UConn Graduate Qualifies for Travelers Championship

ELLINGTON, CT — Eight days ago, Zach Zaback was playing in a professional golf tournament on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, but three days from now, the Farmington and UConn product will be teeing it up with the big boys of the PGA TOUR in his adopted hometown of Cromwell.

Zaback fired a 5-under par 67 in the Travelers Championship qualifier Monday at Ellington Ridge Country Club, tying three other players who all earned the final four spots in the field chasing the $1.224 million first prize in Connecticut's annual pro golf event, which begins Thursday.

Chase Seiffert of Panama City, Fla., Neil Johnson of River Fall, Wis. and Tom Hoge of Fort Worth, Tex. matched Zaback's round of 67 to gain entry into the $6.8 million tournament.

Zaback began play on the 10th tee and quickly birdied holes 11, 12 and 13 in carding a 33 on his opening nine. On the front side, he birdied holes 1 and 5 for a 34. He did not make a bogey all day.

The 23-year-old, who graduated from UConn in 2016 and turned pro after winning the Connecticut Amateur championship last year, plays on the PGA TOUR Latinoamerica, earning an exemption for the first half of 2017 after tying for fifth in the Colombia qualifying school in late January. He has made four cuts in six events this season, with his best finish a tie for 14th in the Essential Costa Rica Classic.

Five other competitors from Hartford and Tolland counties did not qualify for the Travelers: Jason Thresher of West Suffield (73), amateur Monte Mullen of Farmington (74), John Flaherty of Glastonbury (74), Jordan Gosler of Manchester (76) and John Martinchek of Vernon (77).

Past winners on the PGA TOUR who did not qualify Monday were Len Mattiace (68), Brendon Todd (69), Brett Wetterich (73), Frank Lickliter (73) and Arjun Atwal (75).

Click here for complete qualifier scoring results.

Photo credits: Peter Jonaitis, CSGA (Zaback)