Results

 

Criag D'Andrea

Sydney Bardsley

2018 Stamford Amateur City Champions

CONGRATULATIONS!

 

D’Andrea wins Stamford Amateur Golf Men’s Championship title

STAMFORD—Playoff fever and Mother Nature were the chief dramatists Sunday at the final round of the 2018 Stamford Amateur Golf Championship at E. Gaynor Brennan course.

Three of the nine division titles up for grabs were settled in extra playoff holes. The Men’s Championship Division crown was impacted by the final two foursomes playing the last two holes in the driving rain.

When the sunshine finally returned, Craig D’Andrea (80-75=155) rallied for a two-stroke victory and his first Stamford Amateur crown.

“I made a bunch of putts today. I play at E. Gaynor Brennan every Friday. I had some good swings,” D’Andrea said. “I started the day two shots back and I was fortunate some golfers came back to me.”

Rob Colucci, who had Sunday’s best round in the field (even-par 71), along with Declan McCabe (80-77=157) and Mickey Ericson (82-75=157) were hoping to force a playoff.

Pre-tournament favorite Jim Romaniello (80-78=158) bogied No. 16, bogied No. 17 in the rain and lost his ball after a thunderous drive on No. 18 to see his chances slip away.

In the Women’s Championship, Sydney Bardsley—a freshman on the Fairfield University women’s golf team — fashioned a final round 81 from the red tees — to earn a two-shot victory over defending Women’s champion Carol Frattaroli (92-86=178).

“It’s great to win a Stamford Amateur title on what I consider my home courses (Sterling Farms, E. Gaynor Brennan), said Bardsley, who played on the Trinity Catholic HS boys golf team. “I enjoyed playing with Carol and Cynthia Hart. The key was I birdied No. 15 and No. 16.”

The playoffs began in the Women’s Handicap Division. Sharon Clark (73-75=net 148) chipped in from 40 feet in the rough behind the green on the second extra hole to hold off Frattaroli (76-72=148) and Patana Iamkrasin (78-70=148).

“It was unbelievable. The ball just kept rolling,” Clark said. “Chipping is not the strongest part of my game.”

In Men’s Handicap C, Brian Stunkel (89-82=171) won a two-hole playoff over Westhill High golf standout David Lang (85-86=171) to capture his third Stamford Amateur title since he began playing in the event in 1987.

Stunkel began Sunday four shots behind Lang. But Stunkel had a double bogey on No. 17 and a bogey on No. 18 to have Lang force the playoff.

“I hit the ball really well and stayed out of trouble until the end of regulation,” Stunkel said. “For me, the Stamford Amateur is the ultimate each year. It’s what I put in all the time and practice for.”

In Men’s Handicap E, Paul Atkinson (95-95=190) topped Tom Bakis (96-94=190) in a four-hole playoff. It was Atkinson’s first Stamford Amateur crown in his second year of participation.

“My trophy is going on the mantle on the fireplace,” Atkinson said. “I had three pars and a bogey to finish regulation play.”

In Men’s Seniors, Rob Whetsell (82-81=163) won by three strokes over Gary Lazarus (87-79=166).

“The greens were slower than at Sterling Farms Saturday. Gary closed to two shots at No. 17,” said Whetsell, the 2014 Stamford Amateur Seniors champ. “But I got it done.”

As is tradition, scores were generally lower at E. Gaynor Brennan where superintendent Mike Sullivan had the course in superb shape.

In Men’s Handicap A, Paul Molina (84-79=163) rallied from three back to earn a four-stroke triumph over Max Gross (81-86=167).

“The tournament was mentally and physically exhausting,” said Molina, who was in the Amateur for the fifth straight year. “I had a double bogey on No. 9 and thought I had to par in to win. I had two bogies on the back nine including No. 18 knowing I had a cushion. It means so much to win the tournament in the city I grew up in.”

In Men’s Handicap B, Tom Aberle (80-79=159) posted a seven-shot win for his second Stamford Amateur crown in four years. Martin King (86-80=166) was runnerup.

“It’s hard being the leader. E. Gaynor Brennan is a tight course. I double bogied No. 14 but was able to hold on,” said Aberle, the Greenwich High boys golf assistant coach who plays lefty. “Neither Sterling Farms or Brennan set up well for a lefty, especially when your fade deserts you.”

In Men’s Handicap D, Joe Paladino (90-88=178) came from a shot back to edge first-round leader Pete Silver (89-90=179).

“The 17th hole was the key,” Paladino said. “I hit a 4-iron from behind a tree 175 yards to 10 feet and made the birdie. It was back and forth all day with Pete.”

rdepreta@stamfordadvocate.com

STAMFORD AMATEUR GOLF

Final round at E. Gaynor Brennan GC, par-71 (white tees)

MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION

Craig D’Andrea80-75=155

Declan McCabe80-77=157

Mickey Ericson82-75=157

Rob Colucci86-71=157

Jim Romaniello80-78=158

Garrett Arnold78-80=158

Jamie Russo 83-75=158

Brett Shulick78-82=160

Frank Rubino83-79=162

Keyvan Pezeshkian82-81=163

Tony Tedesco93-74=167

Alex Rossetti90-78=168

Mike Szemenyei82-86=168

George Batton84-86=170

Brandon Glen90-83=173

Scott Wandro97-86=183

Matt Kubli92-91=183

WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

Sydney Bardsley93-81=174

Carol Frattaroli92-86=178

Cynthia Hart97-97=194

Sharon Clark101-102=203

Patana Iamkrasin109-100=209

Dona Romano108-102=210

WOMEN’S HANDICAP DIVISION

*Won playoff (2nd hole)

*Clark73-75=net 148

Frattaroli76-72=net 148

Iamkrasin78-70=net 148

Romano79-75=net 154

Hart79-81=net 160

MEN’S SENIOR DIVISION

Rob Whetsell82-81=163

Gary Lazarus87-79=166

Rob Tyska87-82=169

Pat Boyle96-89=185

Tom Birkett101-89=190

MEN’S HANDICAP A DIVISION

Paul Molina84-79=163

Max Gross81-86=167

Ryan Duggan83-85=168

Bill Duggan92-77=169

Ted Steede89-80=169

Mike Tiscia86-85=171

Will Santora92-82=174

Alex Lionetti95-80=175

John Sanfilippo88-87=175

Justin Valenti97-82=179

Andre Sieh93-94=187

MEN’S HANDICAP B

Tom Aberle80-79=159

Martin King86-80=166

Hugh Brewster88-82=170

Matt Christensen97-78=175

Kevin Behan94-83=177

Jacob Rocco95-87=182

Noel McNamara94-88=182

Liam Hickey94-89=183

Seizo Mazer96-87=183

Joel Quintong101-83=184

David Kaplowitz100-91=191

John Tarleton101-101=202

MEN’S HANDICAP C

*Won playoff (2nd hole)

*Brian Stunkel89-82=171

David Lang85-86=171

Pat Dillon89-86=175

Peter Szemenyei93-83=176

Ian Duggan88-88=176

Mark Rossetti95-82=177

Jose Simbaqueba88-90=178

Dave Chilenskas95-85=180

Bill Morano97-83=180

Scott Brown94-88=182

Shelton Hochstedler104-81=185

James Yaeger101-89=190

Ken Swan93-99=192

John McGroarty102-92=194

MEN’S HANDICAP D

Joe Paladino90-88=178

Pete Silver89-90=179

John Fahey101-85=186

James Smith98-90=188

Matt Hoffman98-92=190

John Santorella97-93=190

Brandon Brady101-91=192

Steven Bardsley104-92=196

Shaun Malloy108-100=208

MEN’S HANDICAP E

*Won Playoff (4th hole)

*Paul Atkinson95-95=190

Tom Bakis96-94=190

Michael Williams98-93=191

Howard Meditz100-93=193

Jason Williams104-91=195

Noel McQuillan104-93=197

Terry Rhodes98-103=201