Storylines & Facts from the 71st Senior Amateur

On Monday, September 26th, ninety of the state’s top senior amateur golfers will begin their quest for the 71st Connecticut Senior Amateur. The championship is open to bona fide members of a CSGA club who are fifty five years of age and over by the start of the tournament, and who have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 14.0.  

Schedule of Play:

Monday, September 26th – Round one of stroke play (18-holes). Cut to the low 39 scores including ties

Tuesday, September 27th – Round two of stroke play (18-holes). The lowest 36-hole total will be declared the champion.

Defending Champion: Bill Hermanson of Black Hall Club battled cold and windy conditions at Torrington Country Club en route to capturing his second CSGA major championship of the 2015 season. Hermanson, a 2012 Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame inductee, shot rounds of 70-76—146 to edge 2014 champion Mark Vasington of Wampanoag CC by two strokes.

What the Winner Receives: The 2016 Connecticut Senior Amateur Champion will earn 400 points in the Dick Siderowf Senior Player of the Year race, and will also earn a one year exemption to the 2017 Russell C. Palmer Cup, 2017 Connecticut Amateur and 2017 Connecticut Open, and 5 year exemptions to the Connecticut Senior Amateur and Connecticut Mid-Amateur.

There are a total of nine past champions in this year’s field:

–          Bill Hermanson, Black Hall Club – 2015 Champion

–          Mark Vasington, Wampanoag Country Club – 2014 Champion

–          Jack Bracken, Hartford Golf Club – 2013 Champion

–          Dave Szewczul, Tunxis Plantation Country Club – 2011 and 2012 Champion

–          William Lee, Course at Yale – 2008 Champion

–          Richard Stevens, Middlesex E-Club – 2007 Champion

–          James Bango, New Haven Country Club – 2005 Champion

–          Joe Polizzano, Oronoque Country Club – 2002 and 2003 Champion

–          Bill Dober, Brooklawn Country Club – 1997 and 2000 Champion

Average age of the field: 61.1 years of age

Senior Player of the Year: With only two major championships left on the CSGA calendar (Connecticut Senior Amateur and Connecticut Mid-Amateur), the race for the Dick Siderowf Senior Player of the Year is shaping up to be a photo finish. Six-time Senior Player of the Year Dave Szewczul of Tunxis Plantation Country Club holds a 178 point lead over Bill Hermanson and a 246 point lead over Bruce Kraczkowsky of Blue Fox Run Golf Course. All of the top fifteen players in the current standings are in the field for the Senior Amateur and are hoping to vault up the standings with a victory.

About the Course: Madison Country club was established in the early 1900's, with the present course originally designed by famed golf course architect, Willie Park, Jr. in 1909. Some of Park's other designs include Woodway Country Club, Maidstone Golf Club, Olympia Fields Country Club, New Haven Country Club and Shuttle Meadow Country Club. In all, Park designed more than 170 golf courses around the world.

Recent Renovation: In the fall of 2014, Madison Country Club underwent an extensive renovation after record-breaking storms wreaked havoc on the course in 2012 and 2013. The club brought in renowned architect Brian Silva, who had previously completed a full renovation of the 14th hole, to formulate the redesign of the current course. The greens and fairways are roughly 10% larger, and while the course rating remained virtually unchanged, the slope increased 7 points, proof that the added changes make for some interesting approach shots. The new and improved layout will surely prove to be a stern test for the state's top senior amateur golfers as they make their way around the par-70 layout.

Keys to Victory: With small, challenging green complexes, accurate ball striking will no doubt be a part of the winning recipe. The course measure nearly 300 yards longer on the back nine, including a pair of 200 yard par-3’s (#11 and 13) that demand precise long iron shots to green complexes that are guarded by bunkers on both sides. The par 4 12th hole, which measures 409 yards but requires an approach shot over water, is sandwiched between the two par 3’s and often plays as the most challenging hole on the course. A player who makes their way around “Amen Corner” in even par or better is sure to pick up ground on the field.

Par and Yardage: Madison Country Club will be set up at 6,280 yards and will play to a par of 35-35–70.

Hole-by-Hole:

Holes 1-9 will play at 3,000 yards and a par of 35

Holes 10-18 will play at 3,280 yards and a par of 35

Social Media:

In addition to full championship coverage on our website at csgalinks.org and CTSeniorAm.com, players and spectators can join the conversation using the hashtag #CTSeniorAm.

– Like Us on Facebook at Facebook.com/CSGALinks

– Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @CSGALinks

– Championship Photos on our Flickr page – Flickr.com/csgalinks