Fairfield, Connecticut (July 24, 2024) – Luke Stennett and Junxi Guo earned titles on the final day of the 55th Borck Junior hosted by Brooklawn Country Club.
In the Boys’ Division Luke Stennett earned a historic victory becoming the first player to win the Borck Junior and the Connecticut Junior Amateur in the same year. Stennett also joined David Renzulli as the only player to win both titles. Renzulli, the former Country Club of Fairfield head professional won the Borck Junior title in 1983 and 1986 to go along with his 1984 Connecticut Junior Amateur victory.
Stennett (Tallwood CC) was locked in all week long earning co-medalist honors on Monday and then once match play began he never made it past the 16th hole.
“I had the same game plan all week,” Luke Stennett said. “Just to have fun and play the best I can.”
For Stennett that mindset certainly worked out.
The University of Rhode Island commit began the final day of the Borck Junior with an impressive 4&2 semifinal win over Brennan Meyers (Shuttle Meadow CC). Then in the championship match, Stennett took on Rhett dePont (Woodway CC), a 19-hole winner in the semis over Thomas Bonomo (The Stanwich Club), and was in control from the jump.
Just under two weeks after shooting a back nine 28 to win the Connecticut Junior Amateur, Stennett rolled to an 8&7 triumph thanks in large part to his five birdies in 11 holes. Stennett, who had a 5 up advantage after five holes, didn’t drop a hole in the title match.
However, it was his birdie on the par-4 third that officially put Stennett in the driver’s seat. After fanning his drive out to the right, Stennett had a 120-yard sand wedge left into the green. The 2023 New England Junior Amateur champion promptly stuffed his approach shot to four feet setting up a birdie that gave him a 3 up through three holes lead.
“After that, I thought today is my day and I started attacking pins and it went pretty well,” Stennett said.
In the Girls’ Division Junxi Guo (EClub of Connecticut) handled Paige McKenna (Tashua Knolls GC) 4&2.
“The victory means a lot because it is my first win since moving to Connecticut,” Junxi Guo said. “This tournament will give me more confidence for the rest of my season.”
Guo, a 2 up semifinal winner over Kenna Roman (Shuttle Meadow CC), won two of the first three holes in the championship match to set the early pace.
Despite the quick start for Guo the match remained close and McKenna, who bested top-seed Caroline McShea (EClub of Connecticut) 2&1 in the semifinals, was just 1 down after 13 holes.
With the match still up for grabs Nos. 12 and 13 were tied before Guo stepped on the accelerator winning the next three holes to close out the match. The highlight of Guo’s sprint to the finish was a birdie on the par-4 14th.
“My coach always tells me to W-I-N but win stands for what’s important now so I focused on hitting fairways, greens, and two-putting. That mindset kept me focused,” explained Guo.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Borck Junior 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.
