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    Wednesday, April 24, 2024

    Norwich Invitational field whittled down to Final Four

    Norwich - The 89th Norwich Invitational championship flight Final Four features two golfers attempting to add to their title collection and two hoping to land a championship for the first time.

    The top four seeds survived and advanced on Saturday after two rounds of match play.

    Top-seeded Chris DeLucia, a seven-time Norwich Golf Course club champion, continues his quest to win his first Invite title, reaching the semifinals for the fourth time. He meets fellow Norwich resident Dave Jones, the No. 4 seed and 2010 champion on Sunday at 8:54 a.m.

    In the other semifinal, No. 2 Dan Hendrickson is two wins away from becoming the fourth golfer to capture three straight Invite crowns. A former Waterford High School standout now living in Charlotte, N.C., he faces semifinal newcomer Michael Thompson, the third seed. Tee time is 9:01 a.m.

    The winners meet in the final starting at approximately 2 p.m.

    DeLucia, the medalist of Friday's qualifying round, arguably had the toughest path to the semifinals. It took 23 holes for him to shake five-time champion Phil Perry of East Lyme in the round of 16. Then he defeated No. 9 Steve Gambeski, another former champ, 3 and 2, in the quarterfinals.

    Jones, who tied for second at the Connecticut Senior Open last week, has settled into a nice groove. He knocked off No. 13 Steve Chevalier, 3 and 2, and cruised past 2012 champion and No. 12 Kevin Marcoux, 7 and 6, in the quarterfinals.

    After starting the day by beating No. 15 Mitchell Stevens, 5 and 4, Hendrickson defeated No. 10 Bill Hermanson, one of his qualifying-round playing partners, 4 and 2.

    Thompson eliminated Killingly High School golfer Drew Aitken, the No. 14 seed, 5 and 4, and then defeated No. 11 Chris Vincent, 2 and 1.

    Champions also will be crowned in six other flights on Sunday.

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