Newington, Connecticut (June 18, 2024) – Just eight players remain at the 18th Senior Match Play Championship after a long and hot day of Round of 32 and Round of 16 play at Indian Hill Country Club.
The first player to punch his ticket into the quarterfinals was medalist Brian Hedstrom.
“I think the key to success today was once again playing my own game and taking what the course gave me,” Brian Hedstrom said. “I was trying to play one shot at a time and not think ahead.”
Playing on his home course and as the top seed Hedstrom first defeated Stephen Victor (Rockledge CC) 6&5 in the Round of 32 before handling Keith Stone (Raceway GC) 5&3 in the Round of 16.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect playing my first Senior Match Play Championship on my home course,” Hedstrom a two-time Connecticut Amateur winner said. “I wasn’t sure if it would be more pressure or if I would have a home course advantage. Now after two days, I can say home course knowledge has definitely helped.”
In the quarterfinals, Hedstrom will meet Timothy Murray (Quinnatisett CC). A semifinalist last year, Murray earned a 3&2 win over Robert Bartha (Tallwood CC) in the morning before needing all 18 holes to defeat Frank Mollica (EClub of Connecticut) 1 up in the afternoon.
Murray won the first two holes in his Round of 16 match and despite Mollica getting within 1 down on numerous occasions he was always able to maintain his advantage.
Quarterfinal number two will see defending champion Glen Boggini (Ellington Ridge CC) square off against Jeff Wise (TPC River Highlands).
Boggini began his day with an impressive 7&6 triumph over Todd Schaller (Torrington CC) before needing to rally for a 2&1 win over Mike Dukette (Keney GC) in the afternoon. Dukette led 2 up after winning the par-4 sixth with a birdie however Boggini would battle back winning the next two holes to square the match. Still tied after 13 holes Boggini birdied Nos. 14 and 15 to take the lead for good.
Meanwhile, Wise moved on thanks to a 2&1 win over Jim Abbott (Timblerin GC) in the Round of 32 before securing a 1 up victory over Michael Hooper (Brooklawn CC) in the afternoon.
In the Round of 16 Wise was 2 down with three holes to play but rattled off wins on the last three holes to storm back. During his sprint to the finish, Wise birdied the par-4 16th and par-3 17th before completing the comeback with a par on the closing hole.
David Marshall (Quinnatisett CC) a survivor of a 13-for-3 playoff just to get into match play upset the two-seed Richard Stevens (EClub of Connecticut) in 20 holes in the Round of 32 and then blitzed Craig Augur (EClub of Connecticut) 7&6 in the Round of 16.
In his 20-hole Round of 32 victory, although the match was tied five times Marshall never trailed. Leading 1 up heading up the par-5 closing hole Stevens managed to tie the match with a par sending play to extra holes. Following a tie on No. 1 Marshall birdied the par-4 second hole to move on.
Marshall will now face 2018 champion Patrick McGuiness (Keney GC) in the quarterfinals. After starting his day with a 2-up victory over Matthew Damico (Mill River CC), McGuiness bested Bruce Kraczkowsky (Rockledge CC) 6&5 in the Round of 16.
McGuiness lost the first hole of his match against Kraczkowsky and still trailed 1 down after four holes. However, a victory on the par-5 third was the first of six victories in a row that put the match out of reach.
The final quarterfinal will feature David Baker (Wallingford CC) and Bob Murphy (Brownson CC).
Baker first got the better of Derek Waddington (EClub of Connecticut) 2&1 and then defeated Ken Parisi (Indian Hill CC) 4&3. Baker took control of his Round of 16 match early with victories on Nos. 2 and 3 and he still led 2 up at the turn. A win on No. 10 pushed his advantage to 3 up as he created a mountain that was too high for Parisi to climb.
Murphy made his way to the quarterfinals with a 6&5 defeat of 2021 Connecticut Senior Amateur winner Donal Reilly (H. Smith Richardson GC) and then got the better of Bart Weisman (Sterling Farms Mens GC) 4&2 in the Round of 16.
Murphy, the 2023 Connecticut Senior Amateur winner, was tied with Wiseman after 11 holes before stepping on the accelerator down the stretch. Murphy won No. 12 with a par to take the lead and then never looked back winning the 13th, 15th, and 16th holes all with birdies.
The 18th Senior Match Play Championship will continue on Wednesday morning with the quarterfinals followed by the semifinals later in the day. The week will conclude with the 18-hole championship match on Thursday morning.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Senior Match Play 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.
