Waterbury, Connecticut (May 15, 2023) – The 2023 CSGA major championship season began on a brilliantly sunny and gusty day at the Country Club of Waterbury. On a day where par was a good score four players rose to the top of the leaderboard with 2-under 67s to share the opening day lead of the 20th Russell C. Palmer Cup presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop. The lead group includes Bradley Sawka (Ellington Ridge CC), Anthony Guerrera (Watertown GC), Connor Goode (Glastonbury Hills CC), and Ben Carpenter (CC of Darien).
Bradley Sawka, a senior at Ellington High School, was the first to post the lead score. Following a double-bogey on the par-4 second Sawka methodically worked his way back up the leaderboard. His first birdie came on No. 4 as he began to right the ship. After making the turn in 1-over 36 Sawka caught fire on the back nine.
The UConn commit converted a crucial 15-foot par save on the par-4 11th setting the stage for a 3-under sprint to the finish. Sawka’s run started with a birdie on No. 12 and then continued with a 20-foot birdie putt on the 240-yard par-3 14th. Sawka then birdied the ensuing hole for his third birdie in four holes before parring the final three holes.
“My game is a lot better than last year,” said Sawka who has never played in a CSGA stroke play major championship before. “Last year I struggled but I practiced a lot during the winter and made a big swing change and I felt pretty confident going into the tournament so hopefully I can keep it going tomorrow.”
Connor Goode, fresh off his first year playing for UConn, overcame a three-putt bogey on the first hole to turn in one of only six under-par rounds on the day. Goode didn’t waste long bouncing back from his bogey as he birdied Nos. 4, 5, and 9 to reach 2-under.
“I just tried to play smart golf,” Goode said. “I was talking to my caddie and we were going through good misses because these greens are fast. I honestly didn’t hit it that great, I missed a lot of greens but I was missing in correct spots.”
Last week’s Two Man Championship winner Anthony Guerrera played a steady round of golf with two birdies and no bogeys. His first birdie of the day, on the downhill par-3 3rd, was the highlight of the day for Guerrera. Faced with a difficult shot from the front of the green Guerrera converted the long-distance birdie to jump-start his round. His final birdie of the day came on the par-4 13th after he stuck his approach shot to three feet.
“I left a couple of shots out there but I struck the ball well. I hit the driver really well and the irons were decent and then the wedges finally came around. I am hoping I can carry the momentum forward to tomorrow,” explained Guerrera following his round.
The final member of the lead group is defending Connecticut Amateur champion Ben Carpenter. Playing in the last group Carpenter put together a largely stress-free round of golf that included five birdies and three bogeys.
“I came into the day without really any expectations,” the rising Yale junior said. “I haven’t played the course before and got in late last night after being away for Mother’s Day. But I found my driver off the tee today and hit it great and that helped me shoot a good number.”
Carpenters birdies came on Nos. 2, 4, 6, 9, and 13 with his first of the round proving to be the most crucial. Playing as the most difficult hole of the day Carpenter missed the fairway on the par-4 second with his drive and faced a difficult second shot. Trying to minimize the damage Carpenter struck it perfectly out of the rough and watched as the ball rolled to within four feet of the pin setting up an unlikely birdie.
“I know I gained a lot of shots on the field with that birdie,” Carpenter said.
The top five on day one was rounded out by Andrew Szandrocha (Indian Hill CC) and Kyle Bilodeau (Blackledge CC) who shot 1-under 68s to sit one off the lead.
Play at the 20th Russell C. Palmer Cup presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop will resume on Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. with the final round of the 54-hole championship to be played in the afternoon. The top-39 players and ties made the cut and advanced to the 36-hole final day.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Russell C. Palmer Cup presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop 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.
