2014 DICK TETTELBACH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
HUSKY PRIDE
Zach Zaback of TPC River Highlands was a rising star in Connecticut heading into the 2014 season.
After winning the 2014 Dick Tettelbach Player of the Year Race, Zaback proved that he’s here to stay.
A
T JUST TWENTY-ONE years of age, a
realistic expectation for Zach Zaback heading
into the 2014 season would have been a topten finish in the Dick Tettelbach Player of the Year race.
There’s no question that Zaback was one of the rising stars
in Connecticut golf, having finished third in last year’s
New England Amateur and eighth in the Connecticut
Open championship.
But as a rising junior on the University of
Connecticut Huskies Division I golf team, Zaback isn’t
eligible for many of the top points events, including
the Connecticut Mid-Amateur Championship, Public
Links Championship, and Tournament of Champions.
Accumulating enough points to outlast the likes of players
like Dave Szewczul is a rare feat. In fact, since 2000, only
three players have been able win the Player of the Year title
while still in college.
Zaback was certainly aware of the challenges with
winning the season-long points, but his goals heading into
58
Connecticut State Golf Association 2014
the season were much more focused on improving his
game and playing steady golf throughout the year.
“I didn’t really have any expectations of winning
Player of the Year or anything like that,” said Zaback. “I
really just wanted to go into the year and play well in every
tournament I was in and play more consistently over the
year.”
After a fourth place finish at the Rutherford
Intercollegiate to end his Spring season with the Huskies,
Zaback began his 2014 CSGA campaign at the Russell C.
Palmer Cup. An opening round of even--par 69 landed
him in the final group heading into the second day, and
after shooting 72 in the morning round, Zaback was
right in the mix. But a closing round of 74 left him tied
for sixth. Disappointing, perhaps, but a good start to the
season nonetheless. Next up,? The 112th Connecticut
Amateur at Lake of Isles.
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