Weston-Barlow Scores and Standings: June 21

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Defending Connecticut State Amateur champion Bernie D’Amato of Weston posted a 1-over par 72 Monday, leaving him in a tie for 13th after the first day of qualifying.

A junior-to-be at Princeton, D'Amato continued the steady iron play that won him last year’s Connecticut Amateur. He is looking to accomplish the rare feat of repeating as Amateur champion.  The last player to repeat was Will Strickler, who currently plays on the PGA Tour, in 2007-2008. 

Branden Chicorka from eClub of River Valley  shot a 4-under 67 to grab the first round lead. Chicorka, the reigning Russell C. Palmer Cup Champion, started his round on the back nine and after making his only bogey on the fifteenth hole he finished with five birdies in his last twelve holes to finish with a four-under par 71.

Dave Szewczul, two-time CSGA Senior Player of the Year, from Tunxis Plantation Golf Club (Farmington) finished his round three shots off the lead.  Despite a double bogey on his ninth hole, Szewczul made three birdies on the back nine to end at one-under par 70. 

Others at the top of the leaderboard include several major winners. Brian Ahern (71) from Wampanoag (West Hartford) - the 2010 Mid-Amateur Champion, Tom McCarthy (72) from Twin Hills (Coventry) - the 2008 Russell Palmer Cup Champion, and Tommy McDonagh (70) from Shorehaven (Norwalk) - the 2006 Connecticut Amateur Champion

Play in the 109^th Connecticut Amateur will resume Tuesday at Rolling Hills Country Club in Wilton at 7:30 am.  The field will be cut to the top 32 players after round two with match play beginning on Wednesday.

-- Junior midfielder Catie Ledwick, who helped lead the Weston girls lacrosse team to its first state championship, was named the team's MVP during the Trojans' banguet on Monday.

A three-year starter, Ledwick scored four goals in the Trojans' 8-7 win over Granby Memorial in the CIAC Class S state championship game.

Ledwick, who earned All-State honors, was Weston's leading scorer with 39 goals and 18 assists for 57 points.

-- Weston's Bernie D'Amato has returned to defend his title in the Connecticut Amateur Championship, which begins Monday at the Rolling Hills Country Club in Wilton.

Now in its 109th year, the Connecticut Amateur Championship is the oldest event conducted by the CSGA and is one of the nation’s oldest state amateur golf championships.

After 36 holes of stroke play, the low 32 players qualify for match play. Two rounds of match play each day culminate in a 36-hole final on Thursday to crown the top amateur player in Connecticut.

A member of the Princeton golf team, D'Amato won the title as a 19-year-old in emphatic fashion last year, defeating Nick Taylor of Heritae Village, 8 and 6, in the final.

-- The all-towns District One Little League tournament of champions gets away on Monday with Ridgefield National facing Darien American  in a first-round game at Aldrich Field (5:45 p.m.)

Quarterfinals in the single elimination event are set for Wednesday, followed by the semifinals on Thursday and the finals on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Here is the quarterfinal schedule:

Norwalk vs. Redding, 5:45 p.m., at Veteran's Park

Darien National vs. Rowayton, 5:45 p.m., at Bailey Beach

Ridgefield American vs. Wilton, 5:45 p.m., at Bill Terry Field

Weston vs. Darien American/Ridgefield National winner, 5:45 p.m.,, TBA

The Norwalk Jaycees won last year's TOC, defeating Rowayton Hose, 4-3.

MONDAY'S RESULTS

American Legion Baseball

Stamford Sr. 9, Westport Sr 2

TUESDAY'S SCHEDULE

American Legion Baseball

Westport Jr. vs. Fairfield Jr., 5:45 p.m., at Staples High School

AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL STANDINGS