Fletcher Babcock Ties the Gillette Ridge Course Record and Leads the Connecticut PGA Open by Two Strokes
BLOOMFIELD, Conn. (August 16, 2021) – Fletcher Babcock of Danielson, Conn., birdied his first two holes, and proceeded to make six more before bogeying his last, the par 4 ninth today at Gillette Ridge Golf Club.
Babcock’s 7-under 65 tied the course record set by Patrick Reed in the 2012 Travelers Championship Open Qualifier, and put him two shots in front of Max Theodorakis of Danbury, Conn., heading into tomorrow’s final round of the inaugural Connecticut PGA Open.
Babcock hit 15 greens in regulation which gave him plenty of chances to make birdies. Nearly all were within 12 feet or less and included two 2-putt birdies on par 5s. He closed his front nine with a 20-foot birdie on the par 4, 18th (the Connecticut PGA reversed the nines for this tournament).
“That was nice,” he would say.
On his last hole of the day, Babcock chose his 7-wood off the tee and his shot bounced right into the fairway bunker. He wasn’t aware of the course record but was just trying to make another birdie. A 7-iron from 178-yards missed the green and despite a good chip, the par save was not to be.
Tomorrow, Babcock, who lost in a playoff earlier this year at the Manchester Open, will employ the same approach as today as he seeks to register his first significant win since turning professional in 2015.
“My mindset is to focus on each shot when it’s my turn to play,” he said. “In between shots my mind is everywhere and what happens doesn’t affect me.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll just try to birdie every hole like I tried to do today.”
Chasing Babcock will be Theodorakis (67) who had a clean card with 5 birdies and 13 pars; and Jim Becker (Bloomfield, Conn.) and Geno Giancola (Plantsville, Conn.) who each shot 68.
At 69, are Andrew Stock (Danbury, Conn.) and amateur Johnny Bush (Cranford, NJ).
Division leaders
In the Women’s division, professionals Andra Frappier (Cheshire, Conn.) and Marie Allo (Newington, Conn.) each shot 80 and hold a one-shot margin over Jordan Lintz (Milford, Conn.); and two shots over amateur Jo Rasmussen (Westport, Conn.).
In the Senior Men’s division, Becker holds a two-shot margin over professional Charlie Blanchard of Warwick, RI, who shot
The Connecticut PGA Open is supported and sponsored in part by the PGA’s Korn Ferry Tour.
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Round 1 Results
1 Fletcher Babcock Danielson, CT 31-34–65 -7
2 Max Theodorakis Danbury, CT 33-34–67 -5
T3 Jim Becker Bloomfield, CT 34-34–68 -4
T3 Geno Giancola Plantsville, CT 32-36–68 -4
T5 Johnny Bush (a) Cranford, NJ 31-38–69 -3
T5 Andrew Stock Danbury, CT 33-36–69 -3
T7 Charlie Blanchard Warwick, RI 36-34–70 -2
T7 Ian Thimble Hyde Park, MA 36-34–70 -2
T9 Jay Card Shelter island, NY 34-37–71 -1
T9 Nicholas Dilio Poughkeepsie, NY 37-34–71 -1
T9 Josh Goldenberg Scarsdale, NY 38-33–71 -1
T12 Timothy Hegarty Briarcliff Manor, NY 35-37–72 E
T12 Paul Pastore Stamford, CT 34-38–72 E
T12 Clancy Waugh North Palm Beach, FL 36-36–72 E
T15 Austin Cilley (a) Westerly, RI 34-39–73 +1
T15 Fran Marrello Plymouth, CT 36-37–73 +1
T15 William Street Shelton, CT 35-38–73 +1
T15 Christopher Tallman Holyoke, MA 34-39–73 +1
T15 William Thornton Lake Worth, FL 38-35–73 +1
T20 Kyle Gallo Berlin, CT 38-36–74 +2
T20 Mike Gillette Plainville, CT 36-38–74 +2
T20 Timmy Rosenhouse Dix Hills, NY 39-35–74 +2
T23 Steven DiLisio Swampscott, MA 37-38–75 +3
T23 Mike Gramelis West Haven, CT 38-37–75 +3
T23 Edward Hilario Willimantic, CT 36-39–75 +3
T23 Adam Rainaud Chester, CT 36-39–75 +3
T23 Uttdom Sowinkong (a) Newington, CT 40-35–75 +3
T23 Ian Wivestad (a) Watertown, CT 36-39–75 +3
T29 Andrew Deforest Cottekill, NY 40-36–76 +4
T29 Jason Gobleck Madison, CT 37-39–76 +4
T29 Noah Pilipski (a) New York, NY 39-37–76 +4
T32 C.J. Konkowski West Chesterfield, NH 40-37–77 +5
T32 Alexander Phibbs Avon, CT 37-40–77 +5
T32 Bryan Truszkowski Manalapan, NJ 38-39–77 +5
T35 Dave Cook Middlefield, CT 37-41–78 +6
T35 Ron Dellostritto Branford, CT 37-41–78 +6
T35 Eric Egloff Arnold, MD 38-40–78 +6
T35 Alec Martinez Orland Park, IL 40-38–78 +6
T35 Bart McCarthy Ludlow, MA 37-41–78 +6
T35 Bobby Powell Hartford, CT 41-37–78 +6
T41 Philip Krick Groton, CT 39-40–79 +7
T41 Shamus Landers Marlborough, MA 39-40–79 +7
T41 Kyle Leeds Riverside, CT 42-37–79 +7
T41 Ronnie Pfaefflin Winsted, CT 40-39–79 +7
T41 Dan Simons West Cornwall, CT 37-42–79 +7
T41 Ian Wilson Poughkeepise, NY 36-43–79 +7
T47 Marie Allo Newington, CT 40-40–80 +8
T47 Kevin Ausserlechner West Harrison, NY 36-44–80 +8
T47 John-Paul Avenoso (a) Newington, CT 42-38–80 +8
T47 Conor Deasy (a) Hartford, CT 40-40–80 +8
T47 Andra Frappier Cheshire, CT 37-43–80 +8
T47 Jae Kwon Little Ferry, NJ 37-43–80 +8
T47 James MacKenzie Newton, MA 39-41–80 +8
T47 Jan Wivestad Watertown, CT 41-39–80 +8
T55 Jordan Lintz Milford, CT 41-40–81 +9
T55 Brad Lusenhop Waterbury, CT 39-42–81 +9
T55 Joe Mentz Hartford, CT 37-44–81 +9
T58 John Herbert (a) New York, NY 40-42–82 +10
T58 Jo Rasmussen (a) Westport, CT 40-42–82 +10
T58 Matt Stein Hampden, MA 41-41–82 +10
T58 Dan Woodbury Upton, MA 43-39–82 +10
T58 Arnold Wright (a) Redding, CT 40-42–82 +10
T63 Michael Allo (a) Newington, CT 39-44–83 +11
T63 Adam D’Amario West Hartford, CT 41-42–83 +11
T63 Kerry Johnston Indio, CA 41-42–83 +11
T63 Brian Keiser Longmeadow, MA 38-45–83 +11
T63 Mike McCarthy (a) Berlin, CT 41-42–83 +11
T63 Jonathan Pannone Warwick, RI 43-40–83 +11
T63 William Wallis New Haven, CT 42-41–83 +11
T70 Donny Kirkpatrick West Hartford, CT 40-44–84 +12
T70 Ellie Large (a) West Hartford, CT 42-42–84 +12
T70 Kevin Mahaffy Southington, CT 42-42–84 +12
T73 E.J. Altobello Westfield, MA 46-39–85 +13
T73 Marty Burns (a) Terryville, CT 43-42–85 +13
T73 Joseph Carlone Bristol, CT 41-44–85 +13
76 David Wright Belchertown, MA 43-43–86 +14
77 Sathscia Sowinkong (a) Newington, CT 49-39–88 +16
78 Sadie Martinez (a) Hartford 43-46–89 +17
T79 Riley Carey (a) Glastonbury, CT 43-47–90 +18
T79 Glen Kallinich (a) Madison, CT 46-44–90 +18
T79 Matthew Smith Hamden, CT 49-41–90 +18
82 Michael Patrizzi Norwalk, CT 47-44–91 +19
T83 Frank Lonardo Kings Park, NY 48-44–92 +20
T83 Charles Vigilante (a) New York, NY 43-49–92 +20
T83 Randy Zingo Fairfield, CT 45-47–92 +20
86 David James Hanover, MA 50-48–98 +26
WD Zac Stennett Colchester, CT +5
WD John Nowobilski Manchester, CT +12
WD Jordan Gosler Manchester, CT +13
WD Cameron Kratovil (a) Monson, MA +17
WD Tyler Florio Killingworth, CT +25
WD Michael Argentine Bethel, CT
WD Alexander Bardani Easton, CT
WD Mike Martin Ansonia, CT
WD Jake Socha (a) Ludlow, MA
NC Isaac Gatewood Torrington, CT +13