University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn Grad, Freshman Lead NE Amateur Golf Championship
7/21/2020 9:34:00 PM | Men's Golf
UConn Athletic Communications / July 21, 2020
CONCORD, Mass. – The UConn golf program clearly made its presence felt during the first round of the 91st New England Amateur Golf Championship on Tuesday at the Concord Country Club.
Two Huskies – one who is just leaving the program and the other who is just coming in – shared the lead after the first round of the four-round tournament. Tim Umphrey (Northborough, Mass.), who just graduated from UConn two months ago, and Caleb Manuel (Topsham, Me.), who will be a UConn incoming freshman in the fall, each shot a 4-under 66 to hold a one-shot lead.
Playing in the morning, Umphrey made six birdies, including a run of four birdies over six holes.
"I put myself in good spots on the greens and I got a few putts to go," Umphrey said. "In the middle of the round, I had a good birdie streak and hit good wedge shots and made some putts."
Umphrey was a four-year player at UConn, who averaged 74.05 strokes per round for 78 rounds, while participating in 26 events. He had four Top 10 and 11 Top 20 finishes in his career and won the 2018 Lehigh Valley Collegiate.
Playing in the afternoon, Manuel also made six birdies, including three in a row.
"I birdied five, six and seven so that got me to 3-under, but I was just staying patient and knew that par would be a good score out there today," Manuel said. "It's definitely firmer and faster than the courses up in Maine. I just kept it below the hole and kept it in play, hitting it in the right spots. I expected it to be a little tougher than the last couple of years."
Manuel, out of Mount Ararat High School, is a two-time Maine Class A state champion and a four-time All-State selection.
There was plenty of additional UConn influence on the Concord Country Club course.
Rising junior Jared Nelson (Rutland, Vt.) and incoming freshman Tommy Dallahan (Simsbury, Conn.) each shot a 2-over 74 to be part of a tie for 24th place, while former Huskies Tyler Cooke shot 3-over 73 to tie for 36th and Bob Kearney fired a 4-over 74 to tie for 45th place. Current UConn assistant coach Max Major (Rutland, Vt.) also shot a 4-over 74 to be part of the tie with Kearney for 45th place.
Rising UConn senior Chandler Morris (Hobe Sound, Fla.) is tied for 61st after shooting a 5-over 75, rising senior Jack Boulger (Walpole, Mass.) was tied for 95th place with an 8-over 78, and rising sophomore Logan Broyles (Mendon, Vt.) shot a 13-over 83 to tie for 136th place.
The 144-player field, from six New England states, will be cut following Wednesday's second round, with the final two rounds scheduled for a 36-hole Thursday
Players Mentioned
