Goshen, Connecticut (June 12, 2024) – A tense day filled with memorable shot-making ended with just eight players remaining at the 122nd Connecticut Amateur presented by Middlesex Health.
After two days of chilly and blustery conditions, summer finally arrived at Torrington Country Club and under the basking sun, a memorable day of golf played out.
Day three began with the Round of 32 and instantly shock waves were sent through the field as 16-year-old and 28 seed Austin Perkins (Hartford Golf Club) outdueled defending champion Rick Dowling (Golf Performance Center) 1 up.
Results I Photo Gallery I Video Highlights
With the match tied after the first nine holes, Perkins found the fairway with his drive on the par-4 10th hole. Attacking a middle right pin location with a wedge in hand Perkins lofted a gorgeous shot high into the brilliantly blue sky. On line from the moment Perkins made contact the ball hit the green five feet short of the pin, bounced a couple of times before tumbling into the bottom of the cup for an eagle two.
Perkins would win the par-5 12th with a birdie to take his second 2-up lead of the match only to have Dowling, a three-time Connecticut Amateur winner, rally back and tie the match with a pair of wins including one via an eagle on the par-5 16th. However, the tie wouldn’t last long as Perkins responded with a birdie on the par-3 17th before closing out the match with a stellar two-putt par on No. 18.
In the Round of 16 Perkins continued his strong play with an impressive come from behind 4&3 win over Shane Bacon (Brooklawn CC). Bacon, a winner in 19 holes in the Round of 32 against Torrington CC member Brent Silano, took an early 2 up lead through five holes but Perkins had all the answers winning five holes in a row from Nos. 7-11 to take control of the match.
In the quarterfinals, Perkins will face 2014 and 2016 champion Zach Zaback (Sterling Farms Mens GC). In his opening match of the day, Zaback playing in his first Connecticut Amateur since his 2016 victory, handled Rick Hayes (Silver Spring CC) 4&3 before needing to go the distance to defeat Jackson Fretty (Greenwich CC) 1 up.
Trailing 4 down after five holes Zaback flipped the script on the match midway through the opening nine and only trailed 1 down as play headed for the second nine. A victory on No. 12 pulled Zaback even and he took his first lead with a birdie on the par-4 13th. From there the match seesawed back and forth before Zaback took the lead for good on No. 17.
“After getting down early I stayed patient and finally found my swing a little bit in the middle of the front nine and made some birdies and flipped the momentum,” Zach Zaback said. “It was a hard-fought match, but I am happy to come out on top.”
For Zaback his return to Connecticut Amateur comes after being reinstated as an amateur last September following a professional career that included an appearance in the 2017 Travelers Championship and the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.
When talking about what it feels like to be back in the Connecticut Amateur Zaback said, “I feel old, honestly, being back here. There are a lot of good young players and a lot of good college kids so it does feel a little different. I think coming back as an amateur, I’m just happy playing golf now. Not quite as serious as in college, but obviously I still want to compete and win, but definitely has a little different feel just coming back as an amateur.”
The first quarterfinal match on Thursday will feature 2022 winner Ben Carpenter (CC of Darien) squaring off against Ashton Lewis (H. Smith Richardson GC).
Carpenter, one of six medalists playing as the top seed, handled a very talented 32 seed in Vanderbilt’s Ben Loomis 2&1 in the Round of 32. In the Round of 16, Carpenter faced 2018 winner Ben Conroy (New Haven CC), a winner in 22 holes over Conor Goode (Glastonbury Hills) to begin his day.
Carpenter jumped out to a 4-up lead through 12 holes before holding on for a 1-up victory.
Lewis made his way to the quarterfinals with a dominant 4&3 triumph over Chris Maxwell (Tunxis CC) before needing all 18 holes to earn a 1-up victory over Anthony Guerrera (Watertown GC) on Wednesday afternoon.
In a grinder, Lewis trailed for much of the early portions of the match before pulling even with a par on No. 11. On the ensuing hole Lewis would birdie to take a 1-up lead. That victory proved to be the final hole won by either player and in the end Lewis, fresh off a record setting career at Eastern Connecticut State University, made his lead stand up.
“I’m really excited for the quarterfinals,” Ashton Lewis said. “This is my first time being in this position. I made match play a couple of years ago but lost in the first round which was tough. My caddie and I have a really good game plan and we’re just going to stick to the routine and at the end of the day just play golf.”
The third quarterfinal will see Mike Rothberg (Mill River CC) square off against 2013 champion Cody Paladino (Hartford GC).
Rothberg trailed with eight holes to play in his Round of 32 match against Tim Murphy (The Stanwich Club) before rallying to win 1 up. In the afternoon Rothberg a member of the Sacred Heart golf team handled Bradley Sawka (Ellington Ridge CC) 3&1. Rothberg took the lead on the second hole and never looked back.
Paladino, a runner-up three of the last four years in the Connecticut Amateur, was in control throughout the day capturing his opening match 5&3 against Robert Joyce (New Haven CC) and his Round of 16 match 4&3 against Jack Woods (Ridgewood CC).
In the final quarterfinal match co-medalist Adam Friedman (Great River GC) will square off against Jack Chung (Greenwich CC).
Friedman controlled his Round of 32 match against Brett Chodos (New Haven CC) winning 6&4 however despite never trailing in his Round of 16 match against Patrick Casey (Torrington CC) the tilt came down to the final hole.
Casey threw everything he could at Friedman including a hole-in-one on No. 3 but it wasn’t enough as Friedman prevailed 2 up.
Jack Chung had two very different matches. In his first match against Jackson Roman (Shuttle Meadow CC), he needed 21 holes to advance after leading 3 up. With momentum on his side, Chung continued his strong play with an impressive 7&6 win over Tommy Dallahan (Hartford GC).
Play at the 122nd Connecticut Amateur presented by Middlesex Health will continue on Thursday with the quarterfinals in the morning and the semifinals in the afternoon. The week will conclude with the 36-hole championship match on Friday.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Amateur presented by Middlesex Health 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.
