Brooklawn set to host 50th Borck tourney

Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield has been an integral part of the Borck Junior Golf Tournament since its inception.

Brooklawn CC hosted the first tournament in 1970 and will host the 50th July 2931 — and has been host for many of the tournaments in between.

“Without Brooklawn, this tournament doesn’t last as long as it has,” Borck tournament director Jim Palsa said. “Throughout the years, when we have had a problem getting a golf course, Brooklawn has stepped up because they didn’t want the legacy to die.”

The history of the Borck began at Brooklawn CC. The family grew up there. Jay, the youngest sibling, honed his game to become one of the state’s top junior golfers.

“Brooklawn is a special place in the Borck family heart,” said Judy Borck, Jay’s sister. “Whether we were swimming or golfing or playing tennis, we were very active in the club. We made a lot of friends there. It’s a special place.”

A week after winning the Brooklawn Junior Championship in September of 1968, Jay Borck succumbed to a cerebral hemorrhage at age 16.

The family wanted to memorialize Jay by starting a junior tournament. “He was such an avid golfer and loved it so much, we wanted to pay tribute to him by having this junior championship. We run it like a professional event and I think the kids appreciate how we go about making it a special kind of tournament,” Judy said.

Nick Mastroni from Fairchild Wheeler GC was the first tournament winner in 1970.

“I remember a lot of it. It seems more like five years ago than 49 years. It was a great moment for me,” Mastroni said.

According to the tournament website, the annual dinner was added in 1972 and the girls tournament was first contested in 1976.

Brooklawn CC will be hosting two dinners this year: the annual one for all competitors on July 29 and one for all former champions on July 28.

“The vast majority of events burn out after 510 years. To see something last 50 years is absolutely amazing. It has to be one of older junior events in the country,” Palsa said.

Said Judy Borck: “Time goes by very quickly. We’ve had just four different tournament directors over the 50 years and our volunteers continue to be very active.”

The low 16 boys and eight girls will advance to match play on Tuesday, July 30. The finals will be held on July 31.

Judy Borck noted that the annual scholarship recipient(s) will be announced at Monday’s banquet.

NEW ENGLAND AMATEUR

A solid number of state players will be teeing it up Tuesday through Thursday in the 90th New England Amateur at the Quechee Club Highland Course in Quechee, Vermont.

The state group includes: Michael Kennedy (New Haven CC), Andrew Sciarretta (Brooklawn CC), Chandler Morris (CC of Waterbury), Ryan Sember (Branford), Peter Tomlinson (Great River GC), Nick Piersall (TPC River Highlands), and Mark Powers (Alling Memorial GC).

The first two rounds of the strokeplay event will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. The low 40 players and ties will advance to the final 36 holes on Thursday.

The top two qualifiers at last Monday’s 36hole U.S. Amateur qualifier held at Ridgewood CC in Danbury both hailed from Pennsylvania. The medalist fired a secondround 63 to win the qualifier by four strokes.

His name is Roland Massimino from Lumberville, Pennsylvania. He recently completed a stellar career at Division I Kansas State University. Massimino tied for eighth place at the Big 12 Conference tournament.

If the last name sounds familiar, it should. Roland is the grandson of the legendary Villanova men’s college basketball coach Rollie Massimino. He led the Wildcats to the 1985 NCAA championship over Georgetown, a team that included former Trumbull High School standout Harold Jensen. Rollie would send Roland motivational letters often in the years prior to his death in 2017.

Nicklaus Harrington of Chaplin did qualify for the U.S. Amateur on July 9 at Fairview Farms GC. The U.S. Amateur will be held Aug. 1218 at Pinehurst Resort and CC in Pinehurst, North Carolina. joseph.morelli@hearstmediact.com; @nhrJoeMorelli