Koepka, Pastore qualify for Travelers

Staff Reports

Korn Ferry Tour members Chase Koepka and David Pastore each parred the first hole of sudden death Monday at Ellington Ridge Country Club to earn the last two spots for this week’s Travelers Championship.

Koepka, the brother of West Palm Beach, Fla., and the brother of No. 4 ranked Brooks Koepka, and Pastore of Stamford each shot 5-under par 67s as did Billy Tom Sargent, Danbury’s Max Theodorakis and Kurt Kitayama. Sargent, Theodorakis, and Kitayama all were eliminated by bogeying the first hole of sudden death.

A total of 67 players teed off, including Ken Duke, the winner of the 2013 Travelers Championship. Duke shot 33 on his outgoing nine, but tired on the incoming nine in the 90 plus degree heat to shoot 39 for an even par 72 total.

Madison’s Brian Carlson shot 1-under, Stamford’s Paul Pastore shot even par 72, Stamford’s Alex Beach 73 and Stratford’s John Bushka and Shelton’s William Street each shot 74.

TILLEY LEADS CT AMATEUR

Bradford Tilley of Redding CC shot a 4-under 138 over 36 holes Monday at Shorehaven Golf Club to take a two-stroke lead in the 118th Connecticut Amateur.

Ben Day of the CC of Waterbury, who won the Connecticut Mid-Am in 2019, is two shots behind at 2-under 170. Hamden Hall standout Ben James, the reigning state Junior Amateur winner who last year finished third in the Connecticut Open and qualified for the U.S. Junior Presidents Cup, is third after shooting even 142.

Three players — Adam Friedman (Great River GC), Matthew Doyle (Madison CC) and Tommy McDonough (Shorehaven) — are tied for fourth, six strokes back at 2-over 144.