The one hundred and twentieth Connecticut Beginner shall be contested at Ridgewood Nation Membership from June 20-24. This yr will mark the fourth time that Ridgewood CC has hosted Connecticut’s premier beginner occasion.

“We hosted the Connecticut Open in 2020 when Ridgewood CC celebrated its one hundredth birthday so there are a whole lot of traditions and historical past tied to internet hosting marquee occasions at Ridgewood CC,” mentioned head skilled Justin Foster.

Designed by Deveraux Emmett, Ridgewood CC was established in 1920 and has welcomed a few of golf’s greats to the tee together with Walter Hagen, Tommy Armour, Ken Inexperienced, Mark Calcaveccia, and Gene Sarazen who owned a home close by and would typically put together for tournaments on the membership.

The par-71 format, which final hosted the Connecticut Beginner in 2000, will play at roughly 6,750 yards and it’ll present a stiff problem all through the week to the sector.

“I undoubtedly have a whole lot of respect for the refined difficulties the course will current,” two-time Connecticut Beginner winner Rick Dowling mentioned. “Ridgewood CC will pose a terrific take a look at for all rivals. Par shall be good a great rating all week lengthy.”

Though not a demanding course size sensible, Ridgewood CC would require gamers to search out the fitting spots on the placing inexperienced. If they will execute strategy photographs then there may be a capability to search out birdies.

“The greens are tiny and surrounded by bother so managing your photographs into the inexperienced and naturally placing effectively would be the keys to efficiently getting round Ridgewood CC,” Foster mentioned. “Relying on the outlet areas you may have such a small quadrant of the inexperienced that it’s a must to hit it into. I’m speaking smaller than the dimensions of a parking area to actually have a great probability at not solely a birdie however a cushty two-putt.”

The closing stretch at Ridgewood CC shall be something however comfy and may present loads of match play fireworks. Starting with the par-5 fifteenth the closing 4 holes embrace two of the course’s three par-5s. The stretch begins with a reasonably right away 533-yard par-5 that can supply a birdie alternative. Following an opportunity to attain gamers will play for par on the troublesome 461-yard par-4 sixteenth and on the 225-yard par-3 seventeenth earlier than ending with a scoring alternative on the 555-yard par-5 18th.

“Match play is such an thrilling format and I’m wanting ahead to creating one other deep run,” mentioned Drew Brennan who made a shock run to the semifinals in 2021. “I’ll lean on my experiences from final yr. I’ve heard nice issues about Ridgewood CC and I do know they are going to be a terrific host for this championship.”

The one hundred and twentieth Connecticut Beginner will start on Monday, June 20 at 7:30 a.m. with the primary of two days of stroke play qualifying. Following the completion of play on Tuesday the sector shall be reduce to 32 for the beginning of match play. Wednesday will embrace the Rounds of 32 and 16 with the quarterfinals and semifinals to be performed on Thursday. Friday will characteristic the 36-hole championship match.

Tee Instances

Notes on the Subject:

Variety of Gamers: 118

Previous Champions (5): Rick Dowling (2017 & 2019), Ben Conroy (2018), Brian Hedstrom (1997 & 2000), Invoice Hermanson (1991), Dave Szewczul (1978)

 Gamers to Watch:

 Chris Ayers (Goodwin Park GC): Ayers has had success within the Connecticut Beginner lately. In 2020 and 2021 he superior to the Spherical of 16 whereas in 2019 he was the R.M. Grant Medalist earlier than falling within the Spherical of 32.

Drew Brennan (Ellington Ridge CC): Final yr Brennan made a shock run to the semifinals the place he almost beat eventual champion Chris Fosdick.

Ben Carpenter (CC of Darien): Final yr Carpenter, a member of the Yale golf staff, had a robust summer season in CSGA occasions. First he reached the Spherical of 16 on the Connecticut Beginner then on the Connecticut Open performed on his dwelling course Carpenter held the 36-hole lead earlier than settling for a 3rd place end.

Patrick Casey (Torrington CC): In 2020 Casey shared third place on the Palmer Cup, and by means of his T8 end on the Connecticut Open he tied for low beginner honors. Final yr he reached the Spherical of 16 on the Connecticut Beginner.

Ben Conroy (New Haven CC): Conroy gained the 2018 Connecticut Beginner on the CC of Waterbury and added to his trophy case in 2020 with a win on the Connecticut Mid-Beginner.

Ben Day (New Haven CC): The 2019 Connecticut Mid-Beginner champion reached the semifinals of the Connecticut Beginner in 2020.

Rick Dowling (Golf Efficiency Middle): Dowling is a two-time Connecticut Beginner champion profitable in 2017 and 2019. In 2020 he gained the Palmer Cup and final yr he gained the Connecticut Mid-Beginner.

Jackson Fretty (Greenwich CC): A rising junior at Princeton, Fretty had a robust 2021 CSGA season reaching the quarterfinals of the Connecticut Beginner and sharing sixth place on the Palmer Cup. Fretty reached U.S Open Last Qualifying this yr.

Adam Friedman (Nice River GC): Friedman has been a serious menace in every of the final two Connecticut Beginner’s. In 2020 he made a run to the quarterfinals and final yr he made it to the semifinals. In 2020 on the Connecticut Open hosted by Ridgewood CC Friedman was within the combine for a lot of the week earlier than finally ending T12.

Connor Goode (Glastonbury Hills CC): The UConn commit gained the Connecticut Junior Beginner in 2021.

Anthony Guerrera (Watertown GC): A former member of the Submit College golf staff, Guerrera just lately competed in U.S. Open Last Qualifying the place he was paired with Rickie Fowler.

Mike Kennedy (Nice River GC): The 2017 Connecticut Mid-Beginner winner reached the Spherical of 16 in every of the final two Connecticut Beginner’s.

Walker Lohrey (Tumble Brook CC): In 2021 Lohrey earned the three-seed on the Connecticut Beginner and made a run to the quarterfinals. This yr he completed T7 on the Palmer Cup and competed in U.S. Open Last Qualifying.

Daniel Murphy (H. Smith Richardson): The winner of this yr’s Two Man Championship, Murphy reached the quarterfinals of the 2020 Connecticut Beginner. Final month Murphy teamed with brother Tim to compete within the U.S. Beginner 4-Ball.

Tim Murphy (The Stanwich Membership): In 2021 Murphy reached the Spherical of 16 on the Connecticut Beginner and final month he performed within the U.S. Beginner 4-Ball with brother Dan.

Jackson Roman (Shuttle Meadow CC): Final yr Roman, who simply accomplished his freshman season at Loyola College Maryland, had a robust season reaching match play on the U.S. Junior Beginner and performed effectively on the Connecticut Open together with a 5-under 66 within the first spherical that left him one shot off the lead.

Jamie Sheltman (Wallingford CC): The winner of this yr’s Two Man Championship, Sheltman has made it to the Spherical of 32 in every of the final 4 years on the Connecticut Beginner. This yr he shall be seeking to make a deeper run.

Peter Tomlinson (Orange Hills CC): Final yr was a formidable yr for Tomlinson who reached the quarterfinals on the Connecticut Beginner, completed second on the Connecticut Public Hyperlinks, and fourth on the Connecticut Mid-Beginner.