Black Hall’s Quilter picks up his second Connecticut Assistant title
Brian Quilter's busy job as assistant professional at Black Hall Club in Old Lyme leaves him little time to play golf.
He had played only three rounds prior to entering the Connecticut Assistant Professional Championship early last week at Mill River Country Club in Stratford.
It didn't take long for Quilter to find his groove.
Quilter overcame a five-shot deficit and beat Eric Flood of The Farms Country Club on the third playoff hole to capture his second title and first since 2017.
"I didn't have high expectations," said Quilter, who's in his fifth season at Black Hall. "It's not like I thought
I wasn't going to play well because I knew I was very capable of shooting even par. I didn't expect that to really be in contention."
Quilter finished with a winning two-round total of even par 142 and qualified for the National Car Rental
Assistant PGA Professional Championship in Florida in November. Flood also advanced to the national event.
In the state event, Quilter got better as the tournament progressed.
After shooting a 2-over 73 in the first round while Flood fired a 3-under 68, Quilter made a charge and gradually closed the gap.
He rang up four birdies in the first 10 holes of the second round.
He made a tricky 8-foot downhill putt to birdie the second hole and hit his tee shot to within two inches on the par 3, fourth hole, and tapped it in. He added another one on No. 6.
On the par 4, 10th, Quilter just barely missed a 25-foot eagle putt and settled for birdie, tying the match.
"I thought being five shots back was going to be really hard especially with how well he played the first round," Quilter said.
Both golfers birdied the final hole to set up a pressure-packed playoff.
Entering the extra holes, Quilter was "surprisingly relaxed" even though he had only played in one other playoff during his tournament career and that happened on the junior circuit as a 14-year-old and he ended up losing.
"I reverted back to when I played in the assistants championship in 2017 that I won at Twin Hills," Quilter said. "I wasn't in a playoff but I knew exactly where I stood at that point, so
I was able to control my nerves very well."
They matched shots on the first two extra holes, both making a par and then a birdie. On the third hole, Quilter won the match with a par while Flood had a bogey.
"It's definitely a good feeling," Quilter said of winning his second title. "I know it's a little cliche but everyone says it's not a fluke at that point, which I never thought the first one was. But it's reassuring that even in a year that I haven't played that much, I'm still at the level where I can compete and even come in first place."
Quilter continued the tradition of
success by Black Hall assistant pros.
Adam Rainaud won six Connecticut Assistant Professional tournaments while working at Black Hall, including four straight from 2013 to 2016.
After Rainaud left for another job, Quilter extended the title run, winning in 2017.
"Filling Adam's shoes is quite difficult,” Quilter said. “I won't forget especially the first time the year after Adam left he said, 'Make sure this trophy comes back to Black Hall.' It was super cool to actually have that happen."
Short putts
Jeanne Tingo is a regular contender for the Stonington Country Club women's championship.
She's usually competing on Championship Sunday at the course.
Her run of success continued last weekend.
Tingo outlasted first-time finalist Paige Munro-Delotto, 2 and 1, last Sunday to capture her fourth title.
"I played well enough to win," Tingo said. "It was a really hard-fought match. Paige was a great competitor all the way through it. It went back and forth."
Tingo, who's been a member for about 10 years, trailed by two holes on the front nine before rallying. She closed out the match on the 17th hole with a par.
But it wasn't easy.
"She hit an incredible shot on 17 to about nine feet from the pin," Tingo said. "Fortunately, I was able to win that hole and win the match."
It's been six years since Tingo won her last club championship.
She's always been in the mix. She lost in the final several times, including falling in a playoff last year.
"It's been a long time that I've been a bridesmaid," Tingo said. "Five years in a row, so it's very satisfying (to win). And I play a lot of golf there. I'm very proud to be a member at Stonington.
“I love playing at Stonington and I love being a member there, so to win is really special for me."
Tingo has played some terrific golf this summer. She credits working with Sue Cart for her improved play.
"She's really helped me with my game," Tingo said.
Stonington crowned several other champions last week.
Eric Briggs defended his men's club championship, defeating Frank Livingston in Sunday's final. It's his third straight title win.
Jack Cannon defeated Carl Reiser to win the men's senior club championship while Mary Hotchkiss beat Roisin Armstrong for the women's senior club title.
Net flight winners included: Mac Smith (A Flight), Keith Murphy (B Flight), Bill Mulligan (C Flight) and Dave Tura (D Flight).
Cathy Berte won the net division in the women's A Flight.
• James Lawler of Mohegan Sun Golf Club was the top local finisher at the 35th Connecticut Public Links Championship earlier last week at Simsbury Farms Golf Course. He tied for seventh with a two-round total of even par 144 (71-73).
Norwich Invite champ Josh Cameron tied for 24th at 6-over 150 (73-77) while Corey Jones of Shennecossett tied for 28th at 152 (73-79).
Connor Roche of the EClub of Connecticut won the event with a tworound total of 6-under 138 (69-69).
• Dave Jones, Jay Dempsey and Chris Katralis won their respective divisions in the Norwich Senior Invitational on Thursday at Norwich Golf Course.
Jones fired a 69 to take the Freshman Flight (50-59) while Dempsey took the Sophomore Flight (60-69) with a 67 and Katralis won the Junior Flight (70 and above) with a 76.
• Steve Lombardi recently shot a 74 to win the River Ridge Golf Course club championship. He beat each of his closest competitors — Mike Gasparino, Will Machnicki and Matt Bedard — by four strokes.
Brian Carroll took first in the championship net division with a 69.
Bob Macek captured the senior club championship, shooting a 73 to hold off runnerup Bob Sousa by one stroke.
• The Shennecossett men's and women's club championships will be decided on Sunday.
Defending champion Corey Jones, 2018 winner Mike Rege, Steve Chevalier, a two-time champion, and Tom Ward reached Saturday's semifinals. No one has won two straight men's club titles since Jay Dempsey pulled it off in 2002 and 2003.
Kim Capizzano, Margaret Hirsch, defending champion Jessica Hewitt and Marcia Peterson competed in Saturday's semifinals.
Upcoming events
• The 17th Russell C. Palmer Cup, which was rescheduled from May, will tee off on Monday at Country Club of Waterbury. Rob Neaton, Brian Zito and Bill Hermanson of Black Hall, Corey Jones of Shennecossett, Dave Jones and Tony Susi of Mohegan Sun will compete in the two-day tournament.
• The 33rd Connecticut Mid-Amateur is set for Aug. 24-25 at Madison Country Club. Cameron, Lawler, Austin Ciley of Lake Of Isles, Jeff Riley of Black Hall, Kyle Buschmann and Patrick Herlihy of Fox Hopyard qualified for the event.
• Black Hall begins its club championship competition on the weekend of Aug. 22-23. The final will be held on Sunday, Aug. 30. Brian Zito won the men's title last year and Tori Langen was the women's champ for the eighth time.
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