Oxford, Connecticut (May 9, 2022) – The Golf Club at Oxford Greens is a difficult course in any conditions. Add in winds at 20-30 mph and it becomes survival of the fittest. On Monday 64 golfers battled the conditions in U.S. Open Local Qualifying with the goal of advancing to Final Qualifying on June 6 and eventually to the 122nd U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
When the dust had settled it was two-time reigning Dick Tettlebach Player of the Year Cody Paladino that was left standing alone atop the leaderboard as the medalist. Paladino fired a 1-over 73 that he said felt like a 64 to finish one shot in front of UConn sophomore Caleb Manuel and Boston College junior Nick Cummings both of whom finished 2-over. The fourth and final qualifying spot went to Walker Lohrey in four extra holes while Eric Dietrich and David Lane earned the first and second alternate spots.
“The Golf Club of Oxford Greens is a very difficult course in any condition,” said Paladino who is heading to U.S. Open Final Qualifying for the fifth time. “In my opinion, it has to be one of the toughest in the state when you consider the length and also the green complexes. I knew the scores would be high, I just kept thinking even-par would be a great score.”
Paladino hung around even-par all day long. He began his day with seven pars before rolling in a birdie on the 570 yard par-5 8th. A bogey on No. 9 did follow but he made the turn in a comfortable even-par 36.
On the back nine Paladino continued his steady play as he bogeyed just twice while birdieing once. His lone birdie of the back nine proved to be the highlight of the day. Faced with a difficult two-putt from 55 feet on the 457 yard par-4 14th the 33-year-old calmly rolled in the long birdie putt to return his score to level par for the day.
“I’d say my biggest strength is hitting the ball low with very little spin, so I just trusted those shots today and found a way to hit most of the greens,” explained Paladino. “I made some great two-putts from long range and the 55-footer for birdie on No. 14 was a big moment because I felt like from there, I could just stick to making pars coming down the stretch.”
Caleb Manuel, who was the co-champion of Big East Conference Championship at the beginning of the month fired a 2-over 74 that included four birdies, four bogeys, and a double-bogey. Manuel will be competing next week in the NCAA Regionals at the Yale Golf Course.
Nick Cummings carded his 2-over 74 thanks to a three birdie, three bogey, one double-bogey round. Cummings was able to secure his spot with a birdie on the par-5 17th.
Walker Lohrey earned his spot in the playoff with a 3-over 75 that included four birdies and seven bogeys. His birdies came on Nos. 2, 5, 10, and 14.
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.
