2014 USGA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Throughout 2014, the CSGA conducted eight local and sectional qualifiers for USGA National Championships. Of the nearly
twenty-seven million golfers in the United States, less than 1% will ever have the distinct honor of competing in a national
championship, and qualifying for any USGA championship is among the highest achievement for any amateur or professional
golfer. Their stories of success are depicted below.
F
113th United States Open Championship
OR NINETY-NINE of the region’s best
amateur and professional golfers, the
road to Pinehurst Resort and the 114th
United States Open began May 12th at the
Country Club of Farmington in Farmington,
Conn. A total of five qualifying spots were
available, with successful qualifiers advancing
to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying on Monday,
June 2nd at one of ten sites around the country.
Bright sunshine and slick greens
greeted the players who made their way
around one of Connecticut’s oldest and
most historic golf courses. Founded in 1894,
the present layout at the Country Club
of Farmington was designed by Devereux
Emmet. Although it plays a mere 6,426 yards
from the Championship Tees, the course
makes up for the lack in yardage with a set of
green complexes that are among the smallest
and most undulating in the state.
Setting the pace for the day was
Clark Robinson, who claimed medalist honors
with a stellar round of five under-par 66. After
making the turn in 31, Robinson birdied the
par-5 10th hole to move to six under-par,
and had a chance of breaking the competitive
course record of 64 set by Joe Choi (1990)
and Scott Farrell (2007). Although he would
go on to make seven par’s and a lone bogey on
#16, his round of 66 was three clear of the next
closest competitor. Robinson is no stranger
to low rounds in qualifiers, having claimed
medalist honors at last year’s Connecticut
Amateur Qualifier at Madison Country Club
by six shots with a round of 65 (-5).
Among those advancing at two
under-par 69 included a pair of past CSGA
Major Champions in Jeff Curl (Birmingham,
Alabama) and John VanDerLaan (Southbury,
Conn.). Curl captured the Connecticut
Open Championship last year at Torrington
Country Club, making it his second Open
Championship title (2007) in just six years.
VanDerLaan won the Connecticut Junior
Amateur Championship in 2012, becoming
just the fifth player in the history of the
event to win both Medalist and Match Play
honors. He began his freshman year at Florida
Southern College this fall as a member of the
12-time Division II National Champion golf
team.
Although none of the players who
qualified at CC of Farmington advanced
through the sectional qualifying stage, two
of Connecticut’s star players successfully
did. Cameron Wilson (Rowayton, Conn.)
and Brett Stegmaier (Madison, Conn.) both
successfully qualified and competed in the
114th U.S. Open Championship at Pinehurst,
N.C. Stegmaier, who had full status on the
Web.com Tour in 2014, advanced through
the Columbus, Ohio sectional with rounds
of 67-72--139 to earn his first trip to the U.S.
Open. Wilson, who won the NCAA Division
I Individual Championship in the spring of
2014, was the first alternate from the Purchase,
N.Y. sectional and was a last-minute addition
to the field, marking his second U.S. Open
appearance in three years.
114th United States Open Qualifying
May 12th ~ Country Club of Farmington
Clark Robinson (a), South Windsor, Conn. 66
Christopher Wiatr (a), Woodbury, Conn. 69
John VanDerLaan (a), Southbury, Conn.
69
Jeff Curl, Birmingham, Alabama
69
Corey Harris, Washington, Conn.
70
Other Connecticut Players Who Qualified
Cody Paladino, Kensington, Conn.
67
**Qualified in Longmeadow, Mass.
David Pastore (a), Greenwich, Conn.
68
**Qualified in Longmeadow, Mass.
Brian Gaffney, Darien, Conn.
69
**Qualified in Skillman, New Jersey
Mike Gilmore, Bethel, Conn.
70
**Qualified in Armonk, New York
Cameron Wilson, Rowayton, Conn. (Exempt)
Brett Stegmaier, Madison, Conn. (Exempt)
89th U.S. Amateur Public Links
June 9 ~ H. Smith Richardson Golf Course
Rigel Fernandes, Bradenton, Florida
74-69--143
Jacob Henny, Norwalk, Conn.
71-75--146
Other Connecticut Players Who Qualified
David Pastore, Greenwich, Conn.
66-69--135
**Qualified as Medalist in Old Bethpage, New York
67th U.S. Junior Amateur
June 30~ Tashua Knolls Golf Course
Drake Hull, Clarendon, Vermont
70-70--140
Tyler Tsay, Andover, Mass.
71-71--142
Ivan Camilo Ramirez, Columbia
74-69--143
Other Connecticut Players Who Qualified
Drew Aitken, Pomfret Center, Conn.
72-70--142
**Qualified as Medalist in Voorheesville, New York
Evan Grenus, Glastonbury, Conn.
72-71--143
**Qualified in Cohasset, Mass.
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Connecticut State Golf Association 2014
Clark Robinson
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