Ryan Lee Junior Golf Open Winners Both From Berlin

Both the boys and girls winners of the Ryan Lee Junior Golf Open, held at Timberlin Golf Course were from Berlin. Austin Forauer won the boys title and Ashley D’Attlio won the girls championship. 

The Connecticut Section PGA ran the golf tournament after conferring with the Lee family. 

The Connecticut Section website said this about why it runs the tournament in Ryan Lee's memory.

"About Ryan Lee who was a JGA member since he was 10 years old. Parents and friends knew Ryan as a wonderful son and a fine young man. Fellow sports competitors knew Ryan as an athlete overflowing with talent and potential. People who met Ryan for the first time quickly realized that he was a person with a big heart who took an immediate interest in others. 

"Ryan was truly a man for others. Ryan had a love for sports, which he cultivated throughout his life. Following a decorated career at Berlin High School on both the varsity golf team and varsity basketball team, Ryan continued his golf career at Long Island University. As a Division I collegiate golfer, Ryan embodied the most important traits of a successful person, both on and off the golf course. Ryan was persistent and determined, and always eager to learn. 

"He garnered invaluable life lessons from his time as a collegiate golfer, and there is no doubt Ryan could have done anything in this world. Although sports were his passion, Ryan was an individual who truly understood the importance of forging lasting relationships."

Ryan's mother Theresa Lee said this year's tournament, the second annual, was really fun having two Berlin golfers win the title.

"Connecticut Junior Golf came to us and asked us if they could run the tournament in Ryan's honor and we were shocked and blown away that they would do that," Theresa Lee said. "Ryan won four junior golf tournaments so junior golf was really important to him. And to have the tournament at Timberlin, where he basically spent all his time, made it that much more special. We are looking into maybe expanding it into a two-day tournament. Anything we can do to make the tournament great, we will do. It's nice that we don't have to run it, we just volunteer.