University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
PALMAS DEL MAR INTERCOLLEGIATE
Huskies Return to Tournament Play in Puerto Rico
2/10/2024 9:56:00 AM | Men's Golf
HUMACAO, P.R. – The UConn men's golf team is right back in action off their BIG EAST match-play victory earlier this week as they tee it up at the Palmas del Mar Collegiate on Sunday through Monday, February 11-13.
The Huskies return to tournament action at the three round tournament hosted by UNC Greensboro at the Palmas del Mar Golf Club in Humacao, Puerto Rico. The Huskies are one of 15 teams competing this weekend on the par 72, 7,122-yard course.
"We are back in stroke play mode once again this week and this is another challenge for our guys," said head coach Dave Pezzino. "This is a great opportunity for us in a very strong field and a chance to play on Bermuda grass. That will help us later in the season as we will play the BIG EAST Championship on Bermuda this year."
"We have worked hard in offseason to play a demanding schedule. Even though its February, this is an important chance for us to get a good look and see where we are right now."
UConn will face the host UNCG, Arkansas, Boston College, Bucknell, Drexel, Elon, High Point, Kennesaw State, Mercer, Michigan, Samford, Temple, Virginia Tech and Wofford.
The Husky line-up for this week's event will feature sophomore Connor Goode (Glastonbury, Conn.), senior Tommy Dallahan (Simsbury, Conn.), junior Ray Dennehy (Princeton, Mass.), senior Jimmy Paradise (Tampa, Fla.) and freshman Alex Heard (Boca Raton, Fla.), with freshman Bradley Sawka (Ellington, Conn.) playing as an individual.
The trio of Paradise, Heard and Dallahan helped fuel the Huskies spring kick-off win in conference match-play earlier this week, finishing a combined 8-0-1 to lead UConn who won the event for the third-straight year. The all combined for the most birdies over the three matches as well with Heard leading the way with 15, just two off the most in the tournament.
Paradise made his return to the course last week after missing the fall events with an injury. This will be his first tournament action of the season. As a junior, he was second on the team recording a 73.4 per round average over all 11 events last season. He had one top-10 and four top-20 finishes on the year.
"Jimmy helps make us deeper as a team," commented Pezzino. "It's another positive for our program to have him back. He is just a really solid leader for us, not just on the course but how he carries himself in everything in does. It's really nice to see him playing on form again."
In the Huskies four tournaments and 12 rounds this fall, Dallahan posted the lowest scoring average on the squad at 73.1 per round. He and Goode were at par or better in five rounds this fall and both posted a top-10 finish and a pair of top-20's. Goode notched his first collegiate victory this past fall as well, winning the UConn Invitational at GreatHorse.
Following this week's event in Puerto Rico, UConn will be off until March 11 and 12 when they take part in The Surf Club Invitational in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Players Mentioned
