Fairfield, Connecticut (July 22, 2024) – Thomas Bonomo (The Stanwich Club), Robby Rosati (Mill River CC), and Luke Stennett (Tallwood CC) in the Boys’ Division along with Caroline McShea (eClub of Connecticut) in the Girls’ Division earned medalist honors at the 55th Borck Junior Tournament hosted by Brooklawn Country Club.
In the Boys’ Division Bonomo, Rosati, and Stennett all finished 2-under to share co-medalist honors.
Rosati started his round even-par through three holes and after a double bogey on No. 4 he was 2 over. However, Rosati would turn his day around with four birdies on Nos. 7, 8, 15, and 16.
“I hit the ball really well. I didn’t make a ton of putts, but I played really solid. I had four birdies. Each time I had putts from six or seven feet and just made the putts pretty much every single time,” Robby Rosati said.
Stennett started his round slowly with a par on No. 1, and a bogey on No. 2 before he made a strong turn with three birdies on Nos. 3, 7, and 14.
“I hit the ball really well, I was aiming for the middle of the greens and I was hitting it where I wanted to,” Luke Stennett said. “I hit good putts, they just weren’t dropping, but I had a few that dropped and that’s what got me to where I am.”
Stennett, the 83rd Connecticut Junior Amateur champion earlier this month, said that his recent win has given him added confidence, “I feel really good, really confident. Again, I’m going to do the same strategies I did two weeks ago, just have fun and play the best I can.”
Despite three bogeys, Bonomo played his way to the top of the leaderboard with five birdies on Nos. 4, 6, 8, 12, and 17. Bonomo now turns his attention to match play.
Rhett duPont (Woodway CC) finished fourth at even-par while Luke Kowalchik (Race Brook CC) was 1 over to round out the top five.
“I made a lot of birdies,” Rhett dePont said. But his highlight of the day came on the par-4 fourth. “I hit a good drive, and then I had 130 yards left so I hit a 50 degree just right of the hole, and it spun left and trickled in,” duPont explains of his impressive eagle.
On Tuesday morning the Boys’ Division will begin match play with the Round of 16 starting at 8 a.m. and the quarterfinals scheduled to follow in the afternoon.
In the Girls’ Division, Caroline McShea finished 2-over to earn medalist honors going into the quarterfinals. McShea explained, “(My) mindset for tomorrow is to remain calm and just be patient because golf is all about patience, and taking it one shot at a time.”
Speaking about her round McShea said, “It was very consistent. I started off with two birdies on the front nine, so I felt confident. I sunk a 15-foot putt for both of my birdies, and that kind of got my confidence going, and got my mind in the right place.”
Junxi Guo (eClub of Connecticut) finished second at 3-over. “It went pretty well. I had some birdies. I had some bogeys. I just tried to keep going. The par-5s are pretty short, so I can reach almost all of them in two, then I just two-putted from there,” Guo said.
Isabella Hassan (Rolling Hills CC) and Paige McKenna (Tashua Knolls GC) took third place at 6 over while Maxie Mirin (Silver Spring CC) was fifth at 8 over.
On Tuesday afternoon match play begins for the Girls’ Division with the quarterfinals commencing at 12:30 p.m.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Borck Junior 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.
