East Haddam, Connecticut (September 12, 2023) – Five players from Connecticut finished inside the top 10 at the 26th New England Senior Amateur hosted by Fox Hopyard Golf Club.
The best performance by a resident of the Nutmeg state was turned in by David Marshall (Quinnatisset CC) who finished 3-under and in second place. Marshall finished four shots behind Massachusett’s Keith Smith (-7).
Playing in his first New England Senior Amateur Marshall opened with a bogey-free 2-under 69 before signing for a 1-under 70 in the final round. For the week Marshall birdied five holes and only bogeyed twice. His only bogeys of the tournament came on Nos. 14 and 15 in his final round. He started the tournament with 29 holes of bogey-free golf and got as low as 5-under.
Eric Ashworth (Yale GC) carded the low round of the tournament in the final round with a stellar 5-under 66 on his way to a T7 showing. Ashworth opened with a 5-over 76 on a wet and stormy Monday before catching fire in the final round.
Ashworth, a 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur qualifier, began day two with a birdie on the opening hole and never looked back on his way to recording seven birdies against just two bogeys. The highlight of his round came late in the day when he recorded three birdies in a row on Nos. 15-17.
The Connecticut players in the top 10 were rounded out by Kris Lang (CC of Farmington), Dave Jones (Mohegan Sun GC), and Rick Malafronte (New Haven CC) all of whom finished 1-over in a tie for ninth. Malafronte played his way into the top 10 thanks to a final round 4-under 67.
In the Super Senior Division two Connecticut players finished in the top 10 with past champions Richard Stevens (EClub of Connecticut) and Dave Szewczul (TPC River Highlands) finishing 6-over in a tie for ninth.
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.
