(February 7, 2021) – The CSGA Women's Major Championship calendar, as part of the 2021 CSGA Women's Series, has been set. In June the Connecticut Women's Open, scheduled to be played at the Black Hall Club will return after a one-year Covid related hiatus while the Connecticut Women's Amateur will head to Race Brook Country Club in late July.
“We are really pleased to have two exceptional venues in Black Hall and Race Brook as hosts to our Connecticut Women's Open and Connecticut Women's Amateur,” said Marsha Rupp, CSGA Director of Women's Golf & Client Services. “Players and supporters of women's golf in Connecticut have much to look forward to in 2021.”
After being canceled due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions in 2020, the Women’s Open will be played on June 7-8. “We are super proud to be hosting the Connecticut Women’s Open,” said Black Hall Head Professional Andrew Campbell. “It is valued as the biggest women’s golf event in the state and we have always been supportive of women’s golf both locally and statewide.”
The Connecticut Women's Open was last played in 2019 at Brooklawn Country Club with Loretta Giovannettone capturing the title. Last year's championship had been scheduled to be played at Rockrimmon Country Club.
Black Hall Club, annually the host of the Two Man Championship, was designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1967. Over the years Black Hall has hosted numerous USGA qualifiers, Connecticut Amateurs, Connecticut Mid-Amateurs, and Connecticut Opens.
“I expect the conditions to be terrific. [In June] the course is going to play just as it should in terms of its design,” said Campbell. “Depending on what length the course is played at, it should be a fun test for all the players.”
Players will be challenged from their opening tee shot until their final putt. The par-71 layout saves some of its most challenging holes for the home stretch including the long par-4 15th. A dogleg right, the hole requires two of a player's best shots. Players will face a tight landing zone off the tee before hitting their approach shots into an elevated, two-tier green that is well guarded by bunkers. Any shots going long will run off the steep bank forcing players to pitch back up the hill.
“The course is a formidable test of golf and will demand strong shot-making and mental toughness from our field of top tier women professionals, senior women professionals, and amateurs from around the country,” said Rupp.
Race Brook Country Club in Orange will welcome the 56th Connecticut Women's Amateur on July 20-21. In 2020 Sophia Sarrazin won at Fairview Farm Golf Course firing the lone subpar round of the tournament in the final round to win by four shots over Jen Holland.
Founded in 1912 and opened in 1913, Race Brook was designed by Robert D. Pryde and is celebrated as one of the oldest private clubs in the state. In 2012 Race Brook celebrated its 100th Anniversary and as part of the club's celebration hosted its fifth Connecticut Amateur. Race Brook has also hosted the Connecticut Open, New England Amateur, New England Senior Amateur, and the Connecticut PGA Championship.
Race Brook holds a prominent place in women's golf history. Pat O'Sullivan Lucey joined the club in 1942 as a junior member and used Race Brook as a springboard to a decorated playing career. In 1947 O'Sullivan Lucey won the first of her 10 Connecticut Women's Golf Association Match Play titles. She captured the first three Connecticut Women's Amateur championships from 1966-1968, won three New England Championships, and represented the United States on the 1952 Curtis Cup team. She also played on the LPGA Tour where she won the 1951 Titleholders Championship. In 1967 she was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame, and in 2009 Race Brook named its “inside nine” the “O'Sullivan” in her honor.
Race Brook Country Club Course Tour
A par-71, the Race Brook layout starts with one of the more difficult holes on the course, a long downhill par-4 that requires players to hit the left side of the fairway. The second, a par-3 over water features one of the most severely sloped greens in Connecticut. Players then get a bit of a breather with two par-5's on the 3rd and 5th holes. On the back nine, players will need to get their scoring done on the first few holes before holding on down the stretch.
“Race Brook is a natural fit for the Connecticut Women's Amateur,” says Rupp. “with its focus on developing girls golf under LPGA Teaching and Club Professional, Jennifer Barnsley. The Amateur includes four divisions, from Juniors to Super Seniors, and showcases a multi-generational field of teenagers to veteran senior players competing for those titles and the overall Championship.”
Two additional Championships make up the 2021 CSGA Women's Series, the 84th Mixed Team Championship which will be held at Mill River Country Club on Monday, August 23rd, and the second playing of the Parent Child Championship, with a venue soon to be announced.
