August 13, 2012 – Williamstown, Mass.
At 6’4” and 210 pounds, Eddie Hill is by far the biggest player on the CSGA team competing in the New England Junior Championship at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown, Massachusetts. In Monday’s first two rounds, it was Hill’s outstanding play that was huge for Connecticut. He began the morning round by birdieing three of his first four holes en-route to a bogey-free, four-under par 67. He followed that effort with a solid round of 74 in the afternoon, and at 141, has the second lowest individual score in the championship that includes all six New England states.
“I hit my irons really well all day, and I putted well, too,” said the 17 year-old Watertown resident who plays out of Crestbrook Park Golf Course.
“For a big guy who smashes the ball, Eddie has very good hands and a nice touch around the greens,” said CSGA Executive Director, Mike Moraghan, who is acting as Team Captain for the junior team. “Taconic is a difficult golf course with all kinds of subtleties and challenges. For any kid to come out and play the way Eddie did is really impressive.”
The CSGA team of seven junior golfers opened up a 13 shot lead over Massachusetts after the morning round. Also contributing to the CSGA lead were Brian Butler (72), Eric Dietrich (73), Pat Hallisey (73) and Jason Hogan (74). The team score for each of the New England states is the best five of seven scores for each round.
In the afternoon session, Clinton Country Club’s Brian Carlson led the way for Connecticut with a 2-under par 69. Watertown Golf Club’s Hogan contributed a 1-under 70, Glastonbury Hills’ Evan Grenus shot 72, and Wampanoag’s Butler finished birdie-birdie for 73 to go along with Hill’s 74. The CSGA team picked up three more strokes on Massachusetts, and leads the tournament by 16 shots after 36 holes.
Hogan, who at 144 is alone in third place individually, also credited strong iron play for his afternoon round of 70. “I hit 16 out of 18 greens in regulation,” said Hogan, “I don’t think I’ve ever done that before.”
“One of the best things about today was that everyone contributed,” said Moraghan. “Brian and Evan didn’t count in the morning, and for those two guys to come back and shoot 69 and 72 in the afternoon was great, and it really helped the team.”
Vermont is in third place, nine shots behind Massachusetts, and twenty-five behind Connecticut. Rhode Island’s Will Dickson is the individual leader after rounds of 73-67. The final round begins at 8:00am on Tuesday.
