Avon, Connecticut (July 17, 2023) – Cody Paladino (Hartford GC) drained an eight-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to earn his spot in the 123rd U.S. Amateur set to be played from August 14-20 at Cherry Hills Country Club.
Playing in the qualifier at the Golf Club of Avon Paladino fired a 36-hole score of 7-under but it wasn’t enough to earn one of the two available spots in next month’s U.S. Amateur. Paladino had a 10-foot birdie putt on the last hole to win outright but when the putt slid by it was off to a playoff along with Chris Vandette (Canada) and Chase Gullikson (Orlando, Florida).
In the 3-for-2 playoff on the par-4 first, Gullikson made a clutch 12-footer for par to keep his hopes alive after Paladino and Vandette both hit their approach shots into the green tight. Putting first Paladino converted his birdie putt and when Vandette followed suit moments later the proceedings had come to a quick dramatic conclusion.
“Playing in the U.S. Amateur is such an honor,” said Paladino. “I love tournament golf no matter the stage, but the U.S. Amateur is the most highly regarded amateur event in the world. To be part of that field is something I’m extremely proud and I can’t wait to experience it again. I’ve played in two U.S. Amateurs previously, both when I was in college in 2007 and 2009. When you look at the field, there typically aren’t that many mid-amateurs playing in the U.S. Amateur so that just makes it even more special for me.”
Paladino opened his day with a spectacular bogey-free 5-under 66 and he kept that strong play going on the front nine of the second round playing the opening side in 4-under 32 to reach 9-under. However, trouble lurked on the back nine as Paladino double-bogeyed the 10th and bogeyed the 14th to drop to 6-under. A birdie on No. 16 followed by two pars was enough for him to earn a spot in the playoff.
“I played very stress-free golf for the first 27 holes. I hit 26 out of 27 greens and made nine birdies and no bogeys,” explained Paladino. “In a 36-hole qualifier, it’s pretty unlikely to play the entire day without some bumps in the road, so when I made double-bogey on 10 and then bogey on 14, I just kept telling myself to steady the ship and not be rattled. The birdie on 16 put me back to 7-under so that was obviously a huge moment, and then of course the birdie putt in the playoff was the highlight of the day. It was a complete release of emotion for me to see that final putt drop.”
Vandette similarly played well in the first round firing a 6-under 65 which he followed up with a 1-under 70 in the second round. Starting his second round on the back nine, Vandette double-bogeyed the par-3 13th but he was able to rebound playing the rest of his round in 2-under.
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.
