(Ben James rolls in a birdie on #18 to shoot 68 in NE Junior first round)
August 13, 2018: Connecticut’s Junior Team of Alexander Gu, Ben James, Chris Fosdick, Connor Belcastro, Jackson Fretty, Justin Mathew and Matthew Doyle jumped out to a 17-stroke lead over Massachusetts after the first day of the 49th New England Junior Invitational on Monday at Longmeadow Country Club in Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
Conducted by the New England Golf Association, the Invitational brings together all six New England states each represented by seven junior golfers who have not yet reached their 19th birthday. Team scores are calculated by each state’s lowest five scores in each of the three rounds.
Monday’s play began with an 8:30am shotgun start and concluded some ten hours later with 36 of the scheduled 54 holes in the books.
Ben James of Milford leads all players after rounds of 68-70 over the 6,754 yard par 70 Longmeadow layout. Connecticut’s Chris Fosdick of Middlefield (68-72) is alone in second place at even par, and Cos Cob’s Jackson Fretty is tied for 3rd after round of 70 and 71.
Connecticut led by 15 shots over Rhode Island, and 21 over Massachusetts after the morning 18. Rhode Island stumbled in the afternoon and fell back another 10 strokes to fourth place, while Massachusetts picked up four to make Connecticut's margin 17 entering Tuesday’s final round.
Over the history of the New England Invitational, Connecticut and Massachusetts have dominated the competition with each state having claimed the title 15 times. Rhode Island is next with seven victories. Massachusetts has won the last two, and four of the last five. Connecticut’s last victory came in 2012.
For more information on the New England Junior Amateur Invitational visit:
http://www.negagolf.org/new-england-junior.html
