Ed Hilario is doing what he loves, but not what he intended to do after graduating from York College in Pennsylvania.

A 1995 Norwich Free Academy graduate, Hilario couldn't be happier working as an assistant professional and outside operations manager at Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford.

His career track started out in the hotel and restaurant business. After graduating from York, he took a job as the bar manager of the local college bar.

When his father became ill, Hilario moved back home in 2005. He worked several jobs in the area, including serving as the food and beverage manager at the Mystic Hilton.

But Hilario eventually quit to become a full-time caregiver to his father, Eduardo, a doctor.

"It was tough," Hilario said. "I put my life on hold but it was worth every day I got to spend with him for the last eight or nine years of his life when he wasn't doing too well."

During that difficult time, Hilario decided to pursue a new career.

Some wise advice from his father ultimately led to Hilario's decision. Eduardo was an avid golfer and loved the game.

"We'd always have those talks about doing what you love," Hilario said. "I love to teach (golf) and I love to just try to grow the game in any way I can."

".... He got me into golf at a really young age — probably 10 or 11 years old. I played it through high school and college and loved it. Then I lost it a little bit when I graduated.

"But spending more time with him and seeing how much he missed the game when he got sick made me want to get into it more and do more in the game. The toughest part was watching him not be able to play golf. So I wanted to be around it and bring him around it."

Hilario, who played golf at NFA and York, took great joy in sharing his golf accomplishments with his father. They celebrated his flight championship victories in the Norwich Invitational.

He fondly recalled the day he won the President's Cup tournament at Norwich Golf Course.

"I brought the trophy home and it made his day," Hilario said. "That was on Father's Day in 2016. It was his last year. That was a special moment."

His father passed away in December 2016.

Hilario pursued a golf career and turned pro.

He worked as an assistant pro at Lake of Isles in North Stonington in 2017 before being offered a job by Wampanoag pro Donny Kirkpatrick.

An added bonus: his brother, Shawn, is a member and also reigning club champion.

"It was a nice change of scenery and a nice transition to a nice private 18-hole classic Donald Ross design," Hilario said. "It's gorgeous."

In his third season at Wampanoag, Hilario, 43, does a little bit of everything from giving lessons to overseeing the bag room staff and running an active junior program.

He's found a comfortable home.

"I wouldn't mind staying here for awhile," Hilario said.

Short putts

• With all three qualifying tournaments completed, the field is now set for the 118th Connecticut Amateur Championship, which tees off June 22 at Shorehaven Golf Club in Norwalk.

Matt Fuller, an Old Lyme High School graduate, Josh Cameron of Shennecossett Golf Course and NFA graduate Shawn Hilario of Wampanoag CC are golfers with local ties who qualified at Great Neck Country Club in Waterford on Thursday.

Several other local golfers earned a spot through the exempt list, including Justin Beal and Michael Thompson of Fox Hopyard; Chris DeLucia of Norwich Golf Course, Wheeler graduate David Renski of Wheeler Park Golf Club, Bill Hermanson of Black Hall Club; and Nick Harrington, a former Parish Hill and UConn golfer.

A side note: Harrington beat Cameron in last year's Norwich Invitational championship flight match. And he knocked off DeLucia in the semifinals.

Hermanson, Beal, DeLucia and Renski advanced to match play in last year's Connecticut Amateur Championship at Fox Hopyard. Richard Dowling of the Golf Performance Center was crowned champion.

• It's always a good day when you run into John Marion at the golf course. Marion has been involved for years with the Connecticut Golf State Association. A past president of the organization, he now works as an assistant tournament director.

Marion, a long-time member at Norwich Golf Course, was part of the CSGA staff at the state amateur qualifier at Great Neck on Thursday.

He's happy to see tournament season in full swing after a spring of cancellations due to the coronavirus crisis.

"Being back is really enjoyable," Marion said. "The players all seem to like it. They definitely follow the rules pretty well."

Upcoming events

• The Elmridge Golf Course senior club championship tournament is underway. The final round will be held on Saturday.

• Entry deadline for the 79th Connecticut Junior Amateur is Wednesday, June 24. Watertown Golf Club is hosting the event from July 6-9.

• The Connecticut Senior Open, a two-day tournament at Shennecossett Golf Course, tees off on Monday July 15.

• A reminder that registration is open for the 94th Norwich Invitational, the oldest running amateur tournament in the state. The tournament starts on Friday, July 17, with qualifying round action. No caddies will be allowed on the first day. For more information, contact the pro shop at 889-6973.

• Please send golf results and items of interest to g.keefe@theday.com