Waterbury, Connecticut (October 4, 2022) – Mother Nature threw everything she had at the field of the 77th Connecticut Senior Amateur. Across two days at the Country Club of Waterbury the field battled its way through the relentless cold, wind, and on the final day rain.
At the end of the day, just one man was left standing. Connecticut Golf Hall of Famer and now four-time Senior Amateur winner Dave Szewczul.
For Szewczul (TPC River Highlands) every win is special but this one meant just a little bit more. In early January he contracted an infection following a procedure and was bedridden until the middle of April. If the infection wasn’t bad enough Szewczul was also diagnosed with prostate cancer during the same time period. However, he couldn’t start treatment for prostate cancer until the infection had receded.
Once the infection was gone it was off to New York for prostate cancer treatment. Day after day Szewczul battled until he was finally cleared to return to golf at the beginning of July.
“This Senior Amateur victory is pretty special given what I have experienced in the last six months or so,” Dave Szewczul said. “It has been pretty trying not only on me but on my family as well. To be here and in this position and to accomplish this against the field that we had and the weather and the elements, I can’t put into words what it means. I didn’t know if I would be able to play golf again, let alone lead a quality life but I have been blessed and hopefully, it keeps on going.”
Szewczul began the day 8-over-par and three shots off the overnight lead held by 2022 Connecticut Senior Match Play winner Dave Jones (Mohegan Sun GC) and he quickly tightened the gap. Following a bogey on the opening hole, Szewczul carded rare back-to-back birdies on the second and third holes.
Meanwhile, a few groups back, Jones lost his opening tee ball setting up a double-bogey, bogey, bogey start that opened the door to the rest of the field.
“The birdies on Nos. 2 and 3 were a really big stepping stone,” Szewczul said. “I missed a short putt for par on the first hole and when you are playing from behind you don’t want to make mistakes right off the jump and put yourself even further behind. Converting those birdies and getting off to a good start was a good confidence boost.”
Szewczul might have got his round off to a strong start but there were numerous players who had a chance at the title. As the winds gusted and the rain fell the race for the title remained tight and as play headed for the back nine eight players were within two shots of the lead.
In the end, it was the steady hand of Szewczul that carried the day. With double-bogeys seemingly looming around every turn Szewczul managed to avoid any big numbers and then dug deep late parring the last four holes.
Tied for the lead with two holes remaining Szewczul had a 12-foot putt for birdie on the par-4 17th. That putt came up short resulting in a par. On the ensuing hole, Szewczul left his approach shot into the closing par-4 short and was faced with a difficult up and down. With the wind whipping Szewczul hit a wonderful chip to two feet to cap his round with a tricky par save. Szewczul would sign for a final round 5-over 74 and a 13-over two-day tally.
Jones, playing in the final group was tied for the lead with two holes remaining but a bogey on No. 17 and a double-bogey on the 18th ended his quest to become the first player to sweep the senior majors since 2015.
“Playing in the conditions we faced today is a mindset,” Szewczul said. “You have to realize you can’t control the weather. It is the same for everyone who is playing so you just have to go out there and just really play a mind game. Everyone is going to make a bogey and hit a shot they aren’t happy with but you have to go on and persevere.”
Persevering has been the theme of the year for Szewczul. His perseverance not only led him back to the golf course but back into the winner’s circle where he has so often found himself before.
Two-time champion Richard Stevens (EClub of Connecticut) and 2015 winner Bill Hermanson (Black Hall Club) finished in a tie for second place at 15-over while John Herbert (Rockledge CC) and Jones shared fourth at 16-over.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Senior Amateur 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.
