CHAMPIONSHIPS
Ahern Quiets the Kids at 15th Palmer Cup
Forty-two-year-old wins by one over Kong, Sciarretta
Forty-two-year old Brian Ahern, who had not won an individual CSGA champion-
ship since the 2012 Connecticut Mid-Amateur, weathered chilly and wet conditions on
the final day, not to mention a few nerves, to shoot 67-71 at the Country Club of Farming-
ton to win the 15th Russell C. Palmer Cup by one over Rasmey Kong and Andrew Sci-
arretta—both more than 20 years his junior—by a single shot.
At 208 (-5) Ahern, of Wampanoag Country Club, was one of only four players
under par, and only 6 to match or better par in the afternoon, when wet, burly rough and
lowering temperatures added yards and tested temperaments.
Ahern became only the second golfer in state his-
tory to win the Connecticut Amateur (1999), the
Connecticut Mid-Am (2010 and 2012) and the Palm-
er Cup, the state’s premier stroke-play competition,
joining Willam Hadden.
“I drove it well and I putted really, really well,” said
Ahern, and It’s been a while since I did that. It feels
good to play this well again.”
Early in the final round, Ahern made it look as
though it might be a runaway. When he got up-and-in
for birdie on the par-5 10th, he reached -9. He admit-
ted that pressure contributed to four bogeys in the
final eight holes.
“I’ll blame that on the weather, I guess,” he laughed
after the round, surrounded by family, including
father Dave and older brother David. “No, I was leak-
ing oil for sure. Those young guys wouldn’t be feeling
that. It’s been a while since I’ve been here. But this is
pretty cool stuff.” His final round was, said older brother David, 49, “typical Brian. “He’s a
great putter, and great at getting up and down. He’s a grinder.”
Both Kong and Sciarretta finished -4, with birdie opportunities on 18. Kong left a
20-foot uphill attempt an inch short. Sciarretta’s 60-yard chip rolled narrowly by the hole.
Kong had also lipped out a 10-footer on 17—“a 360” he and his father, Soweth, who cad-
died for him, called it.
Kong shot 71, Sciarretta 72 in the final to go with rounds of 69 and 68, respectively,
Ahern (right) out-putted Fretty (top), Kong and Sciarretta (opposite)
to take the 15th Palmer Cup at the Country Club of Farmington
22 | CSGA Links // July 2018
www.csgalinks.org