Avon’s Serruta begins defense of her Connecticut Women’s Amateur title

Avon’s Autumn Serruta begins defense of her Connecticut Amateur Golf championship Tuesday in Hartford. (Photo courtesy Connecticut State Golf Association)

HARTFORD, Aug. 13 – Avon’s Autumn Serruta hits the links on Tuesday to defend her Connecticut Women’s Amateur golf championship, which will be held at the Hartford Golf Club for the first time in the event’s 53-year history.

Serruta, who current works for The Barnes Group in Bristol as a Senior Internal Audit Analyst, graduated from Avon High and played golf at Mount St. Mary’s where she competed at the Division I level.

The state Amateur tournament is three rounds of golf played over three days beginning on Tuesday.

Serruta held off a late charge from Jen Holland of Lyman Orchards Golf Course last year to win her first Connecticut Women’s Amateur championship. Serruta had a three shot lead after two days of competition.

On the final day of competition, Holland, the 2008 state amateur champion, had a one-stroke lead at the 15^th hole after Serruta had suffered five consecutive bogeys. But Serruta got a birdie on 15 and finished with three pars to beat Holland by two strokes.

Earlier this year, Serruta won her first Connecticut Women’s Golf Association (CWGA) championship in June playing on her home course at the Golf Club of Avon in June.

In match play format, Serruta won four consecutive matches including a win over Mimi Schreck of Oronoque Country Club in Stratford, 5-and-3 (a five hole lead with three holes remaining). Serruta won the final four holes of the match to secure the win.

Serruta beat Darlene Tranquili of River Golf Club, 4-and-2 in the semifinals (four hole lead with two holes remaining) and outlasted Myra MacMillian of Oronoque CC in the quarters, 4-and-3.

Serruta was the medalist in tournament qualifying with a 75 to earn the top seed among the 16 women competing in match play.