tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80345124261029354522024-03-13T00:32:52.535-04:00Morelli's MusingsGolf coverageJoe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.comBlogger694125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-70398194635722475042017-06-08T10:40:00.002-04:002017-06-08T10:40:49.485-04:00Jordan Spieth to make first appearance at Travelers Championship.<img alt="Jordan Spieth watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the Memorial golf tournament last Friday. Spieth committed to play in the Travelers Championship Thursday." height="267" src="http://image.nhregister.com/storyimage/NH/20170608/SPORTS/170609580/AR/0/AR-170609580.jpg&maxh=400&maxw=667" width="400" /><br />
Courtesy of the Associated Press<br />
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Jordan Spieth, the world’s sixth-ranked player, committed to the tournament Thursday morning for the first time. That’s three in the top six, joining No. 2 Rory McIlroy, also committed for the first time, and No. 3 Jason Day.<br />
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The tournament will be held June 22-25 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.<br />
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Spieth is only 23, but has already won nine times on the PGA Tour, including the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. He won his two majors, the Masters and U.S. Open, in 2015, when he also won the Tour Championship, the FedExCup title and was the top-ranked player in the world.<br />
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Travelers also boasts Justin Thomas, a three-time winner on Tour this year and the 13th-ranked player, and No. 18 Patrick Reed, along with two-time champion Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk and former winners Marc Leishman and defending champion Russell Knox.Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-50900795789134173022017-05-25T18:04:00.002-04:002017-05-25T18:04:26.237-04:00Reed, Snedeker, Leishman all returning to TravelersThree more golfers committed to play in the Travelers Championship next month: Patrick Reed, Brandt Snedeker and Marc Leishman.<br />
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Reed, ranked 15th in the world, becomes the fourth player in the top 15 to commit to play, joining Rory McIlroy (2), Jason Day (3) and Justin Thomas (11). Reed has five PGA Tour wins, including the Barclays in last year’s FedExCup playoffs. But he is probably best known for beating McIlroy in Ryder Cup singles play last fall to help the United States win back the Cup.<br />
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Reed tied for 11th last year at the Travelers, his best finish in five starts.<br />
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Snedeker also has played TPC River Highlands five previous times, his best finish a tie for 10th place in 2015. The 2012 winner of the FedExCup championship, Snedeker has eight PGA Tour wins to his credit and is ranked 32nd in the world.<br />
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Leishman, ranked 36th, won the Travelers in 2012, his first tour victory. His second came at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-42416859136474926372017-05-16T20:14:00.001-04:002017-05-16T20:14:15.010-04:00Evanier, Rainaud advance to U.S. Open sectional qualifyingJeff Evanier of Clinton shot a 4-under-par 66 at Wintonbury Hills Golf Course Tuesday to earn medalist laurels at local qualifying for the 117th U.S. Open Championship.<br />
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Evanier was one of five golfers who advanced to sectional qualifying on June 5.<br />
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Adam Rainaud of Chester shot a 3-under 67. Rainaud, formerly an assistant pro at the Black Hall Club in Old Lyme, is now an assistant at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, New York.<br />
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The other three spots came out of a six-man playoff. Advancing were Eric Dietrich of Cheshire, Cody Paladino of Kensington and Evan Russell of Stowe, Vermont. All shot 68.<br />
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Brent Paladino, Cody’s older brother, is the first alternate and Kevin Riley (New City, N.Y.) is the second alternate. Jordan Gosler of Manchester was also eliminated in the sudden-death playoff.<br />
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<br />Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-12144002446814305502017-05-04T18:40:00.001-04:002017-05-04T18:40:26.285-04:00Gettings relished chance to play in first Challenge Cup; Section pros beat Amateurs again<b>HAMDEN >></b> For almost two full decades, Steve Gettings has been a top-flight amateur golfer playing out of Orange Hills Country Club, where he has won multiple club championships.<br />
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Although he has played in his share of Connecticut State Golf Association events throughout that time, Gettings didn’t have his best season until last year. Among those results was a third-place finish in the State Public Links event.<br />
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“I want to win a tournament,” Gettings said. “I’ve played with a lot of the kids now. Now I know I can play with them at any given tournament.”<br />
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Maybe that victory will come this season for Gettings. Last year’s results got him into the 46th edition of the Julius Boros Challenge Cup matches played Thursday at New Haven CC. Gettings lost his singles match to James Giampaolo as the Connecticut Section pros defeated the CSGA Amateurs 37.5-22.5 for their sixth straight win in the series.<br />
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“I’ve hit balls every day into my net always dreaming about making a team like this,” said Gettings, 40. “This is the culmination of the entire last year. You have to earn your spot, it’s not who knows who. There’s also the prestige of being on the team.”<br />
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<b>46TH CHALLENGE CUP</b><br />
<b>CT Section pros defeat CSGA Amateurs 37.5-22.5</b><br />
(at New Haven CC)<br />
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<b>Match 1: </b>Bill Hermanson (Black Hall Club) def. Fran Marrello (Canaan CC); Dave Szewczul (Tunxis Plantation CC) def. Dave Dell (Springfield CC), Hermanson-Szewczul def. Marrello-Dell<br />
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<b>Match 2:</b> Kevin Giancola (Golf Quest) def. Kevin Josephson (Indian Hill CC); Brian Ahern (Wampanoag CC) def. Frank Leja (Crestview CC); Giancola-Leja halved best ball match with Josephson-Ahern.<br />
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<b>Match 3: </b>Jordan Gosler (Manchester CC) def. Jason Jaworski (Shorehaven CC); Billy Downes (Great Horse) def. Shep Stevens (New Haven CC); Gosler-Downes def. Jaworski-Stevens.<br />
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<b>Match 4:</b> Mike Martin (Clubs to Go) def. Monte Mullen (TPC River Highlands); Kyle Nolin (Tallwood CC) def. Donny Kirkpatrick (Wampanoag CC) Mullen-Nolin def. Martin-Kirkpatrick.<br />
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<b>Match 5:</b> James Giampaolo (Hawks Landing CC) def. Steve Gettings (Orange Hills CC); Tony Kelley (Wyckoff CC) def. David Giulietti (GC of Avon); Giampaolo-Kelley def. Gettings-Giuletti.<br />
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<b>Match 6:</b> Bill Wallis (New Haven CC) def. Chet Hrostek (Oxford Greens GC); Brent Dietz (Cedar Knob GC) def. William Street (Whitney Farms CC); Hrostek-Dietz def. Wallis-Street.<br />
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<b>Match 7:</b> Chris Maxwell (CC of Farmington) def. Marc Bayram (Timberlin GC); Ian Marshall (Watertown GC) def. John Sawka (Ellington Ridge CC); Bayram-Marshall def. Maxwell-Sawka.Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-69039332544065162192017-05-04T09:48:00.001-04:002017-05-04T09:49:23.344-04:00Jason Day returning to play in Travelers Championship<img alt="Jason Day tees off the eight HOLE during the second round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament last week. Day will play in the Travelers Championship in June." src="http://image.nhregister.com/storyimage/NH/20170504/SPORTS/170509830/AR/0/AR-170509830.jpg&maxh=400&maxw=667" height="266" width="400" /><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The good news just keeps on coming in what is shaping up to be the best field the Travelers Championship has ever had.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jason Day is the latest big name to commit to playing in the Travelers Championship in June. Day, the former PGA Championship winner, is ranked No. 3 in the world golf rankings.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nathan Grube, the Travelers Championship tournament director, said Day’s commitment came “around lunch time” on Wednesday.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We knew it was coming. We’ve had really good conversations with Jason,” Grube said Thursday morning.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That now makes three players from the top 10 in the latest world golf rankings in the field: Rory McIlroy at No. 2, Day at No. 3 and Justin Thoma at No. 10.</span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-547fdaec-d3b6-ff8b-b4e8-2cae8df77cf9"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day, who has spent a lot of time ranked No. 1, won the PGA Championship back in 2015. He’s played the TPC River Highlands course in Cromwell twice, finishing tied for 18th in 2014 and tied for 27th in 2008.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.nhregister.com/sports/20170504/jason-day-coming-to-play-in-the-travelers-championship">CHECK OUT MORE ON JASON DAY</a></span></div>
Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-13217867329046809112017-03-27T15:08:00.000-04:002017-03-27T15:08:03.163-04:00Thomas, Johnson added to list of Travelers commitmentsThe Travelers Championship has added its second player in the top 10 of the current world rankings when the tournament announced Monday that Justin Thomas has committed to play the event in June.<br />
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Thomas has already won three times on the PGA Tour this season, including both the SBS Tournament of Champions and Sony Open in January. At Sony, he opened with a 59. Thomas currently stands third in the FedExCup standings, is eighth in the world rankings and tied for third in last year’s Travelers after a final round 8-under-par 62.<br />
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Zach Johnson also committed to play the Travelers June 22-25 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. Johnson, currently 50th in the world rankings, has two major championships among his 12 PGA Tour victories: the 2007 Masters and the 2015 British Open. His best finish at Travelers is a tie for third.<br />
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Thomas and Johnson already joining second-ranked Rory McIlroy and former Travelers winners Bubba Watson (ranked 18th) and Russell Knox (23rd), the defending champion.Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-5117263128421542892017-03-10T11:06:00.001-05:002017-03-10T11:06:19.955-05:00Watson, Knox returning to play Travelers ChampionshipExactly two weeks after announcing Rory McIlroy would play for the first time, the Travelers Championship announced Friday that former champions Bubba Watson and Russell Knox have joined him.<br />
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Watson won the event in 2010, his first victory on the PGA Tour, and in 2015. He was ranked as high as No. 4 last year but now the former two-time Masters champion is 16th in the world rankings.<br />
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Knox, currently 21st in the world rankings, birdied the 18th hole last year to win the championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. It was Knox’s second victory on Tour.<br />
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Tickets for this year’s event, to be held June 22-25, go on sale Wednesday. For more information on this year’s tournament, visit www.TravelersChampionship.com.Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-78239057586239630382017-02-24T09:16:00.000-05:002017-02-24T09:16:57.945-05:00McIlroy coming to play the Travelers Championship<img alt="FILE - In this Oct. 27, 2016 file photo, Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits a tee shot during the WGC-HSBC Champions golf tournament at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China. McIlroy is targeting the Mexico Championship in March as his return to tournament action from injury. McIlroy aggravated a rib stress fracture while finishing runner-up at the SA Open in Gauteng two weekends ago. Those injuries typically take about six weeks to heal, and he believes he’ll be ready to play again in the first World Golf Championship of the year, from March 2-5. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)" height="266" src="http://image.nhregister.com/storyimage/NH/20170224/SPORTS/170229782/AR/0/AR-170229782.jpg&maxh=400&maxw=667" width="400" /><br />
The Travelers Championship announced Friday morning that Rory McIlroy, the world’s third-ranked golfer, <a href="http://www.nhregister.com/sports/20170224/golfer-rory-mcilroy-commits-to-travelers-championship">will be playing in the Travelers Championship in June</a>.<br />
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The news was first reported by Brian Wacker from Golf Digest early this morning.<br />
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This is the first time McIlroy, 27, will play in the Travelers. He has won four major championships, including two PGA Championships.<br />
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“I’m delighted that the Travelers Championship is part of my schedule this year. It’ll be such a great experience,” McIlroy said in a statement released by the Travelers. “The course should really set up well for my game and I’m really looking forward to teeing it up there in June against some of the tour’s best players.<br />
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Travelers Championship tournament director Nathan Grube said the first time he had an inkling that McIlory may be interested in coming was last spring at the Players Championship.<br />
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I’m incredibly excited,” Grube said. “We’ve been talking to (McIlroy’s agent) enough the last six, seven, eight months. Going back to June gave us a chance (to get him). We’re thrilled to see it come together.”<br />
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The Travelers was held in August last year when the entire PGA Tour summer schedule was altered due to the 2016 Summer Olympics. This year's tournament will be held<br />
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McIlroy is currently recuperating from a rib fracture he suffered in January. He is scheduled to return at next week’s WGC-Mexico Championship.<br />
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Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-52330562250493540012016-11-30T20:29:00.003-05:002016-11-30T20:29:27.925-05:00Gleeton, Hedden entering Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame ThursdayTom Gleeton and Jeff Hedden will be inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame Thursday at Manchester Country Club.<br />
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Gleeton, a Cheshire native and resident, played full time on the PGA Tour in 1986 and has won more than 70 professional events, including the Connecticut Section PGA Stroke Play Championship five times, The Section’s Match Play and the Connecticut PGA Championship. He’s also been named the Section’s Player of the Year.<br />
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Gleeton just completed a quarter century as the head professional at Country Club of Waterbury. He is a past president of the Connecticut Section, has spent many years directing mentor programs for assistant golf pros and was inducted into the Connecticut Section Hall of Fame in 2014.<br />
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Hedden, a stellar amateur player formerly out of the Black Hall Club in Old Lyme was the CSGA Player of the Year for three straight years (2008-10), won the Connecticut Open (2008), the New England Amateur (2011), the Connecticut Amateur (2002), the Connecticut Mid-Amateur (2002, 2005-06 and 2009) and the Connecticut Junior Amateur (1980-81).<br />
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Hedden also qualified for the U.S. Amateur twice (2002-03) and the U.S. Mid-Amateur six times (2002-05, 2007, 2009). He now lives in Hilton Head, South Carolina.Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-40176069610523784582016-10-18T18:51:00.002-04:002016-10-18T18:51:54.977-04:00Travelers Championship raises record $2.8 million towards charityThe Travelers Championship announced Tuesday it generated more than $2.8 million for charity at this year’s event held last August.<br />
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It’s the highest amount in the history of the tournament, which began in 1952. The record-setting number was boosted by the Bruce Edwards Foundation Benefit Dinner, held on Aug. 5, which raised more than $1.3 million.<br />
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According to a release put out by Travelers, this year’s fund-raising effort brings the total money distributed since Travelers became title sponsor in 2007 to nearly $13 million. More than 600 charities have received funds from the tournament over that time.<br />
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This year’s primary beneficiary was the ALS Clinic at the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain. ALS-specific causes was the focus this year after the 2015 announcement that Jay Fishman, the former executive chairman and chief executive officer of Travelers, had been diagnosed with the disease.<br />
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The dinner attracted more than 800 people to the Connecticut Convention Center, with all proceeds going toward ALS research. Fishman died on Aug. 19.Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-7964532931269015292016-08-24T17:16:00.002-04:002016-08-24T17:16:13.781-04:00Rainaud wins second CT PGA ChampionshipAdam Rainaud fired a 3-under-par 67 Wednesday to win the 85th Connecticut PGA Championship by two shots at Keney Park Golf Course in Hartford.<br />
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It is the second title in three years for Rainaud, Chester resident and assistant pro at the Black Hall Club in Old Lyme. He finished with a two-round total of 5-under 135. Rainaud won the Connecticut Open last month and qualified for the Travelers Championship earlier this month.<br />
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Five-time winner Fran Marrello (Canaan CC) finished second after posting a 69 (3-under 137). Defending champion Kevin Giancola (Golf Quest) placed third (138) while Brent Paladino of the Connecticut State Golf Association took fourth (139).<br />
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Donny Kilpatrick (Wampanoag CC) finished fifth at 140 while Whitney Farms GC head pro Billy Street tied for sixth at 1-over 141 with Shaun Powers (Fairview CC) and John Detmer (Wethersfield CC). New Haven resident Mike Martin (Clubs to Go) tied for ninth at 142.<br />
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Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-58392266269948315462016-08-17T23:28:00.000-04:002016-08-17T23:28:05.052-04:00Massachusetts wins NE Junior Invitational by record 35 strokesJack Boulger shot a 3-round total of 3-under-par 207 to be low man for the Massachusetts Junior Team, which won the New Eng;and Junior Amateur Invitational by a record 35 strokes over Connecticut Wednesday at Cochecho Country Club in Dover New Hampshire.<br />
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Massachusetts breaks the previous record of 29 strokes by Connecticut in 2014.<br />
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Cole Anderson of Maine was the overall medalist, shooting a 10-under 200 for 54 holes, seven shots better than Boulger and Patrick Welch of Rhode Island. Ben James of Milford was the top finisher for Connecticut, finishing at 3-over 213.Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-56840374938145716782016-08-17T22:54:00.001-04:002016-08-17T22:54:27.538-04:00McEvoy defends CT Women's Amateur titleDefending champion Catherine McEvoy of the Innis Arden Golf Club in Greenwich fired a final round 71 for a three round total of 218 (1-under-par) and a six-stroke victory at the 51st Connecticut State Women’s Amateur Wednesday at Heritage Village Country Club in Southbury.<br />
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Her victory marks the 11th time in the history of the event that a player has successfully defended their title.<br />
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After an opening round of 78, McEvoy, 18, played the final 36 holes at 6-under-par. The scoring average for the field on the challenging par-73 layout was 85.7. In the second round on Tuesday, McEvoy finished with a remarkable four under-par round of 69 that catapulted her from five strokes behind to a six-stroke lead.<br />
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McEvoy will be playing for the Michigan State women's golf team this fall as a freshman.<br />
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Maisie Filler (Hartford GC) finished second at 5-over 224, followed by Ellen Nighbor of Great River GC in Milford (229), Mackenzie Hawkes of Madison CC (235) and Jen Holland of Branford (238). Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-37168814421278186162016-08-13T19:55:00.000-04:002016-08-13T19:58:16.378-04:00Vartelas ready for U.S. Amateur<img alt="Geoff Vartelas will be playing in his first U.S. Amateur this week." src="http://image.nhregister.com/storyimage/NH/20160813/SPORTS/160819795/AR/0/AR-160819795.jpg&maxh=400&maxw=667" height="265" width="400" /><br />
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Geoff Vartelas (above) has had quite a summer already: a tie for second in
the New England Amateur, a round of 65 in the pre-qualifier for the
Travelers Championship and a fourth-place finish at the Palmer Cup.<br />
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But the biggest highlight is yet to come for Vartelas, a former
Xavier High standout. He is currently in Michigan preparing for his
first appearance in the U.S. Amateur.<br />
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“It’s one of those things where no matter how you play in other
events, if you qualify for the U.S. Amateur, it turns a so-so summer
into a great summer,” Vartelas said. “No matter how yo do at the Am, the
fact is you get to go there and experience a USGA event. USGA events
are top notch.”<br />
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Vartelas, 22, qualified on July 12 at Great River Golf Club in Milford, shooting a 3-under 141 for 36 holes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nhregister.com/sports/20160813/connecticut-golf-notes-geoff-vartelas-prepared-for-us-amateur">MORE ABOUT VARTELAS, THE U.S.AMATEUR, THE CT WOMEN'S AMATEUR AND THE NEW ENGLAND JUNIOR.</a>Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-87928046658774764052016-08-09T22:58:00.003-04:002016-08-09T22:58:50.193-04:00Nolin captures Publinx title<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xo3rooZUvY0/V6qX10gWQSI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/F8orKcaK5QYBAiLCuNc5tnD6EV5_eLaPACLcB/s1600/Publinx.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xo3rooZUvY0/V6qX10gWQSI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/F8orKcaK5QYBAiLCuNc5tnD6EV5_eLaPACLcB/s400/Publinx.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>MIDDLEFIELD >></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Kyle Nolin took a look at the names on the Connecticut Public Links championship trophy before he teed off in Tuesday’s final round.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One name Nolin noted in particular was Dave Szewczul, who has won the tournament four times. He played with Szewczul during last year’s State Mid-Amateur and the veteran golfer offered Nolin some advice during that round.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“He gave me one mental thing, ‘It’s golf, don’t take it too serious. There are a lot of other important things in life. Golf is not that important.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How much putting those words to use relieved the pressure only Nolin knows, but his second straight even-par round of 72 at the Lyman Orchards Jones Course helped him win in the 31st edition of the Public Links by two shots.</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-44ea43ee-7260-6cd1-98b3-d37769a8c37d"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“This means a lot, it really does, to know I’m in with this group of players that’s on that trophy,” said Nolin, 30, who recently moved to Middletown and is a member at Tallwood CC in Hebron.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>31st Connecticut Public Links</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>(at Lyman Orchards GC, Jones Course)</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Final results</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-44ea43ee-7262-cc24-8935-d8f15aa26c3b"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kyle Nolin (Tallwood CC), 72-72-144; Chris Flowers (Smith Richardson GC), 74-72-146; Steve Gettings (Orange Hills CC), 75-72-147; Jason Longo (Smith Richardson GC), 75-73-148; Dave Jones (Mohegan Sun GC), 74-74-148; Chris Meinke (Longshore GC), 71-78-149; Dave Renski (Wheeler Park GC), 77-73-150; Keith Salamon (Tunxis Plantation CC), 74-76-150; Dave Szewczul (Tunxis Plantation CC), 74-76-150; John Dailey (Smith Richardson GC), 72-78-150; Chad Boudreau (Hunter GC), 74-76-150; Matt Gaieski (Manchester CC), 77-74-151; Mike Jezierski (Raceway CC), 74-77-151; Chet Hrostek (Oxford Greens GC), 72-79-151; Jonathan Meissner (Great River GC), 75-77-152; Scott Johnson (Green Woods CC), 75-77-152; Pat McKenna (Manchester CC), 73-79-152; Frank Geiger (Smith Richardson GC), 77-76-153; James Sheltman (Alling Memorial GC), 73-80-153.</span></div>
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<br />Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-76497865253738359392016-08-03T09:37:00.001-04:002016-08-03T09:37:03.996-04:00Whaley reaches U.S. Women's Amateur match play<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1098222039" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Farmington's Kelly Whaley, the three-time winner of the Connecticut State Women's Amateur and a rising sophomore at North Carolina, advanced into the final 64 players for match play at the U.S. Women's Amateur this week being held at Rolling Greens Golf Club in Springfield, Pa.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1098222039" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1098222039" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ">Whaley advances to face Andrea Lee of Hermosa Beach, Calif., today (Wednesday) at 1:50 p.m.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1098222039" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1098222039" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<br />Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-40588967505417934292016-07-29T22:38:00.000-04:002016-07-29T22:38:00.775-04:00The full Travelers Championship fieldTom Aiken<br />
Tyler Aldridge<br />
Robert Allenby<br />
Abraham Ancer<br />
Aaron Baddeley<br />
Blayne Barber<br />
Ricky Barnes<br />
Daniel Berger<br />
Zac Blair<br />
Jonas Blixt<br />
Steven Bowditch<br />
Keegan Bradley<br />
Scott Brown<br />
Bronson Burgoon<br />
Angel Cabrera<br />
Chad Campbell<br />
Miguel Angel Carballo<br />
Paul Casey<br />
Bud Cauley<br />
Alex Cejka<br />
Greg Chalmers<br />
Kevin Chappell<br />
Chad Collins<br />
Erik Compton<br />
Ben Crane<br />
Jon Curran<br />
Brendon de Jonge<br />
Bryson DeChambeau|<br />
Jamie Donaldson<br />
Luke Donald<br />
Ken Duke<br />
Ernie Els<br />
Derek Ernst<br />
Derek Fathauer<br />
Tony Finau<br />
Jim Furyk<br />
Robert Garrigus<br />
Brian Gay<br />
Lucas Glover<br />
Andres Gonzales<br />
Retief Goosen<br />
Jason Gore<br />
Branden Grace<br />
Chesson Hadley<br />
Adam Hadwin<br />
James Hahn<br />
Brian Harman<br />
Padraig Harrington<br />
Russell Henley<br />
J.J. Henry<br />
Charley Hoffman<br />
Morgan Hoffmann<br />
Tom Hoge<br />
J.B. Holmes<br />
John Huh<br />
Billy Hurley III<br />
Hiroshi Iwata<br />
Freddie Jacobson<br />
Zach Johnson<br />
Matt Jones<br />
Sung Kang<br />
Smylie Kaufman<br />
Jerry Kelly<br />
Michael Kim<br />
Si Woo Kim<br />
Whee Kim<br />
Patton Kizzire<br />
Soren Kjeldsen<br />
Colt Knost<br />
Russell Knox<br />
Brooks Koepka<br />
Jason Kokrak<br />
Kelly Kraft<br />
Matt Kuchar<br />
Martin Laird<br />
Andrew Landry<br />
D.H. Lee<br />
Marc Leishman<br />
Justin Leonard<br />
Spencer Levin<br />
Luke List<br />
Andrew Loupe<br />
Jamie Lovemark<br />
Shane Lowry<br />
Will Mackenzie<br />
Hunter Mahan<br />
Peter Malanti<br />
Steve Marino<br />
Ben Martin<br />
Lee McCoy<br />
George McNeill<br />
Troy Merritt<br />
Bryce Molder<br />
Francesco Molinari<br />
Ryan Moore<br />
Jordan Niebrugge<br />
Seung-Yul Noh<br />
Henrik Norlander<br />
Sean O’Hair<br />
Geoff Ogilvy<br />
Louis Oosthuizen<br />
Rob Oppenheim<br />
Carlos Ortiz<br />
Greg Owen<br />
Rod Pampling<br />
Tim Petrovic<br />
Martin Piller<br />
Scott Pinckney<br />
Ted Potter, Jr.<br />
Dicky Pride<br />
Jon Rahm<br />
Adam Rainaud<br />
Chez Reavie<br />
Patrick Reed<br />
Kyle Reifers<br />
Wes Roach<br />
Patrick Rodgers<br />
Rory Sabbatini<br />
Sam Saunders<br />
John Senden<br />
Robby Shelton<br />
Webb Simpson<br />
Vijay Singh<br />
Heath Slocum<br />
Cameron Smith<br />
Scott Stallings<br />
Kyle Stanley<br />
Brendan Steele<br />
Shawn Stefani<br />
Brett Stegmaier<br />
Darron Stiles<br />
Kevin Streelman<br />
Chris Stroud<br />
Brian Stuard<br />
Daniel Summerhays<br />
Hudson Swafford<br />
Nick Taylor<br />
Vaughn Taylor<br />
Justin Thomas<br />
Michael Thompson<br />
Brendon Todd<br />
David Toms<br />
Tyrone Van Aswegen<br />
Dawie van der Walt<br />
Camilo Villegas<br />
Johnson Wagner<br />
Bubba Watson<br />
Boo Weekley<br />
Steve Wheatcroft<br />
Tim Wilkinson<br />
Mark Wilson<br />
Four available spots for Monday’s Open qualifierJoe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-10226446083727397802016-07-28T17:02:00.003-04:002016-07-28T17:02:52.924-04:00Travelers adds three more golfers ranked inside the top 30 worldwideThe Travelers Championship landed three more golfers inside the top 30 a day before the deadline to commit for this year’s Travelers Championship.<br />
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Branden Grace is the highest ranked of the three golfers, currently at No. 12. The South African won his first PGA Tour event at the RBC Heritage in April. He had top-five performances in the U.S. Open each of the last two years. Grace is making his second straight appearance at the Travelers, missing the cut last year.<br />
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Brooks Koepka tied for 51st in his only other appearance in the Travelers Championship in 2014. He has moved up to No. 18 in the world rankings and has a pair of second-place finishes on the tour this season.<br />
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Shane Lowry, ranked 28th, became a recognizable name once he led the U.S. Open heading into the final round before finishing second to Dustin Johnson last month. Lowry won the 2015 Bridgestone Invitational.<br />
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Those three join Bubba Watson (ranked sixth), Patrick Reed (14), Louis Oosthuizen (15), Matt Kuchar (17), Zach Johnson (20), Jim Furyk (22) and Paul Casey (30) at the Travelers, which will be held Aug. 4-7 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.<br />
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Also Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau received two of the six sponsor’s exemptions the tournament is giving out this year. The deadline for golfers to commit to play is tonight.Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-13583625597220339602016-07-27T19:05:00.001-04:002016-07-27T19:05:49.056-04:00Adam Rainaud ties course record, wins Connecticut Open by 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TkpbnG_HY64/V5k9U-cWALI/AAAAAAAAAL4/0hUBuDlYICgvA5uhdDmmAyzXp3G-T5duQCLcB/s1600/Rainaud%2B16%2BOpenn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TkpbnG_HY64/V5k9U-cWALI/AAAAAAAAAL4/0hUBuDlYICgvA5uhdDmmAyzXp3G-T5duQCLcB/s400/Rainaud%2B16%2BOpenn.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>DARIEN >></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Adam Rainaud (above) felt the pain in his back after his second shot in the second round of the 82nd Connecticut Open on Tuesday.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He ended up lying flat on his back on the second hole at Woodway Country Club. Rainaud even considered withdrawing. With a precious spot in the Travelers Championship next week, who would have faulted him to get healthy for that tournament instead?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“On the second hole (Tuesday), it got really bad,” Rainaud said. “I don’t want to keep pushing it, hurt it worse and not be able to play next week. I’m lucky it was really hot (weather-wise) this week.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By the turn, Rainaud already trailed the leader, who happened to be his playing partner, Cody Paladino, by 10 shots. He kept playing and was within six when the second round ended.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then Rainaud went out and tied the course record Wednesday, posting a 6-under-par 65, one of only five rounds under par among 41 golfers. The round was good enough for a five-shot victory, Rainaud’s first Connecticut Open championship.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m 30 years old, played in a total of 15 state opens, I now live in Chester, I’ve worked at Black Hall (in Old Lyme) for six years,so this feels like my home state Open,” said Rainaud, a Massachusetts native. “I pulled a muscle I hope is what I did. It was hurting really bad. I had to take a few Advil. Since the second hole (Tuesday), I didn’t hit one shot that in my head that was over 70 percent (swing rotation).”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rainaud pocketed $12,500 for the win. He made six birdies (1, 4, 6, 12, 13, 16) and no bogeys to to shoot 7-under 206 for 54 holes and become the first active member of the Connecticut Section PGA to win the Open since Jim St. Pierre in 2002 at New Haven CC.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It’s more 27 holes. He was even (par) on the front (Tuesday). He played 11-under for 27 holes. That’s remarkable. Adam is an awesome player and I’m happy for him,” Paladino said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rainaud tied the course record set by Mike Ballo Jr. in 2014. Ballo, a member at Woodway CC, trailed Paladino by eight shots heading into the third round, but shot 68 to vault into that tie for second place with Corey Birch, who was playing in his first professional tournament.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rainaud played six groups ahead of Paladino, who went bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie on holes 8-11 to stand at 6-under for the tournament, tied with Rainaud, who was through 15.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then Paladino, the defending champion, made three consecutive bogeys on 12 through 14 to fall out of the mix. He shot a 77 to finish tied for fourth place with Anthony Casalino, the first-round leader, at 1-under 212.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“It doesn’t change my thinking on how I’m playing right now. I had a bad day at the wrong time,” Paladino said. “We don’t have enough hours in the day to talk about all the disappointment, quote-unquote, that I’ve had in my golf career. But I’ve also had a lot of thrills and a lot of success. Every time that I have a disappointment, I always come back twice as strong.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frank Bensel and Jeff Curl played together in the penultimate group, combining to have won five of the last 10 Connecticut Open titles. Neither could get anything going Wednesday, combining to shoot 7-over and tie for sixth place (213).</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While Rainaud had already secured his spot in the Travelers Championship, a number of golfers had entered the tournament’s pre-qualifier which was held Wednesday at Ellington Ridge CC - an approximate 90-minute drive from Woodway CC.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Among those racing up to Ellington were Paladino, Curl, Shaun Powers (tie for eighth at the Open), Zach Zaback (T8), John Flaherty (T8), Greg Reilly (T15), Blake Morris (T17) and Jordan Gosler (T34). The only one to withdraw was Birch, who played in the final group with Paladino.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The top 40 and ties advanced to Monday’s final stage of qualifying, also at Ellington Ridge CC.</span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-db4fd5ae-2e96-f367-fd6e-cdb45a6d8625" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>82nd CONNECTICUT OPEN</b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>(at Woodway CC, Darien)</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Final results</b></span></div>
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</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Adam Rainaud (Black Hall Club), 75-66-65-206; Mike Ballo Jr. (Woodway CC), 71-72-68-211; Corey Birch (Silver Spring VCC), 71-66-74-211; Cody Paladino (Wethersfield CC), 67-68-77-212; Anthony Casalino (Innis Arden GC), 66-75-71-212; Frank Bensel (Century CC), 72-67-74-213; Jeff Curl (Cedar Knob GC), 72-66-75-213; Shaun Powers (Fairview CC), 73-76-66-215; John Flaherty (TPC River Highlands), 71-73-71-215; Bobby Gage (Candlewood Valley CC), 74-70-71-215; Zach Zaback (TPC River Highlands), 76-66-73-215; Pete Ballo (Woodway CC), 72-69-74-215; Dan Balin (Burning Tree CC), 71-69-77-217; William Street (Whitney Farms GC), 68-71-78-217; Dave Giulietti (GC of Avon), 74-75-69-218; Greg Reilly (CC of Darien), 69-72-77-218; Jim Smith (CC of Waterbury), 75-74-70-219; Ryan Leahey (Glastonbury Hills CC), 73-74-72-219; Max Theodorakis (Ridgewood CC), 73-73-73-219; Blake Morris (CC of Waterbury), 75-71-73-219; Johnny Patridge (Course at Yale), 77-68-74-219; Geoff Gelderman (Tashua Knolls GC), 72-70-77-219.</span></div>
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<br />Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-45314461658463117272016-07-26T21:50:00.002-04:002016-07-26T21:50:55.382-04:00Paladino leads CT Open by two heading into final round<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ixMzpcm6UOQ/V5gS_K4_LxI/AAAAAAAAALg/1PYY9GkDd6MgpQ_NTQM31x8r_MNj_zd7gCLcB/s1600/Paladino%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ixMzpcm6UOQ/V5gS_K4_LxI/AAAAAAAAALg/1PYY9GkDd6MgpQ_NTQM31x8r_MNj_zd7gCLcB/s400/Paladino%2B2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>DARIEN >></b> That name is there once again, staring the other competitors in the 82nd Connecticut Open square in the face.<br />
<br />
You expect Frank Bensel’s name to be atop the leaderboard in the state’s second-biggest golf tournament behind the Travelers Championship. In his last six appearances, Bensel has done no worse than a tie for seventh place and won the event three times.<br />
<br />
But despite shooting a 4-under-par 67 to get into contention, Bensel still trails the leader by four. That would be the defending champion - Cody Paladino - who posted a 68 for a two-shot lead heading into today’s final round.<br />
<br />
“I had a lot of really good (birdie) chances I didn’t convert on, but I hit the ball exceptionally well and that’s kind of the most important thing,” Paladino said.<br />
<br />
Corey Birch, who just turned pro this week and finished second in the State Amateur last month, fired a 5-under 66 to stand two behind Paladino.<br />
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“It will be fun. I’m excited,” Birch said about the final round. “I’m doing a good job at hitting the reset button after every shot and hole.”<br />
<br />
Jeff Curl, a former two-time champion himself, also shot 66 while playing with Birch. He is third all alone 4-under 138. He will play with Bensel today in the penultimate group. Whitney Farms GC head pro Billy Street is tied for fourth with Bensel at 139.<br />
<br />
Paladino is looking to become the first player to repeat since 2005-06 by Shelton native Nick Cook - Paladino’s playing partner the first two rounds.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.ghintpp.com/csgalinks/TPPOnlineScoring/ResultsStroke.aspx?id=532">CONNECTICUT OPEN SCORES</a>Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-82576426982882505652016-07-25T19:35:00.000-04:002016-07-25T19:35:28.214-04:00Casalino leads Paladino by 1 in weather-delayed CT Open<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>DARIEN >></b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Cody Paladino enjoyed the idea of being the defending champion at the 82nd Connecticut Open. But once his round began at 9 a.m. Monday morning, it was all business.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Focusing all my time and energy being the defending champion is not going to get me anywhere this week,” Paladino said. “It’s cool, it’s wonderful, I’m excited, thrilled to have won the Connecticut Open one year ago.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After Paladino, a Berlin resident, bogeyed the 10th hole, his first of the day, he made five birdies en route to an opening-round 67 at Woodway Country Club to trail leader Anthony Casalino by one shot.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I spent my time preparing, not just physically, but mentally for that moment I got on the 10th tee this morning,” Paladino said.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paladino, 27 is coming off a tie for 13th place at the Bangor Open in Maine this past weekend. He bounced back after his opening bogey Monday with a birdie on No. 11, then more birdies at 16, 2, 3 and 8 to vault into second place.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">William Street, the former assistant pro at New Haven CC, is alone in third with a 68. Four players, Dan Balin, Corey Birch, Jordan Gosler and Kyle Baehler, are all tied at even-par 71.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A thunderstorm delayed play for an hour and 16 minutes Monday afternoon. Lightning forced play to be suspended for the day at 6:16 p.m.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Half the field did not complete play. Play will resume at 8 a.m. today. The last groups have 11 holes to finish.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tee times for the second round will begin no earlier than 9:30 a.m. The last tee time will go off at approximately 4:10 p.m. - assuming no more weather postponements.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jay Crowley, an amateur out of the Round Hill Club in Greenwich, is the leader on the course, 2-under through 12 holes. John Roberts, Mike Ballo Jr. and Greg Reilly are all at 1-under on the course.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-f6decff0-2465-10b9-077c-e1963af74d84"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>87TH CONNECTICUT OPEN</b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>(at Woodway CC, Darien)</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>First round (partially complete)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anthony Casalino (Innis Arden GC), 66; Cody Paladino (Wethersfield CC), 67; William Street (Whitney Farms GC), 68; Dan Balin (Burning Tree CC), 71; Jordan Gosler (Manchester CC), 71; Corey Birch (Silver Spring CC), 71; Kyle Baehler (Willow Ridge CC), 71; Pete Ballo (Woodway CC), 72; Jeff Curl (Cedar Knob GC), 72; Wally Gonzalez (Golf Performance Center), 73; Max Theodorakis (Ridgewood CC), 73; John Jackopsic (Gillette Ridge GC), 73; Dave Szewczul (Tunxis Plantation CC), 73; Paul Pastore (Middlesex EClub), 74; Dave Giuletti (GC of Avon), 74; Dave LaPierre (Tekoa CC), 74; Bobby Gage (Candlewood Valley CC), 74; Nick Cook (Tashua Knolls GC), 74; Brian Lamberti (Richter Park GC), 74.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-13831414441947827972016-07-24T22:11:00.002-04:002016-07-24T22:11:27.390-04:00Els, Kuchar, Goosen coming to play Travelers next weekTwo players with six combined major championships and a member of the current U.S. Olympic men’s golf team have committed to play in the Travelers Championship Aug. 4-7.<br />
<br />
Ernie Els brings his 19 PGA Tour victories, including two wins each in the U.S. Open and Open Championship, back to TPC River Highlands for a third time. Now 46, Els was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.<br />
<br />
Matt Kuchar is one of four members from the United States to participate in the men’s golf portion of the Olympics in August. Kuchar is currently ranked 17th in the world golf rankings, has seven tour wins and is making his ninth trip to the Travelers.<br />
<br />
Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen is making his third appearance at the Travelers, tying for fifth in 2010.Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-27326969008177222352016-07-24T22:07:00.003-04:002016-07-24T22:07:43.561-04:00Paladino set to defend Connecticut Open title<img alt="Cody Paladino kisses the championship trophy from last year’s Connecticut Open." height="300" src="http://image.nhregister.com/storyimage/NH/20160723/SPORTS/160729773/AR/0/AR-160729773.jpg&maxh=400&maxw=667" width="400" /><br />
<br />
Cody Paladino (above) may be playing even better golf now than he was going into last year’s Connecticut Open championship.<br />
<br />
<br />
That’s good news for the defending champion and bad news for
everyone else at the 82nd Connecticut Open begins Monday at Woodway
Country Club in Darien.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“It’s going to be wonderful to defend. It’s going to be wonderful
if I do defend,” Paladino said. “Getting there knowing one year ago I
had a breakthrough week, I still need to treat it as just another week.
If I spend all my time focusing on what I did a year ago, I will lose
track of what I’m really supposed to be doing out there.”<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nhregister.com/sports/20160723/connecticut-golf-notes-cody-paladino-set-to-defend-ct-open-crown">MORE ABOUT PALADINO'S TITLE DEFENSE AND OTHER NEWS AND NOTES</a>Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-11350149815955421162016-07-21T20:43:00.000-04:002016-07-21T20:43:00.098-04:00Turner rallies to win New England Amateur by 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NbTHK7v5Tzs/V5Fq-p78WPI/AAAAAAAAALI/xI_8f-JZnPQbzIf3UA_3mUPbSn9ww0S1wCLcB/s1600/NE%2BAmateur.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NbTHK7v5Tzs/V5Fq-p78WPI/AAAAAAAAALI/xI_8f-JZnPQbzIf3UA_3mUPbSn9ww0S1wCLcB/s400/NE%2BAmateur.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>WEST HARTFORD >></b> Things were not looking too promising for Massachusetts native James Turner (above) at the 87th New England Amateur on Wednesday.<br />
<br />
Through 23 holes nearing the midway point of his second round, Turner stood at 5-over-par. “I was 11 (shots) back. I knew I had to start turning things around,” he said.<br />
<br />
There was still plenty of time to make up ground. He made four birdies to complete his second round, then shot 3-under 67 in the third round on Thursday to move into contention. The final round Thursday afternoon turned into the best moment of Turner’s young career.<br />
<br />
The 18 year old fired a 5-under-65 at The Hartford Golf Club to win the New England Amateur by five strokes over five golfers. Turner finished with a four-round total of 7-under-par 273.<br />
<br />
“There are a lot of guys here capable of shooting the same scores I did,” Turner said. “It was just my day. The putts dropped for me.”<br />
<br />
Turner was tied with Ryan Tombs with nine holes left. Then Turner went eagle-par-birdie-birdie to move out in front by five strokes.<br />
<br />
“With a five-shot lead, I was trying not to make any big numbers coming in,” Turner said.<br />
<br />
Two bogeys on his final four holes didn’t matter. Tombs couldn’t keep pace, finishing in that five-way tie for second place that included Zach Zaback, Geoff Vartelas, Bobby Leopold and Matt Paradis.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>87th NEW ENGLAND AMATEUR</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>(at The Hartford GC)</b></div>
James Turner (Mass.), 73-68-67-65-273; Zach Zaback (TPC River Highlands), 72-71-69-66-278; Geoff Vartelas (Lyman Orchards GC), 68-71-71-68-278; Bobby Leopold (RI), 68-73-69-68-278; Matthew Paradis (NH), 72-68-69-69-278; Ryan Tombs (NH), 72-67-67-72-278; Christopher Gentle (Mass.), 73-67-68-72-280; Davis Chatfield (RI), 71-72-71-67-281; Matt Hutchins (Maine), 69-73-70-69-281; Chet Hrostek (GC at Oxford Greens), 71-69-72-69-281; Brad Valois (RI), 69-67-74-71-281; Max Theodorakis (Ridgewood CC), 69-69-71-72-281; Logan Broyles (VT), 68-69-71-73-281; Garren Poirier (VT), 72-71-70-69-282; John Flaherty (TPC River Highlands), 75-66-71-70-282; Brian Carlson (Clinton CC), 67-76-67-72-282; Matt Parziale (Mass.), 75-69-71-68-283; Peter French (Mass.), 70-72-70-71-283; Monte Mullen (TPC River Highlands), 72-68-71-72-283.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Other state finishers</b></div>
Rasmey Kong (Eclub of New Haven), 74-70-67-73-284; Brian Ahern (Wampanoag CC), 72-69-69-74-284; Eric Dietrich (The Farms CC), 75-69-71-70-285; Corey Birch (Silver Spring CC), 71-71-70-73-285; Nick Harrington (The GC of Windham), 71-71-70-75-287; Kyle Buschmann (Middlesex Eclub), 69-73-73-73-288; Gabe Van Ness (Clinton CC), 72-72-76-71-291.Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034512426102935452.post-60936119278698984742016-07-21T13:01:00.000-04:002016-07-21T13:01:37.593-04:00Thomas, DeChambeau among latest coming to play Travelers Championship<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Travelers Championship secured four more commitments with just over a week remaining before its deadline. All four could be an important part of the PGA Tour’s future.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Justin Thomas’s first tournament as a professional was the 2013 Travelers Championship,. Where he tied for 30th place. He is now currently ranked 39th in the world rankings thanks to four top-10 finishes this season, including his first PGA Tour victory at the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2015 CIMB Classic last fall.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Patrick Rodgers made his pro debut at the 2014 Travelers Championship, tying for 46th place. He missed the cut as an amateur in the 2012 event. Rodgers has seven top-25 finishes on tour this season.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bryson DeChambeau won the U.S. Amateur and NCAA Division I championship in 2015, then tied for 21st at the Masters in April, his final event as an amateur. DeChambeau, who is making his first appearance at the Travelers, tied for 15th at the U.S. Open last month.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jon Rahm tied for 64th as an amateur at last year’s Travelers. A native of Spain, Rahm turned professional after finishing tied for 23rd at the U.S. Open. His first event as a pro, he tied for third at the Quicken Loans Invitational. He is the only person to win the Ben Hogan Award twice as an amateur.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-af1a7f78-0e5c-c4cb-e164-a327168b6e53"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Golfers have until July 29 to decide if they will play in this year’s Travelers Championship, which will be held Aug. 4-7 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.</span></span>Joe Morellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08369272609911506652noreply@blogger.com0