(May 3, 2024) – This year at the 53rd Julius Boros Challenge Cup the Connecticut State Golf Association will be on the quest for an unprecedented seventh victory in a row. The CSGA will put their winning streak against the Connecticut Section PGA on the line on May 9 at Shuttle Meadow Country Club.
This year Shuttle Meadow CC will become just the third course to host the matches in the history of the event. It will also only be the fifth time that the matches have been played somewhere other than New Haven Country Club. Before this year, Tumble Brook Country Club had been the only other course to host the matches previously doing so from 1972-1974, the first three years of the Julius Boros Challenge Cup, and then again in 2010.
“It will be a little different with Shuttle Meadow hosting the Challenge Cup for the first time,” eighth-year team captain Roger Everin said. “Everyone is excited about playing one of the best courses in Connecticut. Many of the players had the opportunity to play in last year’s Connecticut Open, and the course will be a test for all their skills.”
Overall, the Connecticut Section PGA holds a commanding 34-18 advantage in the series but in recent years it has been the CSGA who has dominated the matches. Since 2018 when the CSGA won to snap a six-year losing streak they have won the annual matches by double digits all but once. The only exception was in 2022 when they won by a margin of 40.5-31.5.
Last year the CSGA put together an impressive performance earning a 49.5-22.5 victory.
However, despite the recent success team captain Roger Everin isn’t focused on the past. “I always take the same approach with the team as I have in the past. I never talk to the players about winning or the outcome. To me, that’s just a distraction, and I don’t try to look back on the past or the future. The players know what’s at stake, and to me, it’s just to go out and focus on golf.”
This year the CSGA roster features 14 players who have played in the Julius Boros Challenge Cup previously including eight from last year’s roster. Among the returners is Connecticut Golf Hall of Famer Bill Hermanson playing in his 39th Julius Boros Challenge Cup.
The rookies on the 2024 roster include Shane Bacon and Adam Friedman. Bacon will be making his CSGA team debut while Friedman will be playing in his first Julius Boros Challenge Cup after playing on the victorious Tri-State team last October. Kyle Bilodeau will also be making his CSGA debut, however, he competed in the annual matches on a number of occasions as a member of the Connecticut Section PGA.
“I know that most of the players from both the Connecticut Section PGA and the CSGA look forward to this event. The best playing against the best. This event is a showcase of Connecticut golf,” Everin said.
The 53rd edition of the event will begin at 9:30 a.m. with matches slated to go off Nos. 1 and 10.
CSGA Roster: Shane Bacon (Brooklawn CC), Kyle Bilodeau (Blackledge CC), Ben Conroy (New Haven CC), Ben Day (New Haven CC), Rick Dowling (Golf Performance Center), Adam Friedman (Great River GC), Anthony Guerrera (Watertown GC), Rick Hayes (Silver Spring CC), Mike Kennedy (Tashua Knolls GC), James Sheltman (Wallingford CC), Brad Tilley (Brooklawn CC), Peter Tomlinson (Orange Hills CC), Glen Boggini (Ellington Ridge CC)*, Bill Hermanson (Black Hall Club)*, Dave Jones (Mohegan Sun GC)*, Bob Murphy, Jr. (Brownson CC)*
Captain: Roger Everin
*Denotes Senior Player
Connecticut Section PGA Roster: Adam D’Amario (Next Level Golf Academy), Jordan Gosler (Manchester CC), Brian Keiser (Longmeadow CC), CJ Konkowski (Hartford GC), Brad Lusenhop (CC of Waterbury), Ian Marshall (Shuttle Meadow CC), Bob Mucha (Edgewood CC), Terry Slater (Race Brook CC), William Street (Whitney Farms GC), Chris Tallman (Greathorse), John Vitale (Full Circle Golf), William Wallis (New Haven CC), Jason Gobleck (Golf Center at Lyman Orchards)*, Fran Marrello (PGA Life Member)*, Mike Martin (Highland Golf Club)*, Jan Wivestad (Chris Cote’s Golf Shop Southington)*
Captain: Howie Friday (Stanley GC)
Honorary Captain: Dennis Coscina (PGA Life Member)
*Denotes Senior Player
Format: Play will begin at 9:30 a.m. with matches going off both sides. Players will compete in teams of two, with individual matches played simultaneously. Each match, team, and individual is worth three points, one for the first nine, one for the second nine, and one overall. Nine points are at stake in each foursome. The teams compete for the Julius Boros Trophy, donated by Boros, the former PGA and U.S. Open champion who hailed from Connecticut. The members of the professional team qualify by finishing among the top eight in the section PGA Player of the Year point standings and the top four seniors in the section Senior PGA Player of the Year point standings. Also joining the team is the reigning Connecticut PGA Champion, the PGA Professional from the host club, and two captain’s selections. Members of the amateur side, in both regular and senior categories, likewise earn points in a Player of the Year competition and are chosen accordingly. All points were earned in 2022.
About the Associations
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.
The Connecticut Section PGA is one of 41 sections chartered that together comprise the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA of America). There are a total of 350 golf professionals affiliated with the section (292 PGA Members and 58 Registered Apprentices). These professionals are employed at over 175 PGA Recognized Golf Facilities throughout the region.
