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For the second time in tournament history Rolling Hills Country Club will host the Connecticut Women’s Open presented by Crescent Point Private Wealth. A field of 63 players will compete from June 5-6 in the 24th playing of the championship. The Connecticut Women’s Open was last played at Rolling Hills CC in 2002 when Connecticut Golf Hall of Famer Suzy Whaley won the final of her three consecutive titles. Beginning the final round one shot out of the lead Whaley birdied five times in the final round on her way to a 3-under 69 and an eight-shot victory. Whaley will not be in the field this week but there will be five other past champions competing. The group is highlighted by 2021 winner Melissa Siviter, 2011 champion Jordan Lintz, and four-time winner Liz Caron. This year’s field will also include Samantha Morrell who lost in a playoff last year to Alexsandra Lapple. When the first tee shots whistle through the air next week the players will be competing on a different golf course from the one that they would have seen in 2002. Recently Rolling Hills CC, originally opened in 1961, went through a redesign by architect Tripp Davis with a focus on the course's bunkers and greens. “Our green contours are very fair but depending on where the hole locations are you have to be really aware,” Rolling Hills CC head professional Ray Ford said. “Players don’t want to be short siding themselves. The greens are really firm and fast right now. Course management is important. Players will need to keep the ball below the hole and be aware of where the pin is and know where you don’t want to miss.” Players will have to navigate a 5,750 yards par-73 layout that sets up for an exciting finish with four birdie opportunities down the stretch. That stretch begins with the 135-yard par-3 15th and is followed by a pair of par-4s before ending with the 410-yard par-5 18th. “Those holes can come up and get you if you aren’t careful with where you miss,” Ford said. “But what makes Rolling Hills CC fun is that at the end of the round, you have the opportunity to make some birdies.” The 24th Connecticut Women’s Open presented by Crescent Point Private Wealth will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday morning with the final round of the 36-hole championship set for Tuesday. Notes on the Field:
Number of Players: 63 Past Champions (5): Melissa Siviter (2021), Jordan Lintz (2011), CJ Reeves (2009), Lynn Valentine (2008), Liz Caron (2003-2006) Players to Watch: Jordan Lintz - The 2011 champion returns following a T3 finish last year and a T8 finish the year before. Lintz played in the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Lintz qualified for the LPGA Tour in 2005 with full-time playing status. After a banner career at the University of Wyoming Lintz was inducted into the Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame. Arabella Lopez (a) – Last year as a 12-year-old Lopez spent much of the first day at the top of the leaderboard before finishing in a tie for 17th. Since her strong showing at last year’s Connecticut Women’s Open her impressive play has continued and she has earned victories at the 2022 New England Junior Amateur Invitational and the 2023 AJGA Champions at Bethpage. Samantha Perrotta (a) – Last year Perrotta, one of the top amateur players in New Jersey, finished in sixth place at the Connecticut Women’s Open. A past Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia and New Jersey Golf Association Player of the Year, Perrotta has played in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur five times. Melissa Siviter – In 2021 Siviter earned her first career victory when she won the Connecticut Women’s Open at the Black Hall Club. Last year she had a strong title defense finishing T3. Liz Caron – The four-time champion tied for second in 2021. Samantha Morrell – After making a final round charge to force a playoff Morrell will once again be a contender as she seeks her first Connecticut Women’s Open title. Morrell also played in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in 2020 and 2021. Kyle Fraser – A former standout lacrosse player for Stanford University, Fraser is navigating her way through the ranks of professional golf. Fraser competed in the U.S. Women’s Amateur and the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball before electing to turn professional. So far this year she has competed in three Women’s All Pro Tour events. Catherine McEvoy – The two-time Connecticut Women’s Amateur winner won the PGA National Club Championship in February. Last year she was part of the winning team at the inaugural The Farrell hosted by the Metropolitan Golf Association. |