(June 29, 2022) – The 57th Connecticut Women’s Amateur will be played for the first time at Tashua Knolls Golf Course in Trumbull on July 6-7. This year’s field of 55 will be highlighted by three past champions – Sophia Sarrazin, Meghan Mitchell, and Jen Holland – along with reigning Liz Janangelo Caron Player of the Year Mia Grzywinski.
“The excitement for the tournament is off the charts,” said PGA Director of Golf Bobby Brown. “We have a lot of women and girl’s golfers at Tashua so it means a lot to our clubs to have the Connecticut Women’s Amateur here. I think we will have a decent amount of spectators and volunteers so we are anxiously awaiting the event.”
Built by Al Zikorus and opened in 1976, Tashua Knolls GC, the host of the 2017 Connecticut Amateur, is situated on land once populated by the Tamtashua tribe and later the Mallet family. Framed in many spots by stone walls built by early settlers to the region the course meanders up and down rolling hills offering players impressive views throughout their round.
However, the players will be more focused on conquering the 5,700 yard par-72 layout.
“I have played Tashua Knolls GC several times during high school golf and also a couple of times in college and I’ve always liked the course,” said Mia Grzywinski who recently graduated from Quinnipiac University in three years with a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science and will now attend Virginia Tech to pursue a Masters of Public Health with a concentration in Infectious Disease. “It requires strategic positioning off the tee in order to set yourself up well for approach shots.”
In addition, to being sharp with their irons and wedges players will need to get off to a good start on the more difficult front nine before finding some more birdie chances on the back nine highlighted by opportunities on the par-4 11th and par-4 13th.
“The course is in great shape,” Brown said. “The rough is 2.5 inches thick and the rough around the greens is the same height but a little denser so keeping shots on the green will be a huge factor. If the ball rolls off the green six inches to a foot it will be tough to get up and down. The greens and the surrounding rough around the greens are what defends the course.”
The 57th Connecticut Women’s Amateur will begin on Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. with the final round to follow on Thursday.
Notes on the Field:
Number of Players: 54
Past Champions (3): Sophia Sarrazin (2020), Meghan Mitchell (2019), Jen Holland (2008)
Players to Watch:
Aoife Devaney (EClub of Connecticut): A rising junior in high school, Devaney recently qualified for the 2022 U.S. Girls’ Junior later in the month. Devaney began the month of June with a second place showing in the CIAC Girls’ Division I state championship.
Mia Grzywinski (CC of Farmington): Last year’s Liz Janangelo Caron Player of the Year winner finished in fourth place at the Connecticut Women’s Amateur and the year before she held the lead heading into the final round.
Mia Holbrook (Silver Spring CC): Last year Holbrook won the Borck Junior on her home course and registered a T16 showing at the Connecticut Women’s Amateur.
Jen Holland (Lyman Orchards GC): The 2008 champion finished T8 last year and in 2020 she finished second. Holland has won four Liz Janangelo Caron Player of the Year awards.
Meghan Mitchell (Oronoque CC): After not playing last year 2019 winner Meghan Mitchell is back in the field and looking for her second title. Mitchell will be a senior on the Appalachian State golf team.
Sophia Sarrazin (Patterson Club): The 2020 champion backed up her title last year with a strong showing finishing seventh.
Charlotte Wagner (CC of Fairfield): Last year at the Connecticut Women’s Amateur Wagner began the final round in second place before finishing T5.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Women’s Amateur is one of 20 championships conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association. The CSGA 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.
