Watertown, Connecticut (July 10, 2025) – It was wet, it was a birdie barrage, it was a grind, and in the end it was a dramatic finish. The title match of the 84th Connecticut Junior Amateur presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop between Alex Halpert and North Chery had a little bit of everything.
As play began at 8 a.m. on Thursday morning at Watertown Golf Club, a steady rain began to fall. Both Halpert and Chery pierced the air with their opening drives as a few hearty souls followed in their footsteps.
Those who began the day and those who joined as the match progressed were treated to a spectacular display of golf. Matching birdies on the opening par-5 set the tone for the day.
On two separate occasions through the first six holes Halpert (Highfield Club) took 1-up leads and on both occasions Chery (Great River GC) had the answer.
With each passing hole more and more questions were asked and with each passing hole answers were resoundingly given. Both players birdied the par-4 eighth and then after Chery nearly holed his tee shot for an ace on the par-3 ninth setting up an easy birdie, Halpert answered with a 25-foot bomb for a birdie of his own. Despite numerous haymakers thrown by each player on the front nine play went to the second nine tied.
“We were both just playing pretty solid golf,” last year’s runner-up North Chery said of the front nine play.
On the back nine the match remained tight but the proceedings turned to a grind. Halpert, the winner of the 2024 Father Son Championship, began the back nine with a win on the par-4 10th only to have Chery answer with a win on the ensuing hole.
After matching pars on Nos. 12 and 13 Halpert, a rising senior at the Canterbury School, once again took the lead, this time with a par on the par-4 14th. Halpert would hold on to that lead all the way until the final hole.
With a large crowd following and the sun peaking through Halpert found the fairway off the tee on the straight away par-4 18th but he was well behind Chery. His second shot was pin high but it came to rest in the fringe 30 feet right of the pin. Meanwhile, Chery applied some pressure. Despite finding the rough the DePaul commit had a clean lie and with a wedge in hand knocked his approach shot to eight feet.
Feeling like he needed to make the long birdie try to win the hole and the match Halpert raced his putt by and watched as it came to rest outside of Chery’s marker. Still up Halpert missed his comebacker for par allowing Chery to two-putt for par and win the hole sending play to extra holes.
On the first extra hole, the par-5 first, both players nearly chipped in for eagle. Halpert from short of the green and Chery from behind the green but in the end matching birdies sent play onward.
With both players striking the ball beautifully, it became clear that this match would come down to a putt. Halpert nearly ended the proceedings with a long birdie on No. 2 and Chery nearly did the same on the 21st hole of the match, the par-4 third.
“I just tried to tell myself that no matter what happens, I’m always going to have another chance, which isn’t always true,” Chery said. “But it’s good to tell yourself things like that because it just helps you stay in the game.”
On the fourth extra hole, the par-3 fourth, Chery had to do everything in his power to stay in the game. He missed the green left off the tee and hit a good chip shot to set up a five-footer for par. However, before he could hit that putt, he had to anxiously watch on as Halpert just missed on another birdie bid, this time from 12 feet. With the bullet dodged Chery calmly rolled in the par putt moving play to the par-4 fifth and 23rd hole of the day.
Off the tee, both players were in the fairway but it was Halpert who found the green, landing his approach 15 feet past the hole, while Chery tugged his approach from 111 yards into the back fringe.
Just away, it was Chery’s play first. With three feet of fringe to deal with before the ball reached the putting surface Chery stroked it confidently and as soon as he hit it you knew he liked it. Moments later the ball slammed into the bottom of the cup and Chery unleashed a fist pump. For the first time all day he was primed to not only take the lead but in a position to win the match.
Halpert still had a chance to answer but when his putt dipped low the 84th Connecticut Junior Amateur title belonged to Chery.
“I’m just super happy to come back and get it done this year,” an elated Chery said. “It’s my second year playing in the event, but it’s just a really good event. I’m just happy to have won.”
Speaking on his winning birdie putt Chery explained, “I actually have had a lot of putts like that in the past. I like putts on the fringe, I guess. I just tried to tell myself just get this there. I saw the read in my head and I just wanted to get it to the hole with not too much speed. I left the flag in and the ball just dropped to the bottom.”
With the win Chery not only becomes the latest to etch his name on the Connecticut Junior Amateur trophy but he also earns an exemption into the 77th U.S. Junior Amateur set to be played at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Texas from July 21-26. He also earns an exemption into the 91st Connecticut Open presented by Ascend Bank from July 28-30.
“I’m excited to play in the Connecticut Open. I’ve never played in that event,” Chery said. “I’m also super excited to play in the U.S. Junior Amateur (for a second straight year).”
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.
