Waterbury, Connecticut (May 19, 2025) – Anthony Guerrera battled a consistent wind with gusts up to 30 mph to take the first round lead of the 22nd Russell C. Palmer Cup presented by Michaels Jewelers.
On a day when nobody broke par at the Country Club of Waterbury, Guerrera the 2023 champion, posted a 1-over 70 that was good enough to take a one-stroke lead over four others into the 36-hole final day.
First Round Results I Photo Gallery
Playing in the first group of the day Guerrera (Watertown GC) bogeyed three of his first four holes before finding his footing with a birdie on the short par-4 sixth. A birdie three holes later on No. 9 moved Guerrera to 1-over for the day.
“The birdies on Nos. 6 and 9 jump-started the back nine,” Anthony Guerrera said. “Then from there I just tried to make pars.”
With nine holes remaining in his opening round, Guerrera played level-par golf to the house making birdies on Nos. 12 and 17 while offsetting them with a pair of bogeys. Guerrera, a caddie at Bull’s Bridge Golf Club, now finds himself in a position to win his second Russell C. Palmer Cup.
“My goal for tomorrow is to make as many pars as possible, Guerrera said. “This golf course is so hard and if the wind picks up like today, you’ve got to just focus on keeping it in short grass and trying to hit as many greens as possible and limit your three putts. I think that’s what I did really well when I won. I limited my three putts and hit fairways and greens and kept it really simple and played boring golf. I think that’s going to be the key for the 36 holes. Just keep it boring and just keep plotting along.”
A group of four players – Ryan Burrill (Indian Hill CC), Jake Portugal (Richter Park GC), Will Lodge (CT PGA Junior Golf Association), and Ashton Lewis (H. Smith Richardson GC) – will all begin the second day in a tie for second place at 2 over. Five others are tied for sixth at 3 over.
In all, the top 39 and ties made the cut to advance to the 36-hole final day. Second round play will begin on Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. off the first and 10th tees. The final round will follow in the early afternoon.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Russell C. Palmer Cup presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop 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.
