Area golfers set sights on Junior Amateur title

Andrew Franz will be back to defend his title at the 74th Connecticut Junior Amateur championship beginning Monday at Watertown Golf Club. But plenty of area golfers will be looking to win for the first time.

Six members of the Register’s All-Area Golf team this spring are teeing it up: Alex Aurora of Hamden (7:40 a.m.), William Mallek of Fairfield Prep (9:50), Charlie Csejka of Amity High (10:20), Finn Boynton from Notre Dame-West Haven (10:40), Ben James from Hamden Hall (12:40 p.m.) and Ryan Sember from Branford (12:50).

Franz will be playing in the same group as James and Matt Doyle of Madison CC. The par-71 Watertown GC is hosting the Junior Amateur for the 62nd time.

The low 32 players advance to match play on Tuesday. The champion will be determined on Thursday morning.

New England Amateur

James Turner will be back to try and defend his New England Amateur championship July 18-20 at Metacomet CC in East Providence, Rhode Island.

Turner won the tournament last year at Hartford GC, firing a 65 in the final round to win by five shots. He tees off the first hole on July 18 at 9:50 a.m.

Evan Grenus (8:10) and Monte Mullen (8:20), both out of TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, will be attempting to take home the title, along with Brian Carlson out of Clinton CC (8:20, 10th tee), Rasmey Kong from West Haven (8:50, 1st tee) and Peter Tomlinson from Orange Hills CC (1 p.m., 10th tee).

After 18 holes of stroke play on both Tuesday and Wednesday, the field will be cut to low 40 players and ties. They will play 36 holes on July 20.

CT Senior Open

Eric Egloff Will not be returning to defend his crown at the 35th Connecticut Senior Open July 17-18 at Shennecossett GC in Groton, but there will be plenty of other former champions in the field.

Former winners Dave Szewczul, Jerry Courville Jr., Jim Becker, Kevin Foster and Ralph Salito will all be trying to get into the winner’s circle again. Other notables include former PGA Tour standout Ken Green, a Danbury native who tied for second last year with Dave Dell, and Ivan Lendl, the former standout tennis pro.

The low 72 players and ties advance to the final round on July 18.