Mother Nature continues to wreak havoc on the 2013 Connecticut Amateur Championship at New Haven Country Club. On Tuesday, thunderstorms forced the suspension of play for the second consecutive day.
Conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association, the Connecticut Amateur Championship is one of the nation’s oldest state amateur golf championships. The challenging format tests the state's best amateur golfers over two rounds of stroke play to determine the low thirty-two match play qualifiers. Two rounds of match play each day culminate in a thirty-six hole final to crown the top amateur player in Connecticut.
Only 40 of the 124 competitors have yet to complete their second round of stroke play qualifying on the 6,543 yard, par 70 layout. Round two will resume Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m., with the first round of match play to follow.
Kevin Josephson, 23, of Personal Golf Network is the current leader in the clubhouse for medalist honors at three under par 137. Josephson, one of the first to go out in the morning wave, shot a round of four under par 66 to take the lead.
“I played really well both days, but just couldn’t get the putts to fall in yesterday,” Josephson said, “Today, I made a few more putts and made some great par saves toward the end of my round.”
Josephson’s round of 66 included five birdies and was the low round of the championship. As he noted, one of the keys to match play will be continuing to make birdies as the week progresses. “I’m just going to focus on hitting fairways and greens, trying to make as many birdies as possible, and keeping the pressure off myself. I’ve always loved this place, so I’m really looking forward to match play,” Josephson said.
In second place, Chris Waitr, 20, of the Country Club of Waterbury, posted a two round total of 138 and finished one stroke behind Josephson. Wiatr was forced to come back earlier this morning to finish his first round before heading back out for his second. He finished his first on a high note, making birdie on his second to last hole, and continued the momentum through his second round, eventually shooting 67.
“I had two holes to finish this morning and birdied the first one, so that really helped me start the day off right,” Waitr said. Overall, I played really solid, and I’m definitely looking forward to being a bit more aggressive in the match play rounds.”
Among those still to finish their second round is Cody Paladino, of Wethersfield Country Club, who is four under par on his second round through 12 holes. After an opening round of 72, Paladino made four birdies and no bogies in his second round to leapfrog into a tie for second place.
Benjamin Day, who began the day just a single shot behind overnight leader Glen Boggini of Twin Hills, is even through 11 holes. Day, who is looking to capture his first Connecticut Amateur title on his home course, will certainly be looking to make a string of birdies on his inward nine to challenge for medalist honors.
A total of 32 players will advance to match play, with the current projected cut at 150 (+10). 18 players stand within a shot of the projected cut line, and a playoff to determine the last spot(s) will begin at 9:00 a.m. The first round of match play will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Amateur Championship is one of 18 championship tournaments 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 50 Championships, Qualifiers and One-Day Tournaments throughout the year. For more information, visit our website at csgalinks.org.
