Paladino’s second act as an amateur off to a strong start
It wasn’t too bad a start for Cody Paladino’s second act as an amateur golfer.
The 31 year old advanced all the way to the State Amateur final held at Shorehaven Golf Club in Norwalk last week. That’s 36 holes of qualifying on one day then five matches in three days.
One of those matches went to the 18th hole, the final went the full 36 holes.
“I love competing. I love testing myself and seeing what I have when it counts,” Paladino said following Thursday’s final.
Think about the three different stages of life Paladino was in for each of his Amateur finals. He was a teenager in 2006, wearing the red shirt in the final against Tommy McDonagh. The match went extra holes before Paladino fell short.
Seven years later, Paladino won at New Haven CC. He would turn pro the following winter.
“I knew that was my last year as an amateur, I knew I was going to turn pro that winter. It was a totally different mentality ( compared to now),” Paladino said.
After several years playing professionally in both Asia and Latin America, Paldino gave up that lifestyle. It was time to come home, have a regular life, but still compete. So he petitioned to get his amateur status back.
Paladino defeated McDonagh in the second round of the Amateur last week on McDonagh’s home course. He had to make a 5- footer for par on the 18th hole to survive against Ben James, who had arguably the greatest summer a junior golfer has ever had in
Connecticut, in the quarterfinals. Then he knocked off Ben Day in the semifinals.
Even when he was 3 down with 5 holes to play against eventual champion Chris Fosdick, Paladino didn’t go away. He won two of the next three holes, including one with an eagle, and was able to extend the match to the 36th and final hole before falling.
Paladino said he would play the Connecticut Open, the Palmer Cup and the State Mid- Amateur this summer.
ALBATROSS FOR BANGO
James Bango earned himself a gift he wasn’t expecting on Father’s Day.
Bango aced the 240- yard par 4 fifth hole at Alling Memorial Golf Course in New Haven. That is referred to as either an albatross or a double- eagle. It was a blind tee shot, so no one in his group knew the result at first.
“It was a good shot from the get- go,” said Bango, using a driver. “When it bounced right toward the pin, we all thought it was a good shot.”
When no one saw the ball, Bango checked over the green first. Then he made his way toward the cup.
“They were all watching for my reaction,” Bango said. “I had my bag on my back. Then I lifted my arms like I was Muhammad Ali.”
Bango turned 71 the day after Father’s Day. “That made it more special,” he said.
It’s the third ace of Bango’s career. The other two were at the second hole at New Haven CC and the fourth hole at The Tradition at Oak Lane GC.
NEW ENGLAND WOMEN’S AMATEUR
The New England Women’s Amateur will begin Monday and run through Wednesday at North Conway CC in North Conway, New Hampshire.
The 54- hole, stroke- play event will also have champions in both the Senior and Junior divisions. Players cannot use caddies but are permitted to use carts. Spectators are allowed to follow specific groups close to the cart path.
Among the state players competing are: Debbie Johnson ( Oronoque CC), Jen Holland ( Lyman Orchards GC), Jo Rasmussen ( Great River GC) and Gale Lemieux ( Timberlin GC).
JUNIOR PGA
The 45th Connecticut Junior PGA Championship will be held Tuesday and
Wednesday at Keney Park GC in Windsor.
Both a boys and girls champion will be determined after 36 holes of competition. Keney Park hosted the National Junior PGA Championship last year. This year’s national tournament has been canceled due to the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Alex Gu from Darien will be trying to defend his boys championship. Among others competing include: Sam Ives ( New Canaan), Kevin Morris ( Hamden), Matt Doyle ( Madison), Jake Ivan- Pal ( Milford), Kyle St. Pierre ( Shelton), Aidan Stuart ( Madison), Bailey McGuigan ( Trumbull), Mia Scarpati ( Norwalk) and Ava Gross ( Woodbridge).