Waterbury, Connecticut (May 18, 2026) – Playing in the second group of the day, Mike Rothberg set the early pace at the 23rd Russell C. Palmer Cup, firing a 2-under 67. Eventually, William Giaquinto matched Rothberg, and the two will share the lead heading into Tuesday’s second round at the Country Club of Waterbury.
Rothberg (Mill River CC), the soon-to-be Sacred Heart University graduate, came out of the gates clicking, rolling in a birdie on the opening par-4. A string of pars followed before Rothberg slipped up with a bogey on No. 7.
Looking to rebound on the only par-5 on the course, the ninth, Rothberg had to work for his birdie. First, he pulled his drive left and then clipped a tree with his second shot as he tried to get back into position. In the rough with 165 yards remaining, Rothberg stuffed his third shot, setting up a birdie to close out the side in 1-under 34.
A fortunate bounce on the green led to a birdie on the par-4 11th, but a pair of bogeys on Nos. 12 and 13 saw Rothberg fall back to level-par. Unfazed, Rothberg rebounded with consecutive birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 to conclude his day.
“I wasn’t really playing well coming into today,” Mike Rothberg said following his round. “I didn’t really have the spring (for Sacred Heart) that I wanted, so I was a little nervous coming out today, but I just figured I would just go out there and let it rip, and kind of just see what happens and accept the results.”
Late in the day, Giaquinto (New Haven CC) surged down the stretch of his opening round. Fresh off his freshman season at Radford, Giaquinto was even-par through 14 holes before converting birdies on Nos. 15 and 18 to earn his piece of the overnight lead.
Giaquinto broke a string of pars with his birdie on No. 6, and he made the turn at 1-under after a birdie on No. 9 offset his bogey on the eighth.
One more dropped shot followed in No. 11 before Giaquinto found another gear playing the last four holes in 2-under.
Luke Stennett (Tallwod CC), Chris Kono (Greenwich CC), and Cody Paladino (Hatford GC) round out the top five as they currently sit in a tie for fourth at 1-over.
The top 51 players and ties made the cut and will play in Tuesday’s second round. Play will resume at 7:30 a.m. After the second round, the top 30 and ties will make the cut and play in Wednesday’s final round.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Russell C. Palmer Cup 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.
