Two Locals Going to Nationals

Brent Paladino of Berlin and New Haven C.C. shot a two-over 146 taking the first runner-up spot in the National Assistant Championship. Jacob Halligan of Timberlin G.C. captured the third spot following a one-hole sudden death playoff with Mark Farrell of H. Smith Richardson G.C. both shooting a four-over 148.

Halligan stuck his approach shot to five feet on the par-5 first hole, making the birdie putt to earn his way into the National Assistant Championship making Farrell the first alternate. 

Paladino had a great shot to get himself into a playoff but he hit the wrong ball on the last hole and incurred a 2-stroke penalty to finish second.

"The 18th hole is a par five and I hit a good drive," Paladino said. "The leader laid up in a bunker so I had a good shot to tie or maybe win it. I hit my shot to 40-feet. When I picked up the ball and threw it to my caddie to wash it, he told me it wasn't my ball.

"I hit the wrong ball. I think it either had to drop out of a bag or someone hit a provisional and didn't pick it up. We found my fall five feet from where that ball was, plugged. I thought it was 100 percent my ball but it's my fault. I should have been sure."

Paladino made five but took a two-stroke penalty for hitting the wrong ball and finished two strokes back of his good friend Adam Rainaud, who he roomed with in Florida over the last winter. 

Adam Rainaud, Assistant Professional at Black Hall Club, fired a one-under-par 143 in the two-day 49th Callaway Golf Connecticut PGA Assistant Championship, at Bull’s Bridge Golf Club, to capture the title for the second year in a row.

Rainaud, who finished third Nationally last year, earned an exemption from that performance in the 2011 National Callaway Golf PGA Assistant Championship to be held November 3-6, on the Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. leaving three spots available for this years’ second, third and fourth place finishers.

Halligan shot 34 on the back with no bogeys to finish fourth.

"The back nine is as hard as any nine holes I've ever played so to shoot 34 I was pretty on top of my game," Halligan said. "The greens were very receptive but at the same time they were fast to putt on so it was pretty crazy.

"I made par on 10, missed a four-footer for birdie on 11 but came back to birdie 12 and 13. I thought I needed an eagle on the 18th hole. I got there in two, missed a 20-foot eagle putt and then missed the five-foot birdie putt coming back. I thought I had blown it but it was good enough to get me into the playoff."

Halligan, who played his college golf at St. Leo in Florida, is eager to go to the Nationals.

"I love Florida golf," he said. "Pros from up here usually go down and struggle in Florida but having played in college there should help me. The courses usually have more hazards and the bunkering is different, the grass is different so that should give me an advantage."

Paladino is excited to be going for the second straight year.

"I didn't make the cut last year but I think I'll be better prepared having played last year," he said. "I was devastated not to be able to win but if someone told me at the beginning of the day that I'd finish second and get the goal accomplished to make the Nationals, I would have taken it."