(July 1, 2024) – For the 70th time in tournament history Watertown Golf Club will host the Connecticut Junior Amateur. With Will Gregware looking to become the first repeat champion since Geoffery Walker in 1993-1994 a field of 111 players will compete in the 83rd edition of the championship.
“We are looking forward to hosting the Connecticut Junior Amateur this year and hopefully for many years to come,” Watertown GC head professional Peter Seaman said. “We are looking forward to watching the young talent in the state.”
This year the Connecticut Junior Amateur will be contested from July 8-11. The week begins with 18 holes of stroke play qualifying with a bracket of 32 players to be set by the end of the first day. On Tuesday match play will begin with the Round of 32 followed by the Round of 16 in the afternoon. Day three will feature the quarterfinals and semifinals setting the stage for the 18-hole championship match Thursday morning.
“I think Watertown GC is a good course for match-play,” Seaman said of the par-71 6,400-yard layout. “It has a good variety of holes and I would say that it would favor the player that hits good irons into the par-3s. To have success at Watertown GC, in my eyes, is to play the back-to-back par-3s, Nos. 14 and 15 well. Many matches will be determined by how well a player navigates those two holes.”
Last year at Fairview Farm Golf Course Will Gregware showed a flare for the dramatic on his way to capturing the title. Now the University of Maryland commit will look to defend at the longtime host course of the championship.
“I have never had the opportunity to defend a title before and I am very much looking forward to it,” Will Gregware said. “I’m excited about the opportunity and know that it will take lots of hard work and determination to get back to where I was last year.”
Gregware and the rest of the field will begin their quest to capture the 83rd Connecticut Junior Amateur on Monday, July 8 at 7:30 a.m.
Notes on the Field:
Number of Players: 111
Past Champions (1): Will Gregware (2023)
Players to Watch:
Will Gregware (Farmington Woods GC): Last year’s champion is heading to the University of Maryland this fall to continue his career.
Will Lord (Suffield CC): In 2023 Lord earned the two-seed at the Connecticut Junior Amateur and then as the top seed made a deep run at the Borck Junior.
Austin Perkins (Hartford GC): The 2024 Connecticut Amateur winner will be looking to add the Connecticut Junior Amateur trophy to his mantle. Last year at the Connecticut Junior Amateur Perkins earned medalist honors and reached the Round of 16 where he fell to eventual champion Will Gregware.
Robby Rosati (Great River GC): Each of the last two years Robby Rosati has reached the semifinals of the Connecticut Junior Amateur.
Luke Stennett (Tallwood CC): 2023 New England Junior Amateur winner Luke Stennett made match play at the Connecticut Junior Amateur last year. In 2023 the University of Rhode Island commit also qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Junior Amateur 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.
