Ex-Roommates to Duel in All-UConn Connecticut Amateur Golf Final

WETHERSFIELD, CT - Just a few weeks ago, Corey Birch and Zack Zaback were teammates on the UConn golf team, competing in the American Athletic Conference championships in Florida.

On Friday, the former roommates will face each other in a 36-hole championship showdown at the 114th Connecticut Amateur at Wethersfield Country Club.

The quarterfinals and semifinals were contested Thursday at the club which hosted a PGA Tour event for more than three decades. 

Birch, a Ridgefield High School graduate who plays out of Silver Spring Country Club, defeated Jonathan Klein of the host club, 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals, then toppled Monte Mullen of Farmington and TPC River Highlands by the same score in the semifinals.

Mullen took an early advantage, winning the first two holes and remaining 2-up through eight, but Birch won holes 9 through 11 to grab a lead he would not relinquish. Consecutive birdies on 13 and 14 gave him a 3-up lead, but Mullen battled back to cut the margin to 1-up before a bogey on 17 caused him to drop 2 holes down with one to play.

Zaback had it a tad easier, winning his scheduled quarterfinal match by default over Steve Gettings of Orange Hills Country Club. He then faced veteran Brent Dietz of Enfield and Cedar Knob Golf Course in the semifinals; the two went back and forth, with Zaback grabbing an early 2-up lead, only to see his opponent square the match by the sixth hole. A birdie on 11 put Zaback back in front 3-up, but Dietz again squared the match after 15, and they remained tied at the end of regulation.

Zaback emerged victorious on the 20th hole of the match, which was Dietz's 38th hole of the day.

The all-UConn final begins Friday at 7:30 a.m.