Jacob Orcutt reports on the 2023 Smith-Collett Classic:
Shennecossett Golf Course once again held up as a formidable test of hickory golf skill. Early foggy and wet conditions yielded to humid and hot weather after the turn, adding another degree of difficulty. The format was a modified Stableford scoring system, with 1 point being awarded for bogeys, 2 points for pars, 3 points for birdies, and 4 points for eagles.
Our overall champion this year was Jeff Blomstedt of Gill, Mass., who scored an impressive 31 stableford points on his way to a 76. Louis Falcone of Cranston, R.I. came in second with 29 points and a 78; while defending champion Joe Mentz of Vernon, Conn. scored 28 points with a 79.
Our net champion was Louis Falcone, who netted 37 points and taking 1st place by matching cards. Four other golfers scored 37 net stableford points: Frank Flood of Collinsville, Conn.; Jacob Orcutt of Coventry, Conn.; Jared Paletti of Pelham, N.Y.; and Bryan Tarbell of Columbia, Conn.
In the senior division, Bill “Wardy” Wardwell of Turners Falls, Mass. took home the honors with 22 points. Rich Clark of Deerfield, Mass. came in second with 15 points, and Roger Dionne of Hampton, Conn. finished third with 14 points.
Special recognition goes to Jeff Blomstedt, who would have won the senior division had he not won the tournament outright. I also want to give a big thank you to Mark Mungeam for participating in this year’s event. We often cite the course as a Donald Ross track since he was the original architect, but when the course traded some of its land with Pfizer in 1997, Mark was brought in to design several new holes, including the spectacular 15th-17th holes that play to the mouth of the Thames River and back. We owe Mark a debt of gratitude for helping to shape this excellent hickory course! Mark was in Christian Williams’ group, so keep an eye out for some highlights when The Hickory Hacker publishes his recap of the event.
Thanks again to all of our participants – the incredible hickory golf community from New England and beyond is what makes this event so special every year!
Players in the 2023 Smith-Collett Classic.
2023 Smith-Collett champs, from left: Bill Wardwell, Senior Champion; Jeff Blomstedt, Overall Champion; and Louis Falcone, Net Champion.
The Smith-Collett Trophy.