(May 15, 2026) – With the temperature set to heat up, so is the CSGA golf calendar. Next week, from May 18-20, at the Country Club of Waterbury, nearly 100 of the best golfers in the state will convene to compete in the first major of the season, the 23rd Russell C. Palmer Cup.
This year marks the 16th time that the CC of Waterbury will serve as the host of the Russell C. Palmer Cup.
“Waterbury is such a fascinating course,” three-time champion Cody Paladino said. “There are so many aspects that make it challenging, and it has some great defenses.”
The 6,550-yard Donald Ross designed par-69 layout with just one par-5 will be a challenge for players from tee to green throughout each round, but there may be no bigger challenge than navigating the course’s variable par-3s. None are more demanding than the 234-yard par-3 14th hole. The hole comes at a crucial point in the round and requires a precise tee shot. If a player misses the green, getting up and down to save par will be difficult.
Following the 14th, there is no let-up on the way into the clubhouse as the field will face four par-4s, including two of the most demanding of the course. Players will need to display diverse shot-making as they make their way through the final stretch of the course.
Last year, it was a final round back nine surge, highlighted by an unlikely chip-in birdie on the par-3 14th, by Jake Portugal, that proved to be the difference.
“Looking back at last year, the biggest thing that stands out is how well I was able to control my thoughts and emotions,” defending champion Jake Portugal said. “I never got too far ahead of myself and was able to stay pretty relaxed down the stretch.”
Last year, Portugal was able to maintain his composure down the stretch of a 36-hole final day. However, this year, the field at the 23rd Russell C. Palmer Cup will face a new challenge in the form of a format change.
In previous years, the Russell C. Palmer Cup was a 54-hole championship played over two days: 18 holes on Monday (with the field cut to 39 plus ties), followed by 36 holes on Tuesday. After lengthy discussions among the CSGA staff and the Competitions Committee, a survey proposing a change to “54 holes over three days” was sent to past participants. With the majority of respondents favoring the change, and with a full endorsement from the CC of Waterbury, the new format will be introduced at this year’s championship.
The Russell C. Palmer Cup, considered Connecticut’s “Amateur Stroke Play Championship,” will now also meet the “walking-only” criteria for both the Connecticut Open and the Connecticut Amateur.
“I think it’s universally accepted that 18-18-18 makes for a better championship than 18-36,” said CSGA Executive Director Mike Moraghan. “We’ll be able to have fresh hole locations and new pairings for all three rounds, something we couldn’t do in the past when playing 36 holes on Tuesday. We’ll be able to start all players off the first hole during the second and third rounds, as opposed to splitting tees. The leaders will all finish on No. 18 instead of some finishing on different parts of the golf course.”
Moraghan continued saying, “Increasing the cut line from 39 plus ties to 51 plus ties after the first round also gives more players an opportunity to compete on day two and get themselves back into contention. A cut after the second round (30 plus ties) eliminates players who, in the past, played poorly in round two, and should assure the strongest possible field for the final round. And for the purists among us, walking is always preferable to riding.”
Play at the 23rd Russell C. Palmer Cup will begin on Monday morning at 7:30 a.m., with the second round to follow on Tuesday and the final round on Wednesday.
Notes on the Field:
Number of Players: 99
Past Champions (5): Jake Portugal (2025), Cody Paladino (2013, 2022, 2024), Anthony Guerrera (2023), Ben Day (2015), Larry Haertel (2005)
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Russell C. Palmer Cup 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.
