University of Connecticut Athletics
Incoming UConn Freshman Connor Goode Set To Defend Conn. Junior Amateur Title
7/5/2022 2:55:00 PM | Men's Golf
Tourney Scheduled For July 11-15
(July 5, 2022) – Last year, eventual champion Connor Goode survived a 9-for-3 playoff to reach match play at the Connecticut Junior Amateur. Fast forward one year and Goode, who will join the UConn men's golf team as a freshman this fall, enters the 81st Connecticut Junior Amateur at Watertown Golf Course as one of the favorites.
Goode's performance at the Connecticut Junior Amateur last summer was part of a fantastic stretch of golf that also saw the recent Glastonbury High School graduate win the Connecticut Junior PGA and the CIAC Division I State Championship.
"The Connecticut Junior Amateur has meant a lot to my career," Goode said. "This will only be my third time playing in it, but it has been huge for learning to play in high pressure situations that normal stroke play events can't simulate. Match play is a different type of golf and this tournament has taught me how to be a good match play player. I also don't think I would've had the opportunity to play for UConn had I not won this tournament."
When Goode tees it up at Watertown GC from July 11-15, he will be looking to become the first repeat champion since Geoffrey Walker in 1993 and 1994.
"I am very excited to defend my title," Goode said. "It isn't often that you get a chance to defend in golf tournaments so I think it will be a fun opportunity."
However, in order to repeat Goode will once again have to conquer Watertown GC, the host course for the 70th time. Watertown GC hosted the Connecticut Junior Amateur for the first time in 1951 and has hosted the event every year since 1979.
"Watertown is a course where you need a game plan heading in," Goode said. "It's not a course you can overpower, so having good strategy off the tee and taking less than driver is key for some of the tighter holes."
For the event, Watertown GC, a par-71 layout, will play at roughly 6,400 yards. "Most of the holes are fairly straightforward," head professional Peter Seaman said. "But there are a few risk-reward holes."
The first being the par-4 eighth. If players take enough off the corner, they will be left with just 100 yards into the green. Similarly on the par-4 11th players can play to the middle of the fairway or they can try to fly the trees along the right side of the fairway. If successful, they will have a pitch shot into the green. Players will also be able to make a move on the course's three gettable par-5s.
With distance not too much of a factor the course's main defense comes around the greens. "I would say probably the course's best defense is its green complexes. Some of them have unusual undulations and depending on where the hole locations are they can be difficult," Seaman said.
The 81st Connecticut Junior Amateur will begin on Monday with one day of stroke play qualifying for the 99 competitors. The top 32 players will advance to match play set to begin Wednesday after a day off on Tuesday. Wednesday will feature the Round of 32 in the morning and the Round of 16 in the afternoon before the quarterfinals and semifinals are played on Thursday. The week will conclude with the 18-hole championship match on Friday morning.
