Watertown, Connecticut (July 7, 2025) – On a hot, muggy, and at times stormy day at Watertown Golf Club Jack Dennis and Thomas Bonomo finished 1-under to share 84th Connecticut Junior Amateur presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop medalist honors.
Jack Dennis (Fox Hopward GC) was the first to post a red figure score and for much of the afternoon it looked like he would be the only player to finish under-par.
Dennis began his day with a birdie on the opening par-4 but then struggled finishing the front nine with a 2-over 38. Still at 2-over after 13 holes a storm rolled in forcing a delay. That pause in the action was the reset Dennis needed.
Following the break in the action Dennis parred the par-4 14th before rattling off three consecutive birdies on Nos. 15, 16, and 17.
“I think I really put my game together after the rain delay,” said Jack Dennis, who is advancing to match play for the first time after missing in his first attempt last year. “I had a good burger at the turn and that really helped me out for sure.”
Playing a few groups back, Thomas Bonomo (The Stanwich Club) had an up-and-down day before finishing with a flurry of birdies.
Thanks to three birdies against just one bogey in the first six holes Bonomo was 2-under early in his round and was still 1-under following his first 12 holes. However, out of the rain delay it was a bit of a struggle for Bonomo as he bogeyed Nos. 13 and 14 to fall back to 1-over.
“It got a little bit stressful out of the rain delay,” Thomas Bonomo a co-medalist for the second straight year said. “After those bogeys I knew I was close to the cut line so I just told myself I have a birdie hole coming up and then maybe I can take advantage of a long drive on 17. And I did exactly that.”
The birdie hole in question is the 490-yard par-5 16th which Bonomo birdied setting the stage for his fifth and final birdie of the day on the 332-yard par-4 17th.
Bonomo now finds himself in the same exact place he was a year ago. As the co-medalist and two-seed heading into match play. This time around Bonomo is set on not being upset in the Round of 32.
“I just need to play the same way I’ve been playing all year long. I played well today, so I just want to stay confident,” Bonomo explained. “I’ve learned from mistakes in match play in the past, so hopefully I have a positive outcome this year.”
The top five was rounded out by four players – last year’s runner-up North Chery (Great River GC), Will Lord (Suffield CC), Andrew Beauton (Madison CC), and Hudson Hagmann (The Connecticut GC) – in a tie for third at even par.
Day one of the 84th Connecticut Junior Amateur concluded with a 9-for-8 playoff at 4-over for the final spots in the bracket. Those advancing included Chase Robustelli (Shuttle Meadow CC), Juan Herrera (eClub of Connecticut), Andrew Antonelli (Club River Oaks), Brody Dibeneditto (Highfield Club), Stephen Miklos (Tashua Knolls GC), Wilson Ouimet (USGA/CSGA GC), and Henry Barry (Manchester CC).
Play at the 84th Connecticut Junior Amateur presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop will resume on Tuesday morning at 7:30 a.m. with the playing of the Round of 32. The Round of 16 will follow in the afternoon with the quarterfinals and semifinals set for Wednesday. The week will conclude on Thursday morning with the 18-hole title match.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Junior Amateur presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop 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. 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.
