2022 Review
Jared Nelson of Rutland Country Club in Rutland, VT., a recent graduate of the University of Connecticut, was the winner of the 58th Annual Hornblower Memorial Golf Tournament at Plymouth Country Club in 2022 with a record setting score of 7-under par 131.
His closest competitors were Jack Tobin of Marlborough Country Club, Cody Paladino of Hartford Country Club, Weston Jones from Charter Oaks Country Club and Ben Smith of Penn State. They all tied for second place, posting 3-under scores of 135.
Nelson led the event wire-to-wire. Posting a first-round score of -6 for 63, tying the Hornblower course record under very difficult weather conditions. He was followed closely by Ben Smith with a -4 for 65. Ethan Whitney from Oak Hill also shot a 65 in the first round.
Whitney, Nelson and Smith were paired together on the second day of play when Nelson shot a 1 under 68 while Smith scored a 70, and Whitney ended up with a 73 on his scorecard.
The second round was smooth sailing for Nelson until he reached the treacherous 7th hole where everything could have changed dramatically. He hit a massive drive only to be "rewarded" by a hard pan lie at the bottom of the hill below the green. His second shot flew over the green leaving him with an almost impossible shot uphill to the lightning fast downhill green.
With a 2 shot lead at the time Nelson's pitch fell just short and rolled back to his original position. Looking at an almost guaranteed double bogey or worse, he chipped in from that spot for par to maintain his slim 2 shot lead.
This was Nelson's third appearance in the Hornblower tourney and his first win. When asked what his plan was for the tournament he said, "Playing at the Plymouth Country Club is all about ball position and having a very solid short game, so that was what I worked on prior to the tournament. Everyone knows that the greens are lightning fast and even a slight miscalculation can result in a big score in no time at all. Fortunately, I didn't have too many of those and was able to be successful."
Nelson went on to win the New England Amateur Championship just 6 weeks after winning the Hornblower Memorial Championship.