Gavin Keefe: Family atmosphere drew Wilkinson to Elmridge

Jacob Wilkinson wears many hats at Elmridge Golf Course.

After starting out as the course superintendent in the spring of 2022, Wilkinson’s duties have evolved to include a variety of responsibilities.

Now he’s gradually shifting into an expanded role as the club’s general manager while still serving as the superintendent for the 27-hole course in Pawcatuck.

As busy as he is, Wilkinson is enjoying the multi-faceted job.

“That’s the way it’s always been here and that’s what I like,” Wilkinson said. “There’s so much going on.”

Wilkinson is a relative newcomer to the area.

He grew up near Middlebury, Vermont, studied turf management at SUNY Cobleskill and worked at Ralph Myhre, a public golf course owned and operated by Middlebury College, and eventually became the superintendent there.

His hobby, working on the crew for late model stock car driver Joey Polewarczyk, eventually led him to moving to southeastern Connecticut.

While in the area for a race at the Waterford Speedbowl, Wilkinson met his future wife Lauren through a dating app. They now have a 15-month old son.

The family atmosphere at Elmridge helped draw Wilkinson to the course.

“First of all, this was built by the Rusticis, Joe and Charlie, similar to the way Ralph Myhre was built in Vermont,” Wilkinson said. “I felt like I was kind of back in Vermont. It’s a family operation and two guys that had a vision and went out and got it done. They used what they had and they did what they thought was the right thing to do and they built this beautiful facility.

“And that’s how Ralph Myhre was in Vermont as well. It was a guy with a vision and a bulldozer and six guys and he said, ‘Let’s build a golf course.’ So that’s what they did.”

Without a director of golf at this point, everyone is pitching to run the golf shop. Course owners Alan and Amy Rustici are very much involved in the operation as well as their son Alec, a recent college graduate. Mark Carpenter also helps out in the shop.

“They’ve all teamed up together to be able to get it done,” Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson is doing his best to stay on top of things during the busy summer months.

He shows up to work every day with a positive attitude.

“My head is always spinning,” Wilkinson said. “I’ve always been a note-taker. I’ve got post-it notes and note pads all over the place to remind myself of certain things. The biggest thing I learned a long time ago, you’ve got to stay calm in these situations.

“Life throws a lot of curveballs at you, so to speak. And you can either go down with the ship, or keep riding the ship and keep driving. So I try to keep my head even-keeled and keep the atmosphere positive and upbeat.”

Short putts

• Casey Roan was in his usual spot during the Connecticut Senior Open on Monday and Tuesday at Shennecossett Golf Course in Groton. He keeps the leaderboard updated on the 17th hole.

You can also find Roan, an assistant professional, working in the pro shop, which is busier than Grand Central station.

For his contributions to the Senior Open, Roan was honored with the Morrison Medal, which is named after course superintendent Eric Morrison and given each year to the person “who truly emulates the spirit of the Connecticut Senior Open and works tirelessly to make it happen.”

Roan and Morrison are good friends. They’re also playing partners, combining to win the superintendent-pro tournament at the Lake of Isles.

“It means a lot, mainly because his name is on the award,” said Roan while standing next to Morrison after receiving the honor on Tuesday. “Eric and I have known each other for a long time. He’s one of my better friends. I think he’s the best superintendent I ever worked with and I’ve worked at a lot of courses. So to get an award named after him in his honor is great.”

• Dave Jones, who’s coming off a ninth-place finish in the Connecticut Senior Open, will be one of the former champions in the 98th Norwich Invitational field this week. He’ll play the qualifying round Friday with another former champion in Bill Hermanson as well as Tony Susi and Jim Lawler.

Over 160 golfers will compete in the second-oldest running amateur tournament in the state. The field will be cut to 112 golfers after qualifying and put in seeded flights. Match play will begin on Saturday and finish Sunday with the semifinals and final.

Last year, heavy rain forced the championship to be moved to mid-August. Chris DeLucia beat Holden Smith, 4 and 3, to earn his second Norwich Invite title.

• In other Norwich Golf Course news, Bob Pieniadz and Austin Cilley combined to win the club’s member-guest tournament late last month. They finished with a 67. Mike Lalima and Rob Roode took first in the net division with a 58.

Tyler Hollis captured the junior club championship on Sunday, finishing with a two-round total of 148 (74-74) to win by 11 strokes. Nicholas Wigfield was the runner-up with 159 (82-77).

Jim Sowders won the senior club championship with a birdie on the second playoff hole, defeating Gary Everett. Sowders (75-73) and Everett (76-72) were tied after two rounds at 6-over 148.

• Connecticut Senior Open champion Fran Quinn plans to return to defend his title next year, if his busy golf schedule permits.

He enjoys playing the golf course.

“I think it’s great,” Quinn said. “It’s got a lot of character. It really does remind you of something that you would see overseas. We had a lot of rain on Saturday so it was softer than normal. But when it gets firm, it gets really bouncy and gets really difficult. So, it was still a great test.”

• Caroline Goderre, a two-time winner of The Day’s All-Area Girls’ Golfer of the Year honor, turned in a great showing at the 59th Connecticut Women’s Amateur this week at Tashua Knolls Golf Course in Trumbull.

Goderre, who will be a junior at Norwich Free Academy, made the cut in the competitive field. She finished with a three-round total of 251 (82-81-88).

• Steven Ferraro of Quinnatisset Country Club shot an even par 72 on Monday at The Farms Country Club in Wallingford to qualify for the 90th Connecticut Open, which begins on July 29.

Upcoming events

• Qualifying is underway for the Elmridge men’s club championship. First-round and second-round action will take place this weekend. The 36-hole final will be July 27.

• Two Connecticut PGA Junior Tour events will be held this month in the region. The 36-hole Champions Tour Classic is set for next Tuesday and Wednesday at Fox Hopyard in East Haddam while the Nine-Hole Old Lyme Junior Open is July 29.

• The 39th Connecticut Public Links Championship will run from Aug. 6-7 at Keney Park Golf Course in Hartford.

• The Norwich men’s club championship begins the weekend of Aug. 3-4, with the winner being crowned on Aug. 11 after four rounds of action. The women’s club championship will run Aug. 10-11.

• Please send golf results and information to g.keefe@theday.com