(January 12, 2024) – Another exciting Connecticut State Golf Association season is just months away and this year the championship schedule includes stops at the Country Club of Waterbury, Madison Country Club, Torrington Country Club, Shorehaven Golf Club, and Wampanoag Country Club.
The 2024 CSGA major championship season begins with the 21st Russell C. Palmer Cup presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop on May 20-21 where Anthony Guerrera will look to defend his title.
“Waterbury is very honored and humbled to be a historic host of the Palmer Cup. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the CSGA and hosting this great event,” head professional Brad Lusenhop said. “The CC of Waterbury produces great champions due to its world class golf course, designed by Donald Ross. Players will face many classic design features including treacherous false fronts, uneven lies in the fairway, and smaller turtleback greens. Every facet of your game is tested, and the best player will be identified and crowned as the 2024 Russell C. Palmer Cup champion.”
2024 will be the 14th time that the CC of Waterbury has hosted the Russell C. Palmer Cup.
The following week on May 28-29 the 25th Connecticut Women’s Open presented by Crescent Point Private Wealth will be contested at Madison Country Club. Last year Samantha Morrell bounced back from a disappointing loss in 2022 to capture the title.
If Morrell is going to go back-to-back her short game will need to be on full display. “The player’s short game will be challenged the most at Madison CC,” explained head professional Frank Carta. “In addition to small greens, the bunkers sit well below the putting surface and are close to the greens.”
Flipping the calendar to June the 122nd Connecticut Amateur presented by Middlesex Health will head to Torrington Country Club from June 10-14 where 2023 champion Rick Dowling will be looking to win his fourth career title.
2024 will mark the third time that Torrington CC has hosted the Connecticut Amateur. Previously Torrington CC hosted the championship in 1994 and 2006. In 1994 J.J. Henry won the first of his two consecutive Connecticut Amateur titles.
The June championship slate will conclude with Glen Boggini attempting to repeat at the 18th Senior Match Play Championship at Indian Hill Country Club. This year the championship will be contested from June 17-20.
“Indian Hill CC is a perfect layout for match play,” head professional Wayne Smyth said. “There are several risk/reward holes that will make for some great matches. All four of the par 5s are reachable for most, but they will punish the players that miss the mark. In addition, difficult par 3s, especially on the back nine, will be pivotal in the outcomes.”
A busy July kicks off with the 83rd Connecticut Junior Amateur and 3rd Connecticut Girls’ Junior Amateur returning to Watertown Golf Club. The Connecticut Junior Amateur will be held from July 8-11 while for the first time, the Connecticut Girls’ Junior will be contested over three days from July 8-10.
In 2023 Will Gregware captured the Connecticut Junior Amateur while it was Annie Dai who won the Connecticut Girls’ Junior.
For the third straight year, the Connecticut Women’s Amateur will head to Tashua Knolls Golf Course.
“Hosting this championship for the third straight year is truly an honor and a testament to our continued support of the women’s game,” said head professional Bobby Brown. “We will also host the CIAC State Girls Championship in June for the eighth time. Growing the women’s game is a priority to our team and we are proud to have the support from the Town of Trumbull and its golf commission.”
In 2024 the tournament will be expanded to three days for the first time with Arabella Lopez ready to defend from July 15-17.
One year after Brett Stegmaier claimed the title and for the first time since 1959 the Connecticut Open presented by GSB will be held at Shorehaven Golf Club from July 29-31.
“We are very excited to host the 90th Connecticut Open during our centennial year,” head professional Mike Laganza said. “We are very proud of the fact that we are hosting the event. Shorehaven is a special place. It has some beautiful views and some great vistas and we are really excited to showcase our club.”
Up next is the 39th Connecticut Public Links scheduled for August 6-7 and set to be played at Keney Park Golf Course. In 2024 Peter Tomlinson will be looking to repeat on the same course he won on last year. Another victory would be his third overall Public Links title.
The summer slate of CSGA major championships will conclude with the playing of the 37th Connecticut Mid-Amateur from August 26-27 at Wampanoag Country Club.
“We love having the CSGA, the Connecticut Section PGA, and the CWGA. We try to have at least one event each year for each organization. I think it is important to give back to the golf community in Connecticut. We want to share our golf course because we think it is very special and then just to get our name out there and to meet and see other people and build those relationships,” explained head professional Donny Kirkpatrick. “We are excited to host the Connecticut Mid-Amateur. We know it is going to be a great year and we can’t wait for the event later in the summer.”
In 2024 three-time defending champion Rick Dowling will be looking to match Bill Hermanson as the only player to win four Connecticut Mid-Amateur championships in a row. Hermanson accomplished the feat from 1990-1993.
The 2024 CSGA major championship schedule will come to a close at the 79th Connecticut Senior Amateur scheduled for September 30-October 1 at the Country Club of New Canaan. Bob Murphy will be tasked with attempting to defend his title on the challenging layout that last welcomed a CSGA major championship in 2022 when Rick Dowling won the second of his three consecutive Connecticut Mid-Amateur titles.
“The CC of New Canaan wants all players who qualify for this championship to feel like the CC of New Canaan is their home for two days,” head professional Adam Rainaud said. “We hope that they enjoy the course and the conditions that the greens crew will work very hard to provide.”
Additional 2024 CSGA Championship Schedule Dates:
- Two Man Championship (Black Hall Club) – May 6
- 5th Parent Child Championship (The Club at River Oaks) – June 24
- 88th Father & Son Championship (Mill River CC) – August 12
- 84th Connecticut Four-Ball Championship (Wallingford CC) – August 22
- 28th Super Senior Championship (Longshore GC) – August 26
- 19th Tournament of Champions (Bull’s Bridge GC) – September 24
*For the complete 2024 schedule continue to visit csgalinks.org.
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.
