(February 14, 2025) – In 2025 Shuttle Meadow Country Club will host its eighth Connecticut Amateur and first since 1988 when future PGA Tour standout Tim Petrovic claimed the title. Before we look ahead to the 123rd Connecticut Amateur, set to be played from June 9-13, it is time to take a look back at the storied history of the championship at Shuttle Meadow Country Club.
1919 – Roger Hovey
Playing on his home course, Roger Hovey bested W. Parker Seeley 9&8 to capture his second career Connecticut Amateur title. Hovey would win the Connecticut Amateur one year later to push his career tally to three.
1924 – W. Parker Seeley
Five years after finishing as the runner-up at Shuttle Meadow CC, Seeley got his revenge capturing his third career Connecticut Amateur title.
Trailing C.M. Aldrich with nine holes to play, Seeley moved ahead with a birdie on the par-3 13th. Down the stretch, Seeley continued to play strong golf earning a 3&2 victory.
1932 – Robert M. Grant
One of the legendary names in Connecticut golf earned the first of his three Connecticut Amateur titles with a 4&2 victory over two-time winner Frank Ross.
Grant, just 22 years old at the time, had been on the cusp of winning the Connecticut Amateur before, but once he took the lead on the 21st hole, he wouldn’t be denied again. Eventually, Grant would close out the match in style with back-to-back birdies on the 33rd and 34th holes of the day.
1940 – Holly Mandly, Jr.
In 1940, Holly Mandly, Jr. won the first of his three Connecticut Amateur titles, getting the better of 16 year old Bob Patrick 9&8.
The two were close after the first nine holes, but Mandly, Jr. steadily pulled away and by the time the 27th hole of the day had been completed, the lead was 8 up.
Mandly, Jr. would add additional Connecticut Amateur titles in 1947 and 1949.
1952 – Robert M. Grant
In 1952, the future Connecticut Golf Hall of Famer captured his third and final Connecticut Amateur title. It was the second time he had won the championship at Shuttle Meadow CC.
After chipping in from 60 feet to win his semifinal match, Grant squared off against 1953 Connecticut Amateur winner Ernest Gerardi in the finals
Leading 1 up after the opening round, Grant began his afternoon with a 45-foot birdie and then birdied the next hole for a 3 up advantage. Those two holes would swing the match as Gerardi would never get closer than 2 down the rest of the way.
Grant would close out the match on No. 17, earning a 2&1 victory. After the match, Charles Clare, the CSGA president and three-time Connecticut Amateur winner, presented Grant with the trophy. Clare had previously bested Grant in the title match on two occasions (1931 & 1933).
1970 – Fred Kask
In 1970 Kask won the first of his four Connecticut Amateur titles with a 7&5 victory over Harry Cashin.
Kask had reached the finals the previous two years only to come up short. However, this time proved to be a different story.
A par won Kask the second hole of the day, and he was 2 up after he won No. 3. By the time play reached the back nine, the lead began to swell and by the time the morning round was complete, the advantage was 5 up.
The afternoon round was more of the same, with Kask putting the match away on the 31st hole thanks to a splendid 7 iron that came to rest 18 inches from the cup.
Kask would go on to win the Connecticut Amateur three more times claiming victory in 1977, 1980, and 1987. Only Richard L. Siderowf with five titles has more.
1988 – Tim Petrovic
The future winner of the 2005 Zurich Classic of New Orleans on the PGA Tour earned his Connecticut Amateur title with a 4&3 win over Brad Lardon.
A recent University of Hartford graduate, Petrovic blitzed Lardon and, after 15 holes, led 7 up. Lardon would try to rally but a 35-foot birdie putt on the 30th hole of the day (No. 12) by Petrovic and a chip in three holes later sealed the deal.
After the match, Petrovic said, “I wanted this badly. I played good at the Sunnehanna Amateur two weeks ago (tie for 10th) but there’s nothing like winning again. If I keep rolling the ball like this I feel I can beat anyone, even Seve Ballesteros.”
Photos and information for this article were provided by the Hartford Courant and Record-Journal.
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.
