Hebron, Connecticut (August 8, 2022) – Playing on his home course Mark Eells fired a 4-under 68 to take the first round lead at the 37th Connecticut Public Links Championship at Blackledge Country Club. Eells will carry a one-stroke lead over Mike Carey into Tuesday’s final round.
“I started working [at Blackledge CC] when was 16 years old and I grew up five minutes down the road,” Eells said. “This place is home. I met my wife here. So just being around here makes this place feel like home. I am excited to be in contention.”
1-over after an early bogey Eells, a member of the UConn women’s basketball practice team during their 2015 title winning season, took advantage of his home course knowledge on the par-5 fourth. Facing a daunting tee shot with trouble along the left side of the fairway Eells hit his tee shot out to the right leaving himself 225 yards into the well protected sunken green. With a 5 iron in hand, Eells purred his second shot landing it 10 feet from the pin and when he rolled in the ensuing eagle putt he was 1-under for the day and in red figures to stay.
Midway through Eells round a thunderstorm rolled through suspending play for 90 minutes and when play resumed Eells was ready to attack the softened greens. Still 1-under the former RHAM High School basketball player and golfer converted birdies on Nos. 14, 15, and 17 to sprint to the top of the leaderboard.
“I have been playing in CSGA events for a long time and I feel like I have been patient and trying to wait for my opportunity,” said Eells following his round.
Mike Carey (East Hartford GC) playing alongside Eells carded a 3-under 69 and will begin the final round in second place. Carey, the winner of last year’s Father Son Championship, birdied the first two holes before falling back to 1-over following a double-bogey and a bogey. Unfazed Carey quickly rebounded with a birdie on the par-5 ninth to move back to even-par and then shot a bogey-free 3-under 33 on the back nine that included birdies on Nos. 12, 14, and 17.
Two shots back in a tie for third place at 2-under are 2021 Tettelbach Open Division One Day Player of the Year Chris Maxwell (Tunxis CC) and Josh Cameron (EClub of Connecticut) while five players share fifth place at 1-under. The fifth place group includes Keith Salamon (Tunxis CC), Will Nelson (Stanley GC), 2015 winner Chet Hrostek (EClub of Connecticut), Jake Ivan-Pal (Great River GC), and last year’s runner-up Peter Tomlinson (Orange Hills CC).
The final round of the 37th Connecticut Public Links Championship will begin at 7:30 a.m. with all 32 players that made the cut starting the day within six shots of the lead.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Public Links is one of 20 championships conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association. The CSGA functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
