the best in Connecticut Golf history takes victories
and longevity. The 2010 Connecticut Golf Hall of
Fame inductee took another step toward legendary
status with his record fifth Connecticut Public Links
Championship. Szewczul won his first Public Links
title in 1992, and has also won the Connecticut
Amateur, Mid-Amateur, Senior Amateur, Senior
Match Play, Tournament of Champions and New
England Senior Amateur championships in a career
that spans more than five decades.
“To win another championship means a lot.
It means that I’m healthy enough to keep competing
and healthy enough to test my game, which is most
important,” said Szewczul. “It’s really fun to still be
able to compete against the young kids.”
While a bogey on the final hole would cost
Nick Waddington the title, it was nonetheless an
impressive performance for the rising star from
Manchester CC. Waddington was hoping to follow
in the footsteps of his father Derek, who won the
Public Links Championship in 1999 at Richter Park.
Unfortunately, his four birdies in his final round
were matched with six bogies, including a bogey on
the finishing hole that left him one stroke shy.
Tied with Waddington for runner-up was
Hector Gutierrez of Great River GC and Jeff
Delucia of Norwich Golf Course, each of whom
were trying to etch their names in CSGA history.
Gutierrez, who was playing in his very first CSGA
championship, made a clutch birdie on the 17th
hole and narrowly missed holing a chip-shot on
the final hole to force a playoff. Despite coming
up just short, the rising junior at Sacred Heart
University hopes to take the momentum into his
fall tournament season.
Delucia charged up the leaderboard in front
of his friends and family, shooting a final round
68 to send shockwaves to the leading groups. He
holed a pitch shot on the par-5 14th hole for eagle
and birdied the difficult par-3 16th to jump into a
tie for lead, but a bogey on the par-4 17th left him
at even par for the championship. Nevertheless a
strong showing for a player who was looking to
become the first player in nearly thirty years to win
the Public Links on his home course.
2014 Connecticut Public Links Champion
Glen Boggini of Twin Hills CC shot rounds of 71-
72—143 to round out the top five finishers. A total
of thirty three players advanced to play the final
round after Wednesday’s cut.
32nd Connecticut Public Links Championship
August 16 - 17 - Norwich Golf Course (Par 71)
Champion: Dave Szewczul, Tunxis Plantation CC 70-71--141
T-2nd: Jeff Delucia, Norwich GC 74-68--142
Hector Gutierrez, Great River GC 70-72--142
Nick Waddington, Manchester CC 69-73--142
5th: Glen Boggini, Twin Hills CC 71-72--143
T-6th: James Sheltman, Alling Memorial GC 73-71--144
Richard Stevens, Eclub of Connecticut 71-73--144
Josh Cameron, Norwich GC 71-73--144
» Click here for Full Results
www.csgalinks.org
CSGA Links // September, 2017 | 25