Kent, Connecticut (October 28, 2025) – Bob Murphy, Jr. came to the final hole of the Siderowf Division Tournament of Champions hosted by Bull’s Bridge Golf Club clinging to a one-shot lead.
Moments before stripping a drive on the 495-yard closing par-5, Murphy, Jr. executed a crucial up and down to save par on the par-4 17th after nearly losing his ball off the tee.
Now needing just a par to secure his second CSGA victory in the last two months, Murphy, Jr. was looking to end his day with an exclamation point.
Standing in the fairway with a 4 iron in hand, Murphy, Jr. struck his second shot perfectly and then watched on as it came to rest 20 feet from the hole. With an opportunity to end his day with an eagle, Murphy, Jr. did just that, pouring in the putt to cap off a round of 2-under 70 that earned the recent Connecticut Senior Amateur winner a three-shot triumph.
“It was brutal out there from the get-go,” said Bob Murphy, Jr. of the conditions on a sunny but chilly late October day before continuing to say of his win. “I had a really good year. I would have liked to have played a few more events, but it means the world (to finish the year with a win).”
The 2025 Super Senior Player of the Year came into the final CSGA event of the season needing to win to have an outside chance of earning Dick Siderowf Player of the Year honors. Although Murphy, Jr. came up just short in his pursuit of the award, he came out of the gates hot, holing out for birdie from a greenside bunker on the par-5 first before adding a second birdie on No. 3.
“My back was up against the wall. I tried not to put too much pressure on myself, but for the last two weeks, I had been thinking I had to play well to win the event,” Murphy, Jr. said. “The best of the best were here, so it was tough.”
2-under after three holes, Murphy, Jr. slid all the way back to 1-over after three bogeys between Nos. 4-8. Looking to regain his momentum from earlier in the round, Murphy, Jr. stuffed his second shot on the par-4 ninth to a foot, setting up a birdie that returned the longtime Brownson CC member to level-par.
On the back nine, Murphy, Jr. continued to battle, recording a pair of birdies on Nos. 10 and 13 while offsetting them with bogeys on Nos. 11 and 14. All the seesaw play set the stage for Murphy, Jr.’s impressive finish.
Rounding out the top five were Bill Hermanson (Black Hall Club) at 1-over, Dave Jones (Mohegan Sun GC) in third at 3-over, while in a tie for fourth it was a group of five at 4-over.
Included in the 4-over group were Ray Underwood (Washington Club), James Lawler (Mohegan Sun GC), Rick Malafronte (New Haven CC), Dean Godek (Cedar Knob GC), and Keith Stone (Connecticut National GC).
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.
