Wethersfield, Connecticut (October 17, 2022) – On a cold, gray, and at times rainy day at Wethersfield Country Club Shaun Sullivan and Bill Hermanson won the titles at the 21st Al Acker One Day Championship presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop.
Shaun Sullivan claimed the Tettelbach Open Division with a 1-over 72 to finish one shot in front of Eastern Connecticut standout Ashton Lewis (+2). Chris Flowers, Justin Beal, David LeRoy, and Glenn Pelt, Jr. shared third at 3-over.
Starting the shotgun style tournament on the par-5 14th Sullivan hit his third shot to three feet and brushed in the birdie putt. The opening hole birdie set the tone for the day as Sullivan rolled in three additional birdies to help him overcome two bogeys and a double-bogey.
“I hit the ball really well,” the 52-year-old Shaun Sullivan said. “I think I may have had two bad swings all day. I hit it really, really well.”
Sullivan was a prominent player in the 1990s competing at the state and national levels. In 1996, the year Tiger Woods won his third and final U.S. Amateur title, Sullivan was part of the field. However, once he had kids competitive golf took a back seat. Now with his kids older and more time on his hands Sullivan is looking forward to competing more.
“The win means a lot to me. I haven’t played in state events in probably 15-20 years. I used to play a lot,” Sullivan said. “Then I had my kids and coaching and all of that took up a lot of time and I stopped playing in state events because I couldn’t get days off from work. Now I work for the state so I can start playing more and now my kids are older.”
In the Siderowf Gross Division, Bill Hermanson turned in the only under-par round of the day with a 2-under 69. Beginning on the first hole, Hermanson hit his approach shots on Nos. 1-3 all inside of ten feet but he couldn’t convert the birdie tries and for a while it looked like it was going to be one of those days for the Connecticut Golf Hall of Famer.
All of that changed on the par-4 fourth when Hermanson rolled in a five-footer for his first birdie of the day. A second birdie dropped on the par-5 sixth and then following his only blemish of the day on the par-4 11th Hermanson bounced back with a birdie on the ensuing par-4.
With a nifty bunker save mixed in on the par-3 17th Hermanson then parred his way to the house.
“This is a nice way to wrap up the season,” Bill Hermanson said.” I had a good pairing and that is always fun. And then anytime you win it is good. It is hard to win and it gives me something to keep me motivated for the winter.”
Peter Davison finished second at 1-over, Randy Rizy, and Vin Capece tied for third at 3-over, while Rick Malafronte and Gary Mattesen shared fifth at 5-over.
The Tettelbach Net Division was claimed by Glenn Pelt, Jr. at 6-under, Dave LeRoy and Sullivan shared second at 3-under, PJ Gehris was fourth at 1-under, with Mario Argentino, Erin Kinney, and Elvin Lorenzo all finishing 1-over to tie for fifth.
In the Siderowf Net Division race Hermanson won at 2-under, Carl Musante (-1) was second, Tom Hurd (E) was third while Michael Byrne, Capece, and Mattesen were 1-over in fourth.
The Chris Cote’s Golf Shop Player of the Year awards were also determined at the completion of play. Chis Maxwell (Tettelbach Open Division) and Dave Jones (Siderowf Gross Division) earned the honor for the second straight year. In the Tettelbach Net Division Glenn Pelt, Jr. was the player of the year while in the Siderowf Net Division it was Nick Snyder.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut State Golf Association 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.
