CSGA Publications: 2014 Championship Annual | Page 27

73 RD CONNECTICUT JUNIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP Watertown Golf Club Watertown, Conn. July 7 - 10 THE REAL DEAL Last year’s Runner-Up, Evan Grenus had made headlines before. By winning the Connecticut Junior Amateur Championship, the rising superstar confirmed he’s the next big thing. W HEN EVAN GRENUS of TPC River Highlands, stepped on the first tee at Watertown Golf Club for the 73rd Connecticut Junior Amateur, a bit of nostalgia overtook him. A recent graduate of Glastonbury High School, Grenus began the championship knowing it would be his last shot to etch his name on the trophy. That’s not to say his junior career was devoid of success; far from it, in fact. At just seventeen years of age, Evan Grenus had already compiled quite an impressive resume which included a win at the 2013 Northern Junior Championship and a pair of top-15 finishes in AJGA events. But the Junior Amateur was the one that slipped away in 2013. After claiming medalist honors, he advanced with ease to the final only to lose on the 18th hole to Connor O’Brien of Oak Hills Park Golf Club. This time would be different for Grenus, who made just one bogey in the final match and was able to overcome an early deficit to defeat Max Theodorakis of Ridgewood Country Club and capture the title he had been waiting for. Grenus, who fired a four underpar round of 67 earlier in the week to claim medalist honors, was hoping to add his name to the record books. Only five players in the event’s extensive history had claimed medalist honors in qualifying and then went on to capture the match play championship. Theodorakis jumped out to an early lead in the match, taking a 1-up lead after winning the second hole with a birdie. The two traded blows on the front nine- Grenus won the 5th and 6th holes with pars and Theodorakis won the 7th with a birdie to even the match. However, the turning point in the match came at the par-4 13th. Trailing Grenus 1-down, both players hit the green in two shots. First to play, Theodorakis aggressively knocked his birdie attempt six feet past the hole, and after failing to convert the par save, fell to 2-down with just five holes to play. Grenus would go on to play holes 14-16 one under-par, and with a birdie on the 16th, sealed the 3 and 2 victory and his first CSGA Major Championship. “The match today was definitely my www.csgalinks.org closest match of the week,” said Grenus. “I felt like the difference for me today was that I was really consistent out there and made a lot of pars. Out here, I feel like pars win holes, and that was my main focus.” A dominating performance indeed, as Grenus never reached the 18th hole in any of his five matches, defeating his opponents by seven, six, four, two and three-up, respectively. And a storybook ending to a tremendous junior career. Clockwise from Top-Left: Evan Grenus (Left) and Max Theodorakis (Right) both began the finals in search of their first CSGA title; Evan Grenus had plenty to watch as his precise iron play helped carry him to victory; At just sixteen years of age, Max Theodorakis showed plenty of potential; Evan Grenus blasts out of the sand with current CSGA President John Marion looking on. Connecticut State Golf Associatio