(October 9, 2025) – Team Connecticut will be looking for a second win at the annual Tri-State Matches in the last three years when they head to Warwick Country Club in Rhode Island from October 14-15.
This year’s Connecticut roster will feature six players from the victorious 2023 team, along with five additional players who played in the Tri-State Matches in prior years. Additionally, the roster will include five rookies – Thomase Labbe, Ryan Burrill, Steve Wagner, Tim Bickford, and Keith Stone.
“Although we have only six returning players from last year’s team we are still a very talented squad,” ninth-year team captain Roger Everin said. “I asked the players not to get too ahead of themselves and instead focus on what got them onto the team. However, for me the most important message was to enjoy the experience and have fun.”
The first Tri-State Matches were played in 1928 at the Yale Golf Course with Massachusetts winning the first of their 39 titles. However, for much of the early days of the competition, it was Connecticut that racked up the titles. Winners of 41 in total, Connecticut won 23 of the 33 matches played between 1946 and 1980.
Of late, Massachusetts has been the dominant force winning 14 consecutive matches from 2004 to 2017. Despite the defeat in 2023, Massachusetts has still won 18 of the last 20 Tri-State Matches.
Rhode Island won four of the first eight matches but has only won 12 times overall and not since 2001.
Each team comprises of 10 mid-amateurs and six senior amateurs for a total of 16 players. Play will begin Tuesday morning with four-ball matches followed by foursomes in the afternoon. The final day will feature one round of singles matches.
This year, the Tri-State Matches will head to Warwick Country Club in Rhode Island, marking the second time that Warwick CC will host the matches after previously hosting in 2013.
The first nine holes at the par-69 Warwick CC were designed in the early 1920s by Donald Ross, with Geoffrey Cornish adding the second nine in the early 1950s.
The combination is a stunning 18-hole layout located on the shores of Narragansett Bay, offering views of West Passage, East Greenwich Bay, the Jamestown Bridge, and the Newport Bridges.
Connecticut Roster
Tri-State Victories: 41
Last Victory: 2023
Mid-Amateurs
- Justin Beal (Timberlin Golf Club)
- Richard Dowling (Golf Performance Center)
- Anthony Guerrera (Watertown Golf Club)
- Thomas Labbe (Watertown Golf Club)
- Ryan Burrill (Indian Hill Country Club)
- Eric Bleile (Great River GC)
- Steven Wagner (CC of Farmington)
- Tim Bickford (Timberlin GC)
- Mark Eells (Manchester CC)
- Peter Tomlinson (Orange Hills CC)
Seniors
- Dave Jones (Mohegan Sun GC)
- Bob Murphy, Jr. (Brownson CC)
- Patrick McGuiness (Keney GC)
- Brian Hedstrom (Indian Hill CC)
- Rick Malafronte (New Haven CC)
- Keith Stone (Connecticut National GC)
Tri-State Victories: 12
Last Victory: 2001
Mid-Amateurs
- Bobby Leopold (Wannamoisett CC)
- Mike Calef (Wanumetonomy G&CC)
- Mike Hamilton (Kirbkbrae CC)
- Billy Forcier (Wannamoisett CC)
- Kevin Silva (Montaup CC)
- Mike Carparco (Agawam Hunt)
- Tyler Cooke (Warwick CC)
- Jamie Lukowicz (Agawam Hunt)
- Nate Winsor (Crestwood CC)
- Kevin Blaser (Segregansett CC)
Seniors
- Darren Corrente (Wannamoisett CC)
- Brian O’Leary (Pawtucket CC)
- Chris O’Neill (Pawtucket CC)
- John McNeill (AGTNE)
- Glenn Dufault (Montaup CC)
- Jeff Dantas (Cranston CC)
Tri-State Victories: 39
Last Victory: 2024
Mid-Amateurs
- Sean Fitzpatrick (George Wright GC)
- Jake Ratti (Wollaston GC)
- Ben Balter (Weston GC)
- Ben Spitz (George Wright GC)
- Christian Emmerich (Kernwood CC)
- Cooper Griffin (Woodland GC)
- Daniel Schwartz (George Wright GC)
- Ray Dennehy (Oak Hill CC)
- Sam Russell (Cranberry Valley GC)
- Jared Winiarz (Segregansett CC)
Seniors
- Brendan Hester (Pleasant Valley CC)
- Doug Clapp (Old Sandwich GC)
- Dean Godek (Agawam Municipal GC)
- Keith Smith (Franklin CC)
- Steve Tasho (Thorny Lea GC)
- Jim Patterson (Orchards GC)
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.
