Newington, Connecticut (June 19, 2024) – The title match of the 18th Senior Match Play Championship is set and it will feature Brian Hedstrom and David Baker.
Hedstrom, competing this week on his home course of Indian Hill Country Club, had been cruising through the bracket until he reached his semifinal matchup with Jeff Wise (TPC River Highlands).
Starting on No. 10, Wise twice held 2 up advantages on the opening nine as he won five of the first eight holes. However, Hedstrom had an answer beginning on the par-5 18th. Playing the 509-yard par 5 for the first time since stroke play qualifying on Monday, Hedstrom found the fairway off the tee but hit his second shot onto the nearby 10th tee box. Forced to hit a lengthy pitch shot for his third Hedstrom left himself a sharp breaking right to left putt from 40 feet for birdie.
After surveying the putt the longtime member rolled it in and in an instant changed the course of the match.
“I think the turning point of the match was No. 18 our ninth hole of the day,” Brian Hedstrom a 5&4 winner over Timothy Murray (Quinnatisset CC) in the quarterfinals earlier in the day said. “I was out of position after my third shot. I played safe and made a 40-foot putt for birdie, which I felt just flipped the match.”
Just 1 down as they made the turn Hedstrom tied the match with a victory on No. 1 and then took the lead with a solid two-putt par on No. 2.
Trailing for the first time since early in the match Wise, a 3&2 victor against defending champion Glen Boggini (Ellington Ridge CC) in the quarterfinals, would not go quietly and on the 175-yard par-3 third he stuck his tee shot to three feet leading to a conceded birdie and once again a tied match.
Unfazed by the match being tied for a third time Hedstrom went on a tear winning the next four holes to close out the match 4&2. The sprint to the finish was highlighted by birdies on Nos. 6 and 7 to slam the door shut.
“It’s a dream to have the Senior Match Play Championship at my home course,” said Hedstrom a two-time Connecticut Amateur winner who didn’t trail in a match until his semifinal tilt with Wise. “This is the first senior CSGA event that I’m eligible for and it would be a dream to win it, for sure. I actually felt more pressure today to win to get to that final match. I don’t want to let anybody down.”
In the final Hedstrom will face David Baker (Wallingford CC). Seeking his first CSGA major title Baker built a big lead in his quarterfinal match against 2023 Connecticut Senior Amateur winner Bob Murphy (Brownson CC) before needing to tie the final hole to hold on for a 1-up victory.
Having barely survived his opening match of the day and with a feeling of new life Baker jumped out to a quick start in the semifinals against David Marshall (Quinnatisset CC) winning five of the first six holes to take a 5 up advantage.
“I made a 30-footer on the par-3 11th for par and I think that really impacted him,” David Baker playing in his first CSGA senior event said.
The par on No. 11 put Baker 2 up and by the time he walked off the downhill par-3 17th with another victory, his advantage was 6 up.
Marshall, a 3&2 winner in the quarterfinals over former champion Patrick McGuiness (Keney GC), tried to make a run on the second nine and got within 4 down but the mountain was too big to climb.
With a chance to close out the match on the dramatically downhill 177-yard par-3 fifth Baker stepped to the tee and flagged his tee shot leaving himself five feet for birdie. Playing quickly Baker stepped over the putt and brushed in a birdie that would secure his 5&4 triumph and a spot in the title match.
“I am super excited to get a chance to play for a championship tomorrow,” exclaimed Baker. “I haven’t played in a CSGA event for a number of years because it’s hard to watch everybody hit it past me. But I recently turned 55 years old and this is my first tournament so it is exciting.”
Hedstrom and Baker will square off in the 18-hole final on Thursday morning. The title match of the 18th Senior Match Play Championship will begin at 8 a.m.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Senior Match Play 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.
