June 6 - 8 , 2016 ~ Hop Meadow Country Club

10 TH Senior Match Play Championship

After shooting 75 in the stroke play qualifying round and winning his first three matches , including a win against defending champion Bill Hermanson of Black Hall Club in the semifinals , Kraczkowsky found himself one match away from the title . However , he found a familiar face standing between him and the title , none other than six-time CSGA Senior Player of the Year and four-time Senior Match Play winner Dave Szewczul of Tunxis Plantation Country Club .

Both players entered the final match hoping to write a new chapter in CSGA history with a victory . For Szewczul , a win would be his fifth Senior Match Play title , becoming the third player in history that has won the same CSGA amateur championship five or more times , matching Bill Hermanson ’ s five Connecticut Mid- Amateur titles ( 1988-91 and 2001 ) and Dick Siderowf ’ s five Connecticut Amateur titles ( 1955 , 60 , 65 , 84 and 85 ). For Kraczkowsky , it was a chance at etching his name in CSGA history for the first time .

Kraczkowsky jumped out to an early lead with an opening birdie and never trailed in the match , holding a lead through much of the round until Szewczul pulled even on the 13th hole . After Kraczkowsky drove it into the trees on the par-4 14th , it looked like the momentum was swinging in Szewczul ’ s favor . However , Kraczkowsky responded with the shot of the match , hitting a remarkable punch shot through the trees onto the putting surface .

“ The key shot was definitely on the 14th hole ,” said Kraczkowsky . “ I hooked the ball left into the trees , and I had to thread the ball underneath a tree to have any chance at salvaging par . The ball ended up on the green and I actually had a look at birdie . It really changed the momentum for me and buoyed me up , thinking ‘ Yes , I can do this ’.”

After making an extraordinary par on the 14th , Kraczkowsky didn ’ t make another bogey for the rest of the match , capitalizing on a pair of errant shots from Szewczul to win both the 15th and 16th holes . From there , a par on the 17th hole was all that was needed to secure his first CSGA major championship .

“ I was consistent all week and I

never got down on myself ,” said Kraczkowsky . “ I did hit a few bad shots out there but I was able to recover , and I was pretty solid tee to green for most of the day .”

Kraczkowsky ’ s path to victory was an especially impressive one given the list of names he had to face on his way to the title . Not only did he defeat a pair of Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame inductees in Hermanson and Szewczul in the semifinals and finals , but he also defeated 2014 New England Senior Amateur Champion Jim Romaniello in his opening match , and defeated medalist and # 1 seed Scott Newman in his quarterfinal match .

The victory marked Kraczkowsky ’ s first CSGA major championship , and a win he won ’ t soon forget .