MILFORD, Conn — The second annual Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship will tee off Friday at the Great River Golf Club in Milford, as some of the world’s most talented female golfers are in Connecticut.
The golf tournament is an official event on the Epson Tour, the premiere developmental tour of the Ladies Professional Golf Association. The tour is designed to prepare the world’s best female golfers for a successful professional career.
“The top 15 players at the end of the season all move on to be full-time LPGA players,” Tournament Director Patrick O’Connor said. “The athletes on the Epson Tour are all excited to come back to Connecticut, so we’re excited to put on a really challenging tournament but also a fun one that everyone can be a part of.”
O’Connor said that athletes from a variety of countries will visit Milford to participate in the three-day tournament, which runs through Sunday. He said the range of highly skilled competitors who will compete should make the weekend excellent for all involved.
“That’s what golf is all about,” O’Connor said. “It’s really a broad, diverse range of athletes coming from all over the world to come play golf here in Connecticut.”
Described by O’Connor as a tremendous sponsor, Hartford HealthCare has encouraged tournament organizers to provide the athletes with a first-class experience on and off the golf course. Hartford HealthCare, a community of caregivers engaged in developing a coordinated, high standard of care, is also working to drive up fan attendance and engagement.
Saturday will be “Dads and Daughters Day” at the golf course at 130 Coram Lane in Milford. Everybody will get all-you-can-eat ice cream, O’Connor said.
Daily tickets start at $15 for general admission, and for $40, attendees will receive a weekend pass. On each day of the tournament, O’Connor said parents can gain access to the course for $10, and children will be admitted free of charge. He called the tournament a fun way for people who are interested in golf to experience the sport at a high level.
“For families, it’s a great event. C’mon out,” O’Connor said. “It’s a really laid-back environment, and you’re going to see amazing golf up close and in person. There’s no ropes. It’s just kind of open, and you’re going to have a front row seat to some of the best female golfers in the world.”
O’Connor said the players on the Epson Tour are around 21 to 26 years old and chasing their dreams of being on the LPGA Tour. He complimented the women for their low-key demeanors and collective ability to stay down to earth during a high stakes tournament.
“Being professional athletes, it’s amazing how humble they are, how gracious they are with their time, how interactive they are with the fans and how much fun they are to be around and watch on the golf course because they’re tremendously talented players that are going to have bright futures in the game of golf,” O’Connor said.
All the golfers participating in the tournament have spent most of their lives going to the driving range every day, hitting the putting green for hours at a time and truly loving the game, O’Connor said. He added that the players who are arriving in Connecticut are intentional and purposeful golfers who do more than work towards shooting a specific score. He said they strive to be the very best.
So too do the organizers of the tournament. Last year, the championship debuted in Connecticut, and there were definitive obstacles to be overcome. O’Connor is optimistic that this year, the tournament will run smoother if it can stay in Mother Nature’s good graces.
“Last year, it was delayed significantly because of rain and thunderstorms and other weather,” O’Connor said. “We actually had a Monday finish to the tournament, so I think we’re all just a little scared of rain again, but I’m hopeful that this summer we’re going get the breaks we need for good weather and a challenging course. I think with all of that in mind, a lot of people will come out and enjoy it.”
Speaking at the Travelers Championship on June 21, O’Connor said there is much to be learned from the state’s biggest golf tournament, which he said improves every year. Entering this year’s Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship, O’Connor said organizers have learned from what went well last year and have built upon it.
O’Connor thanked the golf community and public for their support in the weeks and months leading up to the tournament and shared more kind words regarding the tournament’s sponsor, Hartford HealthCare.
“Hartford HealthCare is an amazing partner in this event,” O’Connor said. “This aligns with their goals of gender equity, promoting women’s sports, promoting women in general in the business world, and Hartford HealthCare really pushes us to be one of the best tournaments on the Epson Tour each year.”
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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