By Joe McDonald

RIGA Senior Writer

 

PUTNAM, Conn. – Cody Paladino describes his personal life and golf career as a fairy tale. These days, he enjoys the best of both worlds. 

 

The 34-year-old West Hartford native qualified for the USGA’s 42^nd Mid-Amateur Championship after finishing as the co-medalist (along with Ben Balter) during Tuesday’s sectional qualifier at Connecticut National Golf Club. Paladino and Balter each shot 4-under 67, while James Smith carded a 3-under 68 to all earn a chance to play in the Mid-Amateur Championship Sept. 9-14 at Sleepy Hollow Country Cub in Scarborough, N.Y. 

 

Paladino, a former pro, had his amateur status reinstated in 2020. Since then, he’s been married and he and his wife, Anna, welcomed their first child, a son, Carter, last November. Paladino’s working as a recruiter for a staffing firm, but he still finds time to balance his family life, career and golf game. So, to qualify for the Mid-Amateur Championship is a satisfying accomplishment. 

 

“It was the one tournament that was the highest on my radar, or the most important to me because, for guys like myself, it really is your chance to prove yourself on the greatest stage,” he explained. “The U.S. Amateur is awesome, but it’s a lot harder as a 34-year-old with a 9-month-old baby at home, so the Mid-Am is the ultimate prize for someone like myself.” 

 

He recently played at the U.S. Amateur Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club in Parker, Colo., but he missed the cut. Paladino played a few U.S. Amateur championships during his collegiate career at Baylor University, but this time was the first he competed since regaining his amateur status. He was the first alternate in both 2021 and 2022.

 

“To go back to the U.S. Amateur as someone who has a totally different perspective on life was really cool,” he said. “To be on the range with Gordon Sargent, or (winner) Nick Dunlap was like looking back in time, because that was me. I was in college, getting ready to turn pro, so it was just cool to be there. I hope to go back to another one, but they’re really hard to make, but to go back and play better and at least see if I can make match play at the U.S. Am, which is a huge goal of mine.”

 

Paladino witnessed Dunlap’s ability during the Northeast Amateur in June at Wannamoisett Country Club. Dunlap won that event and followed it up with another victory at the North & South Amateur. Paladino then watched as Dunlap won the U.S. Amateur. For Paladino, he’s learning how to enjoy this part of his career. 

 

“Ever since I got my amateur status back, these last few years have been like a dream,” he said. “It’s not something that I think when I was playing as a pro that I saw happening or know this was even a possibility for me. I have so much fun playing tournament golf. Golf is important to me and it’s my passion, but it’s not my whole life.”

 

There are a lot of factors that need to fall into place for a mid-amateur to be successful at this level. There’s a balance between career, family and the desire to play. Paladino has experienced both the pro and amateur worlds and at this point in his life he says, “This is better.”

 

On Tuesday at Connecticut National, he spent the majority of his round at 2-under and knew he needed at least another birdie on No. 18 to qualify. His tee shot on the par 5 landed in the middle of the fairway and was looking at 275 yards to the green. He decided not to lay up and wanted to give himself an eagle opportunity. He was very deliberate with his pre-shot preparation, but the end result was well worth the wait. He stuck his second shot to within six feet and made his eagle to finish 4-under. 

 

“Probably hit the best shot I’ve hit all year,” he said. “It’s a little downhill, so I figured it was playing 265. I choked up a little bit on a 3-wood and it was a very comfortable shot for me . . . it was a pretty awesome shot.” 

 

BALTER CONCURS

 

Balter, 29, who enjoyed a collegiate career at Wake Forest, also spent a few years on the pro circuit. Similar to Paladino, Balter has never been so happy on a golf course then he is now. In 2022, he lost in a playoff hole during the U.S. Mid-Amateur sectional qualifier after he missed a two-foot putt. He didn’t miss his opportunity this time. 

 

“I’ve been thinking about that for a long time,” he said. “I love this golf course. I’ve played here pretty much every day with Megan Khang through COVID. This is a place I always love to come out to, so when I saw it was going to be here again, I definitely jumped on the opportunity to sign up. I felt like I’ve been hitting the ball really well, but hadn’t translated into tournaments, but (Tuesday) I struck it as well as I have in a long time.” 

 

Balter, a native of Wellesley, Mass., now lives in Medford, hit 16 greens in regulation during windy conditions and hit his irons solid that resulted in five birdies. 

 

“It was a fun day from the first tee shot to go out there and be able to hit different shots and not really have to think about my golf swing and enjoy trying to put a good number together,” he said. “I’m just really excited. Now that my professional golf journey is done, I’m really enjoying playing competitive golf, instead of trying to do it for a paycheck, which takes a little bit of pressure off. I’m enjoying golf again. I have so many cool stories, and people I’ve met over the years playing professional golf, but now I have a lot less internal pressure. Like, if (Tuesday’s qualifier) didn’t go when it wouldn’t be the end of the world.” 

 

He joked that when he walks into the office and tell people he qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, no one would understand what it means. 

 

“I’m doing it more for the joy of competing because it’s something I love to do,” he said. 

 

ALWAYS BE CLOSING

 

Smith, 34, has been thinking about Sleepy Hollow in his dreams. This is the first USGA event he’s qualified for and he’s hoping for a solid performance. He attempted to qualify last summer but missed the cut by two strokes at Keney Park Golf Course in Hartford. On Tuesday, he built some confidence early in his round with back-to-back birdies on the first two holes, which is important in a qualifier. He hovered around 2- and 3-under the majority of the round until he drained an impressive up-and-down birdie on No. 18 to finish 3-under 68. 

 

“It means a lot,” he said of earning a spot. “I love Sleepy Hollow and I’ve had it circled on my calendar for awhile, so I’m really excited to get in. It’s one of my favorite courses I’ve ever played. I was trying not to think about it too much and just focus on one (shot) at a time. About a month ago I was playing awful and thought I would blow my chance again this year at a USGA event, but I started heading in the right direction the last few weeks and finally put it together (Tuesday). It was my first good round in awhile, so I was happy to put it together.” 

 

A native of Middlebury, Conn., Smith lives in North Palm Beach, Fla., and works in real estate with his wife. In fact, they’re hosting an important work event Sept. 14, which is the final round of the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. 

 

“My wife asked, ‘What are you going to do?’ I told her, ‘I pray I have that problem.’ I wouldn’t be upset if it becomes a conflict. Even she would want it,” Smith said.