83rd.

Vijay Singh is making his 13th appearance at the tournament, his best finish in 2007 when he placed fourth. Singh, who splits time on the Champions Tour, has 34 PGA Tour wins, including three majors.
Kevin Chappell has three runner-up finishes this year, including the Players Championship in May. That has helped Chappell rise to No. 32 in the world rankings. Chappell missed the cut in his two previous appearances.

Furyk is the fifth player ranked in the top 20 to commit to the Travelers Championship Aug. 4-7 at TPC River Highlands. Also returning are defending champion Bubba Watson (5), Patrick Reed (13), Louis Oosthuizen (14) and Zach Johnson (18).