31st Connecticut Public Links
August 8 - 9 ~ Lyman Orchards Golf Club
NOLIN KNOWS BEST
A
fter an opening round of
72, Kyle Nolin of Tallwood
Country Club began the final
round just one stroke back
of overnight leader Chris Meinke. With
a packed leaderboard of thirteen players
within three strokes of the lead, getting off
to a solid start on the difficult front nine of
the Jones Course would be critical for the
eventual champion.
“I struck the ball really well
yesterday and putted well but didn’t make a
lot, so I just tried to stay patient out there
today,” said Nolin. “My game plan was
all about control and hitting fairways and
greens. I tried to give myself birdie putts and
more importantly, tried not to short-side
myself which I didn’t do all day.”
While the front nine, which had
five of the six hardest playing holes, wreaked
havoc on many of the leaders, Nolin focused
on his game plan of fairways and greens. By
making the turn in even-par with two birdies
and two bogies, he had separated himself
from the pack and had jumped out to a two
stroke advantage with just nine holes to play.
After pars on holes 10, 11 and 12,
a clutch birdie on the par-4 13th gave him
a three stroke lead over Chris Flowers of
H. Smith Richardson, who charged up the
leaderboard with a back-nine 33 to post a
two-over par total in the clubhouse. Despite
some difficult tee shots on the closing holes,
“
Nolin was able to navigate his way around
the final stretch with just a lone three-putt
bogey on the 17th hole.
Needing just a bogey on the par-5
18th hole to secure the championship, his
third shot ended up just over the back of the
green. Relying on his deft touch, he calmly
chipped his fourth shot to within inches of
the cup, securing the title and his first Public
Links Championship.
Nolin, who is currently an expert
club fitter at Chris Cote’s Golf Shop, has
been around the game for much of his career.
A victory at the Public Links Championship
marks his first CSGA victory and a validation
of years of hard work on his game.
“To win [the Public Links] means a
lot to me,” said Nolin. “I put in a lot of hard
work on my game this year and to have it
finally pay off is really exciting. Before I teed
off today, I looked at some of the names on
the Public Links trophy and I’ll definitely be
in good company.”
Finishing runner-up was Chris
Flowers of H. Smith Richardson Golf
Course, whose back-nine charge left him just
two strokes behind Nolin. After an opening
round of 74, Flowers turned in five over-par
for the championship before starting his final
nine holes birdie-par-eagle to get within two
strokes of the lead. Although he was unable
to make up any additional ground with pars
on his final six holes, a closing nine of 33 and
a round of 72 earned Flowers his best finish
in CSGA competition.
To have my name on
the trophy with some
of the best amateur
golfers in the state is
truly special.
”
ABOVE: Kyle Nolin's steady play on the difficult Jones course at Lyman Orchards Golf Club earned him his first CSGA
championship title.
- Kyle Nolin
Middlefield, Conn. ~ Yardage: 6,854 ~ Par: 72 ~ Entries: 96
1
Kyle Nolin, Tallwood CC
72-72--144
151 (12) Matt Gaieski, Manchester CC // Mike Jezierski, Raceway GC // Chet Hrostek, GC at Oxford
2
3
4
6
7
Christian Flowers, H. Smith Richardson GC
Steve Gettings, Orange Hills CC
Jason Longo, H.S. Richardson GC
Dave Jones, Mohegan Sun GC
Chris Meinke, Longshore Club Park GC
Dave Renski, Jr., Wheeler Park GC
Keith Salamon, Tunxis Plantation CC
Dave Szewczul, Tunxis Plantation CC
Chad Boudreau, Hunter GC
John Dailey, H. Smith Richardson GC
74-72--146
75-72--147
75-73--148
74-74--148
71-78--149
77-73--150
74-76--150
74-76--150
74-76--150
72-78--150
Greens 152 (15) Jonathan Meissner, Great River GC // Scott Johnson, Green Woods CC // Pat McKenna,
Manchester CC 153 (18) Frank Geiger, H. Smith Richardson GC // James Sheltman, Alling Memorial GC
154 (20) Glen Boggini, Twin Hills CC 155 (21) Graham Niemi, Orange Hills CC // Stephen Colodny,
Middlesex Eclub 156 (23) Martin Santacroce, Alling Memorial GC 157 (24) Josh Cameron, Norwich
GC // Andrew Stock, Richter Park GC 158 (26) Mark Powers, Alling Memorial GC // Mike Carey, East
Hartford GC 159 (28) Masaharu Osada, Lyman Orchards GC // Tommy Dorso Jr., Pequabuck GC 165
(30) Mark Fong, Quarry Ridge GC
2016 ANNUAL / CONNECTICUT STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION / 33