Golfer accused of assaulting caddie

WATERBURY (AP) -- An amateur golf champion has been charged with beating up a caddie at a public golf course in Waterbury.

The Republican-American newspaper reports 37-year-old Rudolph Hermstadt, is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court next week on charges of third-degree assault and breach of peace.

Police say Hermstadt was captured on a surveillance video choking and punching 41-year-old Jeremy Eterginio of Prospect inside the 19th Hole Cafe at the East Mountain Golf Course on July 22.

Hermstadt told the newspaper the fight stemmed from an argument over Eterginio's relationship with Hermstadt's fiancee.

He says Eterginio is no longer his caddie or his friend.

The city's Park Board is holding an emergency meeting on Thursday night to discuss revoking public golfing privelages for Hermstadt, a seven-time city golf champion.