Wethersfield, Connecticut (October 6, 2025) – On a glorious but breezy day at the 24th Al Acker One Day Championship presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop it was Cody Paladino and Dave Jones who captured the titles. Both in extra holes.
Playing in the Tettelbach Gross Division, Cody Paladino and Charlie Hathaway finished with 2-over 73s, sending play onward.
On the first extra hole, the par-4 first, both players bogeyed, moving play the par-4 18th. In a prime position off the tee, Paladino pulled his second shot into a greenside and then went long with his bunker shot, leaving himself 15 feet for par.
Meanwhile, Hathaway struggled with his second shot, and he found himself facing a lengthy third. He hit a strong shot for his third, setting up a putting contest.
Paladino was the first to putt. Looking to save par, he sent the downhill double breaker on the way and watched as it just trundled into the cup on its last turn.
Moments later, when Hathaway couldn’t convert his par try, the title and Tettelbach Gross Division Player of the Year honors belonged to Paladino.
“It is always good to win, especially at the end of the year,” Cody Paladino said. “Wethersfield is one of my favorite places. I was looking forward to playing today. It was a very tricky day with tough pins, (a steady) breeze, and the greens were very fast, so it was good to get a win.”
Rounding out the top five were Rammi Hazzaa and Raymond Greco in a tie for third at 3-over, while John Sawka, Drew Brennan, and Eric Bleile all tied for fifth at 4-over.
In the Siderowf Gross Division, Dave Jones bested Dave Szewczul on the first extra hole to claim the title.
Tied with 2-over 73s after 18 holes, the two stalwarts returned to the opening tee. Immediately, it looked as if Szewczul was in the driver’s seat after he found the fairway and Jones snap-hooked his tee shot left. However, Jones caught a break when his tee ball hit a tree and ended up in the fairway.
From there, Jones only had a 114-yard wedge left into the green. In a season of near misses, Jones hit a solid wedge to 30 feet and then promptly drilled the uphill right-to-left swinging birdie putt to pull out the title.
“It really feels good to get a win because I’ve had some close calls this year,” Dave Jones said. “I made it to the finals of the Senior Match Play and lost and I was tied for the lead with a couple of holes to go in the Connecticut Senior Amateur, so it feels nice to finish one off, it really does, very rewarding.”
Behind Jones and Szewczul came Rick Nappi and Bill Hermanson in third at 3-over with Richard Stevens, Dean Godek, and James Lawler all finishing one shot further back in a tie for fifth at 4-over.
In the Tettelbach Net Division, Walter Keuchkerian II (-3) earned the top spot while Sawka and Hathaway shared second at even-par. The fourth-place spot was shared at 1-over by Kevin Klepacki, Christopher Helms, and Rammi Hazzaa.
Meanwhile, in the Siderowf Net Division, Michael Gramelis and Tom DeRienzo tied for first at 1-under with John Svetz, Szewczul, and Nappi tying for third at even-par.
The final day of the 2025 One Day Series also saw the Player of the Year races come to a conclusion with Cody Paladino (Tettelbach Gross Division), Dean Godek (Siderowf Gross Division), Walter Keuchkerian II (Tettelbach Net Division), and Tom DeRienzo (Siderowf Net Division) earning the honors.
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.
