West Hartford, Connecticut (October 11, 2023) – For the first time since 2018 and the 41st time overall Connecticut has won the Tri-State Matches. After beginning the final day one point behind Massachusetts, winners of 17 of the last 18 Tri-State Matches, Connecticut put together a stellar final day to earn an 84-68 victory over Massachusetts while Rhode Island finished in third place with 40 points.
“I am so proud of the team,” seventh-year captain Roger Everin said. “This is the best team we have had so far. It is a tough test but they really came through. This tournament was very similar to the last time we won in 2018 and I told the players, ‘Don’t think about winning but focus on the things that got you on the team. All of them have been in tight matches before and that they should believe in themselves and in each other.’ ”
Trailing Massachusetts, winners of three straight matches, 49-48 entering the final day four-ball at Wampanoag Country Club team Connecticut got off to a hot start and didn’t look back as they only lost eight out of 48 matches. For team Connecticut, most of their damage was done during the front nine matches winning the session 14.5-1.5. Of the 16 front nine matches Connecticut won 13 and tied three.
“I think we got some of the matchups that we wanted,” said Everin when talking about the keys to victory. “At the team dinner on Monday night, all the players strategized how we wanted to attack the golf course and I think the guys stuck to that plan and it worked out. I am really excited for them and I am happy for not only the CSGA but also the state of Connecticut.”
On the final day, Connecticut was led by four teams who earned all six available points. Leading the way for Connecticut were the tandems of Ben Day (New Haven CC) and Jamie Sheltman (Wallingford CC); Adam Friedman (Great River GC) who played his first seven holes in 6-under and Peter Tomlinson (Orange Hills CC); Cody Paladino (Hartford GC) and Rick Hayes (Silver Spring CC); Bob Murphy (Brownson CC) and Glen Boggini (Manchester CC).
Connecticut also earned 4.5 points from Rick Dowling (Golf Performance Center) and Ben Conroy (New Haven CC), 3 points from Dave Jones (Mohegan Sun GC) and Bill Hermanson (Black Hall Club) playing in his 36th Tri-State Matches, 2.5 points from Rick Malafronte (New Haven CC) and Patrick McGuiness (Keney GC), and 2 points from AJ Ouimet (EClub of Connecticut) and Anthony Guerrera (Watertown GC).
In total Connecticut earned 36 points on the final day while Massachusetts earned 19 and Rhode Island tallied 17.
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.
