Old Lyme, Connecticut (June 27, 2023) – The field has been trimmed to eight at the 17th Connecticut Senior Match Play Championship presented by Middlesex Health.
A number of past champions began the day seeking to hoist the trophy once again but by the time the sunset on day two at Black Hall Club the only defending champion that remained was Dave Jones (Mohegan Sun GC).
Jones, the winner last year at Madison Country Club, played his way into the quarterfinals with a 2&1 win in the Round of 16 over 2021 champion Craig Platt (Mill River CC). With the match tied after five holes Jones won the par-4 fifth with a birdie and pushed his lead to 2 up on a couple of occasions only to have Platt win Nos. 14 and 15 to tie the match. Unfazed Jones responded winning the 16th and 17th holes to close out the match.
In the quarterfinals, he will square off against Mark Vassalotti (Sterling Farms Mens GC) who bested five-time winner Dave Szewczul (TPC River Highlands) to move on to the quarterfinals. In a rematch of the 2020 title match this time Vassalotti got the better of Szewczul with a 2&1 victory.
“Dave is tough to beat and he clearly got off to a little bit of a slow start,” said Vassalotti. “I’m not a big birdie machine but I make a lot of pars and I kept doing that so I think that put a little pressure on him.”
Vassalotti began putting the pressure on Szewczul, the medalist, with a victory on the opening hole. His lead was extended to 3 up through seven holes and he seemed to be in control. However, Szewczul attempted to make a run winning the par-4 eighth to cut into the deficit. With a little bit of momentum shifting to Szewczul, Vassalotti stepped to the tee on the par-3 ninth and grabbed back all the momentum stuffing his tee shot in tight and rolling in the birdie putt to restore his lead to 3 up.
“I would say (winning the ninth hole) clearly turned the momentum back in my favor,” Vassalotti said after his match.
Vassalotti then won the par-4 10th to take a 4-up lead before closing out the match on the par-3 17th.
The second quarterfinal will feature Glen Boggini (Manchester CC) and Jim Abbott (Timberlin GC). Boggini moved on with a 3&1 victory over Bill Hermanson (Black Hall Club). Boggini lost two of the first three holes and still trailed 1 down as they made the turn. On the back nine Boggini began to turn the tide with a victory to tie the match on No. 10 and then he took the lead with a par on the 12th. Once in the lead Boggini didn’t look back winning Nos. 16 and 17 to close out the match.
Abbott moved onto the quarterfinals with an impressive 5&3 win over Bob Jones (Silver Spring CC). Jones led early only to watch as Abbott flipped the match to lead 2 up at the turn. Abbott then won four of five holes early on the back nine to advance.
The highest remaining seed is two-seed Rick Malafronte (New Haven CC) who will take on Timothy Murray (Quinnatisset CC) in the quarterfinals.
Malafronte outlasted Matt Vukicevich (Great Neck CC) 1 up to move on. Vukicevich held an early 2-up lead that was erased by the turn. On the back nine, both players held the lead with Malafronte taking the lead for good with a victory on the par-4 16th.
Murray handled Dean Godek (Cedar Knob GC) 7&5 to keep his hopes alive. After tying the first two holes Murray won the third and then sprinted his way to a victory closing out the match with a birdie on the par-3 13th.
The final quarterfinal match will pit Dave Olender (Ellington CC) against Stuart Goldstein (Keney GC). Olender was in control of his Round of 16 duel against Matthew Damico (Mill River CC) leading 4 up after 14 holes before having to hold on for a 1 up victory. His par on the last was enough to close out the match.
Goldstein, a recent Siderowf Division One Day winner, moved on with a 5&4 win over Brian Geary (Madison CC). With a par to win the first hole Goldstein took a lead he would never relinquish. Geary tried to make a move winning the par-4 10th but that would be the only hole he would win all afternoon.
Play at the 17th Connecticut Senior Match Play Championship presented by Middlesex Health will continue on Wednesday with the quarterfinals and semifinals. The week will conclude on Thursday with the 18-hole championship match.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Senior Match Play 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.
