Old Lyme, Connecticut (June 28, 2023) – Day three of the 17th Connecticut Senior Match Play Championship presented by Middlesex Health at Black Hall Club featured the quarterfinal and semifinal matches. The day began as an overcast and rainy morning but by the time the final putts dropped the sun was shining bright on two first-time finalists and longtime friends Glen Boggini (Manchester CC) and Dave Olender (Ellington Ridge CC).
In the first semifinal Boggini faced Mark Vassalotti (Sterling Farms Mens GC) and early on the match was a dead heat with ties on the first four holes. The first lead came after Vassalotti, a finalist in 2020 and a 19-hole winner over defending champion Dave Jones (Mohegan Sun GC) in the quarterfinals, birdied the par-4 fifth.
However, Bogginni would finish the front nine strong. One hole after falling behind Bogginni tied the match and then took the lead for the first time with a par on No. 8. On the ensuing hole, the par-3 ninth he stuffed his tee shot leading to a conceded birdie. Vassalotti almost made his greenside chip to tie the hole but when it missed Boggini, a 2-up winner in the morning over Jim Abbott (Timberlin GC), led 2 up heading to the back nine.
The jabs continued from both players on holes 10-14. On the 15th Vassalotti broke Boggini’s lead down to 1 up with four holes to play. Two good approach shots resulted in pars for both players on No. 16 and as Boginni went into the windy par-3 17th his advantage was still 1 up.
On the short par-3 17th Vassalotti put the pressure on by knocking his tee shot stiff resulting in a birdie that tied the match.
On the difficult closing par-4 18th, both players hit solid tee shots avoiding the fairway bunkers leaving each player mid-irons into a tricky two-tiered green. Boggini hit the green on the bottom tier leaving himself a good birdie opportunity to a front hole location. Vassalotti handled a delicate chip well and gave himself a chance at saving par however Vassalotti’s putt missed low and Boggini secured his victory with a two-putt par.
“I’m just happy to be playing at Black Hall. It’s a great course,” Glen Boggini said. “I just played one shot at a time but it pays to get in the gym and stay in shape because it’s a grind out here, it’s a long day.”
Late on the back nine the fate of the second semifinal match was Dave Olender’s to control. The journey to taking control of the match was another story as the two competitors seesawed back and forth on the front nine. Tim Murray (Quinnatisset CC) struck first winning the opening hole before Olender won three straight during a stretch that included two crucial birdies to build a 2-up lead through four holes. Murray would counter next winning Nos. 5 and 6 to tie the match only to have Olender win the next two holes to restore his 2-up advantage. Murray, who bested Rick Malafronte (New Haven CC) in 21 holes in the quarterfinals, captured the par-3 ninth with a birdie sending the match to the back nine with Olender leading 1 up.
Olender, a 3&1 winner in the morning against Stuart Goldstein (Keney GC), regained his 2-up lead with a par on No. 10. Following a stretch of ties Murray executed a beautiful pitch shot on the par-5 14th setting up a hole winning birdie that tightened the match heading into a tough finishing stretch.
Murray would tie the match with a par on No. 15 but his fairway bunker shot on 16 nearly found the water forcing him to take an unplayable allowing Olender the opportunity to regain his lead. One hole later Olender closed out the match 2&1. Playing a choked up 7 iron from 155 yards out into the hazardous 17th hole Olender stuck his tee shot to five feet. Murray ended up in the greenside bunker and when he couldn’t get up and down Olender had won the match.
“I was pretty calm out there,” Dave Olender said following his victory. “I was in control of my game and that was a nice feeling.”
The 18-hole championship match of the 17th Connecticut Senior Match Play Championship will begin on Thursday morning at 8:00 a.m.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Senior Match Play 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.
