Ridgefield, Connecticut (October 24, 2022) – Ken Parisi didn’t know where he stood as he approached the final green on an overcast and damp day at the 17th Tournament of Champions. What Parisi did know was that he had a good round going and that he needed to get up and down for par. Parisi (Indian Hill CC) did one better chipping in for a birdie from 20 yards short of the green on the par-4 18th hole to cap a birdie-birdie finish and win the Siderowf Division of the 2022 Tournament of Champions.
“This win is huge,” said Ken Parisi who recently turned 55 years old. “I have never won a state event before.”
1-over at the turn, Parisi double-bogeyed the 156-yard downhill par-3 10th to fall to 3-over for the day. He did rebound with a birdie on the ensuing hole but he quickly gave that back with what would be his final bogey of the day on the par-4 12th.
Four consecutive pars followed setting up the heroics of the final two holes. One shot behind Bill Hermanson (Black Hall Club) with two holes to play Parisi, an outside sales representative for United Rentals, stuffed a wedge from 110-yards out to two feet on the 374-yard par-4 17th setting up the first of his two birdies to conclude his round.
Hermanson ended up tied for second place at 2-over with Randy Rizy (Timberlin GC), Dave Szewczul (TPC River Highlands) was fourth at 3-over while Patrick McGuiness (Keney GC) and Bart Weissman (Sterling Farms Men’s GC) tied for fifth at 4-over.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Tournament of Champions is one of 20 championships conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association. The CSGA functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.