Sam Bernstein
2012 CSGA Palmer Cup Champion

McDonagh started the round with a birdie but gave it back with a bogey on the second hole. He bogeyed again on number 8 but birdied 9 to stay even through the first side. Bernstein played par golf through the first 11 holes with great up and downs on 1, 3, 4, 8 and 11 and he missed a 4 foot putt for birdie on 9 after another great pitch shot. Both players bogeyed 12 and Bernstein remained in the lead by 1 shot. McDonagh would bogey 14 and 16 and Bernstein birdied 17 to clinch the four shot victory.

“The golf course was outstanding the past couple of days,” said Bernstein, a junior at Yale University. “Despite the steady rain throughout the past two days, the course held up great and I’m just thrilled to have come out on top.”

Blake Morris, Country Club of Waterbury, started the final round at 3 over and would birdie holes 1 and 6 to close to 1 over. He went on to bogey 14, birdie 16 and came up short on a long birdie putt on 18 to finish one over par to tie McDonagh for second place.

Named for Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame member (1997) and former CSGA Executive Director (1986-1995) who bears the same name, the Russell C. Palmer Cup is the Connecticut stroke play championship. A few of Palmer’s numerous accomplishments include establishing the use of GHIN throughout CSGA member clubs and initiating the construction of the Conn. Golf House which houses the CSGA and Conn. Section PGA.

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