Bloomfield, Connecticut (June 2, 2025) – Nathan Han, with a course record tying 7-under 63, and six others including UConn rising senior Connor Goode were among the players to advance through 125th U.S. Amateur Local Qualifying at Wintonbury Hills Golf Course.
Han, from Somers, NY, was in the third group of the day and he set a pace that nobody could catch, firing a 7-under 63 to earn medalist honors on a sunny but unseasonably cool day.
The former Columbia and Pepperdine standout parred the first hole before finding his first birdie of the day on the par-4 second hole. His birdie on No. 2 was the first of seven on the day, against no bogeys. Han, who was named the 2022 Ivy League Player of the Year, was spectacular all day long but his best stretch came between Nos. 8-12 when he carded four birdies.
Connecticut’s Tyler Vitolo (Sandy Hook) finished in second place thanks to a flawless 5-under 65 that included birdies on Nos. 1, 2, 12, 16, and 17. Meanwhile, third place was shared by three players at 3 under – JP Kircher (Hamilton, NY), Collin McMahon-Shea (Lexington, MA), and Connor Goode (Glastonbury, CT).
Goode, a former Connecticut Junior Amateur winner, got off to a slow start playing the front nine in level-par 35 before catching fire on the back nine.
“I gave myself a lot of good chances on the front nine but I just couldn’t get any putts to fall,” Connor Goode said. “I knew I had to stay patient on the back nine and trust that I would start making some putts and I did.”
Goode’s day began to turn on the par-4 10th when he stuffed a wedge to three feet setting up a birdie. From there, Goode continued to play steady golf recording additional birdies on Nos. 12 and 13.
“My key to success today was just patience,” said Goode, who is one step closer to playing in his first U.S. Amateur. “I didn’t have my best stuff off the tee so I was focused on making smooth swings to keep the ball in play and then I tried to hit as many greens as possible. Bogeys are killers in these 18-hole qualifiers, so I didn’t try to force anything and play smart.”
The final two qualifying spots went to Ben Madden (Wellesley, MA) and Jake Bauer (Franklin, MA) both of whom finished in a tie for sixth at 2 under.
Meanwhile, in a 4-for2 playoff, Ben Loomis (New Canaan, CT) earned the first alternate spot with Ben Balter (Wellesley, MA) taking the second alternate spot.
Qualifying for the 125th U.S. Amateur will continue next month with Final Qualifying set to be held at 19 sites between July 14-30. The 125th U.S. Amateur will be played at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, CA from August 11-17.
Hero Image: Courtesy of Pepperdine Athletics
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.
