Saints Golfers Heat Up Summer Tournaments

The Golf Team's 2026 season may have ended in May, but the Saints aren't ready to hang up their clubs. Throughout the summer, Canterbury golfers have competed in tournaments across the region, showcasing the skill, grit, and sportsmanship that define the program.

"They're on their own in these summer tournaments going head-to-head against the best competition," says Head Coach Bob Potter. "It's really impressive."

On June 9, Alexander Halpert ’26 played in the Connecticut Amateur Tournament at Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford. Out of a field of 137 players, Alex was one of just 32 to qualify for match play. After winning his first match two up, he faced off against a highly accomplished UConn junior. While Alex played very well, his opponent ultimately won the match on a birdie at the first sudden-death hole.

In early July, Henry Hauser ’26 competed in the 107th Westchester Amateur Championship at Ardsley Country Club in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Like Alex, Henry qualified for match play and won his first-round match in the round of 32. He followed that with another victory in the round of 16 before eventually falling in the quarterfinals.

At the 85th Connecticut Junior Amateur Tournament at Watertown Golf Club, Alex was joined by rising Sixth Form golfers Justin Renda ’27 and Andrew Antonelli ’27 in a field of 140 of the top junior golfers in the state. With scores of 73, 73, and 74, all three comfortably qualified for match play the next day.

“Many Saints golfers have competed in this event over the decades, but this might have been the first time that three players on the same team have qualified for match play,” notes Coach Potter.

By Friday morning, both Alex and Justin reached the tournament semifinals. While Alex held his own against the previous year’s champion, his opponent birdied the first sudden-death hole to win the match. Justin, who defeated his semifinal competitor, went on to the championship round but couldn’t quite outplay the same opponent who’d bested Alex. Even so, all of Canterbury’s players can take pride in their summer performances.

“No doubt I'm proud of them, and their success this summer explains how Canterbury Golf has won so many matches over the past three seasons,” says Coach Potter. “Just qualifying to be among the 32 that make it to match play is impressive, but then to make it to the round of 16 or the final four and then the final match is a real accomplishment. I'm just as proud of the way they handled themselves; they respected their opponents and the competition.”

Congratulations, gentlemen!