Winner’s Words
“It’s so beautiful up here and the golf course is always in perfect condition.... It’s just a pleasure to play.”
PHOTO FINISH
Amid picturesque views and stunning scenery, Benjamin Day and Richard Wilczewski
were able to win by a nose with closing birdies on the finishing stretch.
B
ENJAMIN DAY of New Haven
Country Club and Richard Wilczewski
of Shennecossett Golf Course each
fired impressive rounds to narrowly win their
respective divisions at Bulls Bridge Golf Club
for the 9th Tournament of Champions.
Conducted by the Connecticut
State Golf Association, the Tournament of
Champions presented by Mastercard is an
18-hole stroke play competition contested
each year at Bulls Bridge Golf Club in South
Kent, Connecticut. The tournament brings
together past CSGA champions, as well as Club
Champions and Senior Club Champions from
CSGA member clubs for an event at one of
New England’s premiere private facilities. The
Tettelbach Division is open to all players, while
the Siderowf Division is open to players ages
fifty five and over.
Day wasted no time getting his round
going, starting out three under through his first
two holes, and finished strong for a two-under
par round of 70 to win by a single stroke.
Day hit driver, five-iron to a foot on
the 516 yard par five first hole for a tap-in eagle,
then birdied the second hole with a ten foot
putt. He played steady golf from then on, but
still needed a birdie on the par five eighteenth
to capture the Tettelbach Division of the
Championship.
“I just tried to keep the ball in play,
and did a pretty good job of that,” said Day, “the
greens were quick but very true, perfect really,
so I felt like I could make some putts.”
Fletcher Babcock of Connecticut
National Golf Club claimed runner-up honors
with a one-under par 71. Paul Schaeffer
(Rockledge GC) and Jon Denote (CC of
Farmington) finished tied for third at 72.
Rich Wilczewski of Shennecossett
Golf Club claimed the title in the Siderowf
Division for players 55 and older. Wilczewski
produced four birdies against three bogeys for
a one-under par 71 and a two-shot victory over
Dave Szewczul (Tunxis Plantation CC) and Bill
Torza (Wethersfield CC), both of whom shot
73.
Wilczewski was pleasantly surprised at
his victory, noting that he “shot 68 in the event
a few years ago and finished third.” Wilczewski
went on to note how much he enjoys Bull’s
Bridge, “It’s just so beautiful up here and the
golf course is always in perfect condition. It’s
just a pleasure to play.”
The 2014 Tournament of Champions featured
an expanded field that included past CSGA
Champions and past Club Champions of
CSGA member clubs. A total of ninety-five
players made their way to Bulls Bridge Golf
Club where they had a chance to play one
of Connecticut’s premier facilities while
enjoying stunning views of the countryside.
Pictured Left: Benjamin Day of New Haven Country Club
holds the Tournament of Champions Trophy for the first
time in his career. He went on to qualify for the U.S. FourBall Championship with brother Daniel Day just six days
later; Right: Richard Wilczewski of Shennecossett Golf
Course, the 2002 Connecticut Public Links Champion,
made a triumphant return to the winner’s circle.
32
Connecticut State Golf Association 2014
www.csgalinks.org