Right where he left off
John Elliott of Norwich remains in contention at Senior Open despite time off
— John Elliott spends most days on the golf course. Yet he had played about only nine holes in the last two months prior to Monday.
Here's why:
Elliott, a Norwich Free Academy graduate, works as a caddie, splitting time between Florida and Pennsylvania. He lives in the Philadelphia area in the summer so he can be close to his son.
He got time off to make his usual July trip to Shennecossett Golf Course in Groton to compete in the Connecticut Senior Open.
He certainly didn't play like his golf clubs have been set aside for awhile.
After Monday's first-round action, Elliott sat in a six-way tie for seventh at even-par 71, trailing co-leaders Robin Byrd of Satellite Beach, Fla., and James Becker of Bloomfield by three strokes.
After a bumpy start left him at 3-over through seven holes, Elliott settled down and finished on a tear, scoring a birdie on each of his last four holes. He had six birdies overall, the most by any golfer in the field on Monday.
Elliott, the 2017 Connecticut Senior Open champion, feels good about being in contender territory.
“I saw the scores and thought I could win (Tuesday) with a good round,” Elliott said.
He'll have some stiff competition.
Byrd is the defending champion and Becker last won the event in 2015. Bobby Gage, the 2018 champ, is in third place at 2-under.
Elliott will be playing golf for the third straight day, something that he hasn't done in awhile.
As a tune-up for the 38th Connecticut Senior Open, Elliott played a practice round at Norwich Golf Course on Sunday.
“I don't play much,” Elliott said. “I've been caddying at Merion (Golf Club in Haverford, Pa.). I carry two bags every day six miles. I go to the gym in the morning and do three miles.
“I drove up here. I haven't played golf in a month. I played nine holes (Sunday) at Norwich with my buddies. I drove the ball great and I drove the ball great today. But I'm not a guy that says I'm rusty. I just misjudged a couple of shots.”
Like most competitive golfers, Elliott picks apart his game after a round.
On Monday, he focused more on his hard luck shots, like when his ball barely rolled out on bounds on No. 11, leading to a double bogey.
Elliott didn't get discouraged, though. He kept plugging away and finally found his groove.
His last four holes went birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie.
“I don't have any complaints,” Elliott said. “I'll be ready tomorrow. … Probably will have to shoot five or six under to do it. We'll see what happens.”
Three other golfers with local ties also made the cut.
Dave Jones of Norwich played well, posting a 1-over 72 and tying for 12th. He made the turn at 2-over and then racked up eight straight pars before rolling in a birdie putt on the 18th.
Old Saybrook's Archie Cart (74), who stood 4-over through nine before shooting 1-under on the back, and Groton's Jay Dempsey (77) also advanced to Tuesday's final round.
g.keefe@theday.com