(February 22, 2023) – Another exciting Connecticut State Golf Association season is just months away and this year the championship schedule includes stops at the Country Club of Darien, Rolling Hills Country Club, Shuttle Meadow Country Club, and Keney Park Golf Course among numerous others.
“We have a really exciting slate of venues in 2023,” said Director of Operations, Rules & Competitions Ryan Hoffman. “2023 will feature some repeat venues, some new venues but overall a really solid test of championship golf.”
The 2023 CSGA major championship season begins with the 20th Russell C. Palmer Cup presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop. This year the premier stroke play event of the season will return to the Country Club of Waterbury from May 15-16 where Cody Paladino will seek to defend his title.
2023 CSGA Championship Schedule
“The CC of Waterbury is honored and humbled to be a historic host of the Russell C. Palmer Cup,” head professional Brad Lusenhop said. “We look forward to continuing our relationship with the CSGA and hosting this great event.”
2023 will be the 13th time that the CC of Waterbury has hosted the Russell C. Palmer Cup.
A busy month of June will begin with the 24th Connecticut Women’s Open presented by Crescent Point Private Wealth. The championship will be contested at Rolling Hills Country Club from June 5-6. This year will mark the second time that Rolling Hills CC has hosted the event, last doing so in 2002 when Suzy Whaley earned the final of her three consecutive tournament titles. Last year amateur Alexsandra Lapple won the title in a playoff.
The following week from June 12-16 the 121st Connecticut Amateur will be held at the Country Club of Darien for the first time since 1997.
“It goes without saying it is a privilege to host the Connecticut Amateur. About 10 years ago we created a long-range plan for hosting major events and part of that plan was making some pretty dramatic improvements to the facility. We have made improvements club-wide,” 13-year head professional Cory Muller said. “This will be the first championship with all of the improvements complete. The final bunkering was sodded in February and I think the master plan is a transformation of the property. It took time. It took years.”
This year marks the second time in the last three years that the CC of Darien will be hosting a CSGA major after welcoming the 2021 Connecticut Open. A major part of the storyline during the 2021 Connecticut Open was the run made by Ben Carpenter. Playing on his home course Carpenter nearly won the title coming up a few shots short. However, this year he will be looking to defend his Connecticut Amateur title on a course he knows well after winning an epic 37-hole title match last year against Rick Dowling. The CC of Darien is also the home course of 2022 Connecticut Junior Amateur winner Will Lodge.
June will be rounded out by the 17th Senior Match Play Championship presented by Middlesex Health. Dave Jones will look to defend his title at Black Hall Club from June 26-29.
“Black Hall is a course where patience pays off in match play,” head professional Andrew Campbell explained. “Aggressive play is typically not rewarded as the smaller landing areas off the tee and sloping greens don’t equate to birdies for a risk taker. Bogeys happen and if you are down in a match, just be patient, pars will win many holes.”
For the first time since 1978, the Connecticut Junior Amateur will have a new home. This year the 82nd edition along with the 2nd Connecticut Girls’ Junior will be played at Fairview Farm Golf Course.
“Being able to call Fairview Farm the host facility for the 2023 Connecticut Junior Amateur and the Connecticut Girls’ Junior is a great honor,” head professional Jim Bunel stated. “Being able to showcase the best junior golfers our state has to offer is an opportunity we look forward to as not just a golf staff, but also as a community.”
The Connecticut Junior Amateur will be contested from July 10-13 while the Connecticut Girls’ Junior will be played on July 11-12. Yvette O’Brien won the inaugural Connecticut Girls’ Junior in 2022.
The following week on July 17-18 the 58th Connecticut Women’s Amateur will return to Tashua Knolls Golf Course for a second consecutive year. Last year Meghan Mitchell overcame back injuries to win the title for the second time.
“My staff and I understand how important it is to grow the game for women and kids, especially girls,” Tashua Knolls head professional Bobby Brown responded when asked how excited the club was to host the event for a second consecutive year. “Our organized clubs and students love seeing the events at Tashua. They are always willing to play, volunteer, or do just about anything to make any event a success at Tashua. It’s just the Tashua culture.”
Up next is the 89th Connecticut Open presented by GSB at Shuttle Meadow Country Club slated for July 24-26. Shuttle Meadow CC, hosting the Connecticut Open for the fourth time in club history, was a regular host of the championship in the early days of the event hosting two of the first six championships but hasn’t served as the host since 1954.
“The club is very excited to host the Connecticut Open and we look forward to providing a great experience for all who visit during the event,” head professional Ian Marshall said. “Shuttle Meadow provides a unique layout masterfully designed by Willie Park, Jr. and this year we are kicking off our 125th anniversary of the founding of the club in 1899.”
Peter Ballo will try to become the first player since Ed Sabo to earn three consecutive Connecticut Open victories. Sabo accomplished the feat from 1981-1983.
July will conclude and August will begin with the 54th Borck Junior at The Patterson Club. Last year Cameron Besaw and Laniah Moffett claimed the titles. This year the tournament will be held from July 31-August 2.
The 38th Connecticut Public Links will head to first-time host Keney Park Golf Course from August 7-8 with Mark Eells looking to defend his title. Chief golf operations manager Ralph Salito said of hosting the event, “it makes us proud to welcome the best of all public facility players to Keney Park and to see how we rate by them.”
At the Country Club of Farmington from August 29-30, Rick Dowling will be looking to become the first player since Bill Hermanson, who won four straight, to capture three consecutive Connecticut Mid-Amateur titles.
“We enjoy having a strong relationship with the CSGA and are happy to host events for the organization, they are one of the leaders in golf,” head professional Jeremy Vitkauskas said of hosting the 36th Connecticut Mid-Amateur. “It is also interesting to see how golfers react to playing our course since they do not see it on a daily basis. Our membership has been a big supporter of CSGA events and enjoys seeing how well the course holds up.”
The CSGA major season will conclude with Dave Szewczul defending his title at the 78th Connecticut Senior Amateur set to be played at Silver Spring Country Club on October 2-3. This year will mark the fourth time Silver Spring CC has welcomed the championship however it will be the first time that the club has been the lone host. All previous trips to the club for the Senior Amateur were in tandem with another club. The championship first came to Silver Spring in 1973 and was most recently played at the club in 1995.
“Hosting a CSGA event at Silver Spring CC is an honor,” head professional Patrick Langan expressed. “The entire club from the membership to the staff is so proud of our facility and the chance to showcase how special it is to the rest of the state.”
The remainder of the 2023 CSGA championship schedule will include:
- Two Man Championship (May 8, Black Hall Club)
- 87th Father & Son Championship (July 6, Watertown Golf Club)
- 4th Parent Child Championship (July 20, Goodwin Park Golf Course)
- 86th Mixed Team Championship (August 3, Race Brook Country Club)
- 42nd Senior Four-Ball (August 16, The Golf Club at Oxford Greens)
- 83rd Connecticut Four-Ball Championship (August 24, Wallingford Country Club)
- 27th Super Senior Championship (August 28, Longshore Golf Club)
- 18th Tournament of Champions (September 26, Bull’s Bridge Golf Club)
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut State Golf Association 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.
