Sports
Woodbury Teenager Wins Medalist Honors In U.S. Open Qualifier
Golfers from Milford, Farmington and West Hartford also earned spots in a final qualifying event, in hopes of making the U.S. Open field.
KENSINGTON, CT — Four amateur golfers from Connecticut, including a pair of teenagers, bested a field of 30 professionals and 36 amateurs in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Monday at Shuttle Meadow Country Club.
Chris Pieper, an 18-year-old from Woodbury, took medalist honors with a bogey-free 67, which included an eagle and two birdies. Ben James, 17, of Milford took second place with a 69, carding four birdies and a pair of bogeys.
Pat Griffin of the Unionville section of Farmington and Cody Paladino of West Hartford also advanced, tying for third at 1-under par 70. Griffin, 48, recorded a hole-in-one at the 230-yard par-3 15th hole, along with three birdies and four bogeys. Paladino, 32, had a up and down round consisting of five birdies and four bogeys.
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An eight-man playoff of those who shot even-par 71 was conducted to determine two alternate spots. Amateur Chase Barbe, 30, of Greenwich earned the first alternate spot, with 31-year-old professional James Giampaolo of Torrington claiming the second.
A full scoreboard of results may be found here.
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