Waterbury, Connecticut (May 20, 2024) – With 18 holes in the books at the 21st Russell C. Palmer Cup presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop Cody Paladino leads alone. On arguably the best weather day of the year Paladino put together a 3 under 66 at the Country Club of Waterbury and will carry a one-shot lead into the 36-hole final day.
The 2013 and 2022 champion came out of the gates clicking on all cylinders playing his first 11 holes in a flawless 3 under. Paladino, who made a clutch par save from eight feet on the par 3 third, birdied Nos. 6, 8, and 11 as part of his early surge to the top of the leaderboard.
“I pretty much had control over the ball all day long and then I made some really nice putts,” Cody Paladino said. “I made some putts in the 10 to 15 foot range for birdie throughout the day and it is always nice to see those go in.”
Paladino (Hartford GC) did slip up bogeying three times in a four-hole stretch between Nos. 12-15 however a birdie on No. 13 kept him in red figures. Looking to right the ship down the stretch Paladino birdied the par 4 17th and then nearly jarred his approach shot from 152 yards out on the closing par 4 before settling for a birdie.
The four-time reigning Dick Tettelbach Player of the Year now finds himself in a familiar position, “Tonight I’m going to get some sleep and go to bed early,” Paladino said. “I’m going to go to bed when my son goes to bed, which is usually 7 o’clock. So that’s probably when I’ll be in bed and get some rest. Then I’m just going to enjoy it tomorrow.”
Three players will begin day two in a tie for second place at 2 under. The group includes Greg Reilly (Country Club of Darien), Trinity rising senior Ben Boyd (EClub of Connecticut), and UConn rising junior Connor Goode (Glastonbury Hills CC).
Talking after his round Greg Reilly said, “I didn’t even decide if I was going to play until yesterday. I was seeing how my game felt over the weekend and it was trending in the right direction so I decided to play. Tomorrow I am going to go out with the same mindset as today and I am going to try to keep building on the things I have been working on.”
The top five is rounded out by 2009 champion Thomas McCarthy (eClub of Connecticut), two-time Connecticut Public Links winner Peter Tomlinson (Orange Hills CC), and Robby Rosati (Mill River CC) all of whom are even-par and in a tie for fifth.
In total the top 39 and ties have advanced to the 36-hole final day. Tee times on Tuesday will begin at 7:30 a.m. off the front and back tees.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Russell C. Palmer Cup presented by Chris Cote’s Golf Shop 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.
