UConn Athletic Communications / Sept. 29, 2023
The spectacular colors of autumn will provide the backdrop as the UConn men's golf team hosts the annual UConn Invitational at GreatHorse on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in Hampden, Mass. A strong field of 13 teams and 13 individuals will take on the challenging, par 72, 7,093-yard course for the three-round tournament.
"I'm excited about the tournament," UConn Coach Dave Pezzino said. "The golf course is in fantastic shape and the way they take care of the players is special. To be able to hold a tournament there is really a dream come true."
The 2023 UConn Invitational marks the 14th year of the tournament, formerly known as the Connecticut Cup. It is the fifth time the tourney has been held at GreatHorse. UConn, which has won the tournament's team title four times, and last year's champion St. John's lead the field, which also includes Rhode Island, Xavier, Boston College, Long Island, Fairleigh Dickinson, Siena, Lafayette, Holy Cross, Rider, Iona and Towson. Including the individuals, the player field numbers 78.
Leading the Huskies is senior Tommy Dallahan (Simsbury, Conn.), who will be playing in his 30th tournament for UConn.
"It's Tommy's senior year and it's a golf course that he knows how to manage well," Pezzino said.
Junior Ray Dennehy (Princeton, Mass.), who transferred to UConn this season from Lafayette, junior Trevor Lopez (Winchester, Mass.), freshman Bradley Sawka (Ellington, Conn.) and sophomore Connor Goode (Glastonbury, Conn.) complete the Huskies' five-man lineup.
UConn players competing as individuals include freshman Alex Heard (Boca Raton, Fla.), junior Eric Boulger (Walpole, Mass.), sophomore Colin Spencer (Mashpee, Mass.), freshman Jack Kantowski (Boca Raton, Fla.), junior Vikram Konanki (Newton, Mass.) and sophomore Chris Sacher (Schoeffengrund, Hesse, Germany). An injury will keep senior Jimmy Paradise (Tampa, Fla.) on the sidelines.
"I am anxious to see who we are one through 11," said Pezzino, in his 17th season as the Huskies' head coach. "I'm excited to see all our freshmen play. We will miss having Jimmy on the course, but he will be there to support his teammates."
GreatHorse, the site of the 2018 Mass Open, is one of the most picturesque courses in all of New England, owned by the Antonacci family, owners and breeders of magnificent harness race horses.
After purchasing the former Hampden Country Club in January, 2012, the Antonacci family embarked on a $55 million overhaul and redesign by New England-based golf course architect Brian Silva that transformed the country club into the impressive facility that it is today.
"The experience of playing at GreatHorse and the way the players are treated allows us to create a strong field," Pezzino said. "I think our tournament is starting to get a national reputation as one with strong fields, a great golf course and a truly amazing student-athlete experience."
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