Fairfield, Connecticut (July 29, 2026) – In the second round, Bradley Sawka missed the green on the par-3 17th to the right. He was able to execute a remarkable up-and-down to save par on his way to a 5-under 65 tally that saw Sawka post 9-under and hold the 36-hole Connecticut Open lead.
One day later in the final round and on a rain-soaked Country Club of Fairfield layout, Sawka stepped to the tee of the same hole. This time he sat at 13-under and was leading the Connecticut Open by two shots with two holes to play. Facing a 188-yard shot into a challenging green, Sawka thought he had hit the same shot as the day before. However, this time, thanks to a soft green, the result of three inches of rain overnight, Sawka’s ball held the putting surface.
Still 26 feet away, Sawka wasn’t thinking make. He was thinking lag putt. The ball had different ideas. From the moment the ball left the putter, it was never headed anywhere but the bottom of the cup.
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“I was definitely super nervous (over the putt),” Bradley Sawka said of his putt on No. 17. “I didn’t know what I was going to do. So, I just picked my line and played it six feet up to the right. I got over the ball, and then just kind of hit it and tried to have good speed. Luckily, it dripped in.”
Moments later, when the ball fell into the cup, Sawka gave a fist pump, gave his dad and caddie John a fist bump and strode to the tee on the closing par-4 sitting at 14-under and three shots ahead.
With that padding, Sawka enjoyed his walk up No. 18, and with a large crowd watching, he tapped in for par to finish 14-under and as the two-stroke winner of the 92nd Connecticut Open. Sawka had won in wire-to-wire fashion thanks to rounds of 66-65-65.
“I’m glad it’s over,” a smiling Sawka said as he talked about his win. “I am a little bit less stressed now. I’m glad I was able to bring home the win, and (to win) with my dad on the bag and my mom (Janelle) watching means a lot.”
Sawka was tied for the lead at 4-under following day one and then held a one-shot lead over Patrick Healy (Centerport, NY) as the final round began. A final day that was delayed nearly four hours due to heavy overnight rains.
By the time the final group of Sawka, Healy, and Michael Miller (Brewster, NY) teed off, the sun was shining, and it was clear that with the soft greens that there were birdies to be had. Evidence?
The opening par-5, as all three players had eagle tries that resulted in birdies. Sawka to 10-under, Healy to 9-under, and Miller to 7-under.
The race was on. But no matter how hard Healy and Miller pushed, Sawka had an answer.
Sawka created some separation with birdies on Nos. 3 and 4 to reach 12-under and extend his lead to three shots. But then he stalled out, and after he bogeyed the par-4 sixth, one of three dropped shots on the day, the door was cracked open.
Both Healy and Miller birdied No. 6, as Sawka bogeyed, and after Healy birdied the par-4 seventh as well to reach 11-under, he was for a brief moment tied with Sawka.
However, Sawka answered. He birdied No. 7 as well to quickly regain the advantage, and despite another bogey on the par-3 ninth, he still held a one-shot lead over Healy as the trio made the turn.
On the second nine, both Healy and Miller, a two-time New York State Open winner, tried to stay within an arm’s length of Sawka, but the soon-to-be Oklahoma Sooner proved to be too much.
As play reached the 173-yard, par-3 14th, Sawka led by two shots. But it looked as if Healy would have a chance to cut into the lead. Sawka found the green but faced a difficult 15-footer from above the back left pin location for birdie. Meanwhile, Healy had 10 feet up the hill.
Both players made their putts, but when Sawka converted his birdie try to move to 13-under and maintain his two-shot lead, it took much of the wind out of the sails of his chasers.
“I must have played four feet of break,” Sawka explained of his birdie putt on No. 14. “All I had to do was just get it started. It was straight downhill. I just got it super high up the slope and let it drip in.”
Four holes later, Sawka was the champion.
“My putting (was my strength),” said Sawka. “I had a lot of nice par saves and a bunch of birdie makes, which was nice. I feel like the momentum was flipping every hole, but the putter kept me in it.”
With the win, Sawka became the third amateur since 2008 to win the title, joining Jackson Roman (2024) and Jeff Hedden (2008).
Healy (-12) finished in second place with Miller (-11) taking third. 2022 Connecticut Amateur winner Ben Carpenter (CC of Darien) took fourth at 8-under, with Johnny Bush (Cranford, NJ) finishing fifth at 7-under.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Open 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.
