(May 12, 2022) – 128 teams are set to compete in the 2022 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball from May 14-18 at the Country Club of Birmingham in Alabama including three sides from Connecticut.
The championship will begin with two rounds of stroke play qualifying split between the West Course and East Course at the Country Club of Birmingham. Following two days of qualifying the top 32 teams will advance to match play with the remainder of the championship played on the West Course.
Here is a look at the teams that will be representing Connecticut:
Dan Murphy and Tim Murphy
Age: Dan (30); Tim (32)
Qualifying Site: Brooklawn Country Club
USGA Appearances: 3 (all three appearances as teammates in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball)
CSGA: What stands out most from qualifying?
Team Murphy: It was a special experience qualifying at Brooklawn CC, where we both grew up playing and where Brad Worthington taught us how to play golf. We made 14 birdies between the two of us, which was helpful to the cause.
It was also great to see a number of familiar faces on the staff that day, including Gregor Steger, Jim Fatsi, Meg O’Donnell-Kelly, Tony Frabizzio, along with Romero and Danny inside. We have known all of them since we were kids.
CSGA: What are you most looking forward to at the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball?
Team Murphy: We have a good group heading down! Denis Mpanda and Billy Wilson IV, long-time caddies at The Stanwich Club are on the bags, so we know it’s going to be a blast no matter how we play.
Unfortunately, we are going to lose Denis if we make match play, as he is on the last flight to Tulsa on Sunday where he will be caddying for Stanwich Assistant Professional Casey Pyne in this year’s PGA Championship at Southern Hills. We are expecting big things from that team!
CSGA: Do you have a game plan?
Team Murphy: The game plan is the same as always we will have with Tim teeing off first.
CSGA: What does it mean to play in this event with your brother?
Tim: While Dan dropped me for Jamie Sheltman in the state events I’m honored he still lets me play with him in USGA events. I know we both are looking forward to the trip. It will be great to have the boys back home and our coach John Humphreys scoreboard watching.
Dan: That’s right, at this point H. Smith Richardson has a large men’s club, so I know a ton of guys will be watching to see if we can make it to match play.
Cameron Besaw and Peter Tomlinson
Age: Cameron (17); Peter (27)
Qualifying Site: GreatHorse
USGA Appearances: 1
CSGA: What most stands out from qualifying?
Cameron: Our back nine, the front nine at GreatHorse, of qualifying was really something special and is something that I will always remember. We played a solid front nine, we didn’t make too many mistakes but also didn’t make a big charge either.
After some really clutch par saves on our 9th and 10th holes, the last eight holes was where we really made our charge. I was able to make a nice birdie on the par-5 2nd hole, our 11th hole, and that was our momentum booster.
Pete was able to birdie five out of the last six holes which was really something special, although the story is pretty funny. On all of Pete’s birdies I was inside of him for almost all of those holes. But he went first because he was further way and he made putt after putt after putt. It was a great moment for us as we still joke about it today that I was closer on all those holes but I never got a chance to shine as he was already in for birdie.
CSGA: What are you most looking forward to at the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball?
Peter: I’m most looking forward to the whole experience from the practice rounds to the dinners and the opportunity to meet a bunch of other great players from across the country. I am also looking forward to seeing how difficult the courses will play.
CSGA: Do you have a game plan?
Peter: We haven’t talked much about a game plan yet. Once we get there and get a feel for each course after our practice rounds I think we’ll have a better idea of what we need to do. At the end of the day we both just need to play our own games and if we both play to our full potential I think we can have a really special week.
Bradley Sawka and Jack Snyder
Age: Bradley (16); Jack (23)
Qualifying Site: Ellington Ridge Country Club
USGA Appearances: 1
CSGA: What most stands out from qualifying at the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball?
Jack: I think what stands out the most from qualifying was being able to play well on a day that didn’t have great conditions and medaling. Bradley and I have played a lot of golf together but not often on the same team so it felt good to go out and play as a team really well and stay positive the whole time.
CSGA: What are you most looking forward to at the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball?
Jack: What I’m most looking forward to for the week in Alabama is going to be the whole experience. Not just competing in the event but getting to meet some new people and some great players. Enjoying the dinners the USGA is putting on. The most important thing is that no matter how we play in the event, the week as a whole will still be really exciting and whenever we leave to come back home I’ll be able to look back on the tournament and only have good memories.
Bradley: I am excited to have my dad John caddy for me and for Jack’s dad Chris to caddy for him. It is exciting to have my dad on the bag. For junior events you mostly carry your own bag so it is exciting to have him be able to caddy. He is a good golfer and I feel like he will have some good advice.
CSGA: Do you have a game plan?
Bradley: We will figure out our game plan when we go down there. We want to be as aggressive as possible and keep it the same as we have always played.
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.
