South Kent, Connecticut (September 26, 2023) – Late heroics lifted both Anthony Guerrera and Bill Hermanson to the titles at the 18th Tournament of Champions hosted by Bull’s Bridge Golf Club.
With the sun setting on a crisp early fall day Anthony Guerrera (Watertown GC) faced a 205-yard second shot into the par-5 18th. Needing to birdie the final hole to win his third CSGA event of the season Guerrera hit the shot of the day stripping a 6 iron to 15 feet.
With two putts to win Guerrera, who won the Two Man Championship and the Russell C. Palmer Cup earlier in the year, eased his eagle putt within 3 feet setting up a short birdie putt that secured the title by one shot over three players.
“This win definitely solidifies the season for me,” said Guerrera. “After the Palmer Cup I definitely fell off a little bit and didn’t know where the game was at but it was good to come in here and play on a course I am really familiar with and get things done.”
Guerrera, a member of the outside staff and a caddie at Bull’s Bridge GC, started his day with an eagle chip in on the dramatic downhill opening par-5 and then moved to 3-under with a birdie the par-4 third. A pair of bogeys late on the front nine saw Guerrera turn in 1-under 35 however a birdie on the par-5 10th moved him back to 2-under and with eight holes left he was seemingly in control.
That all changed after Guerrera peaked at the leaderboard following a par on No. 12 as three bogeys followed on the next four holes dropping the 25-year-old all the way back down to 1-over and a four-way tie for the lead.
“After I looked at the leaderboard on No. 12 I felt some nerves,” Guerrera explained.
Despite the nerves, Guerrera was able to right the ship with a par on No. 17 setting the stage for the final hole dramatics.
With his even-par 72 Guerrera finished one shot in front of a trio of players tied for second at 1-over. The group included Ben Palazzo (Chippanee GC), Thomas Labbe (Watertown GC), and Chris Meinke (Brooklawn CC). The top five was rounded out by Anthony Salvador (Blue Fox Run), Justin Beal (Timberlin GC), and Ben Day (New Haven CC) all of whom signed for a 4-over 76 and a fifth-place tie.
In the Siderowf Division Bill Hermanson birdied two of the last three holes to finish even-par and as the winner by two shots. For Hermanson (Black Hall Club) it was his third overall Tournament of Champions victory and his second as a member of the Siderowf Division.
“This is one of my favorite courses that we play so anytime that I get a win here it is special. This is a special place. I think every player here would tell you that,” Bill Hermanson said.
Hermanson birdied the par-4 third but a pair of three-putt bogeys on the second and fourth holes saw the Connecticut Golf Hall of Famer head to No. 5 1-over. After a run of pars, Hermanson rolled in a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-5 10th to return to level par only to bogey Nos. 12 and 15 to drop to 2-over.
With a number of players still in the mix Hermanson was able to lift and separate down the stretch. Hermanson hit the green on the diabolical par-3 16th but he was left with a 30-foot birdie try up the slope and then back down the hill. Just hoping to two putt Hermanson drilled the putt for an unlikely birdie saying after the round, “It was an impossible putt and if it didn’t hit the hole it would have gone 10 feet by so that was probably the difference.”
Following a par on No. 17 Hermanson added some extra padding with a fourth birdie of the day on the par-5 18th. In a good spot off the tee, Hermanson hit the green with his second shot setting up a two-putt birdie from 25 feet to finish with an even-par 72 and as the winner by two.
“You just hope to stay competitive. It is just nice to do and it is what we are all trying to do,” Hermanson said. “We all like to compete. Sometimes you get lucky and win but you just hope to play well and be competitive.”
Geoff Deville (Lyman Orchards GC) finished in second place at 2-over, Dave Szewczul (TPC River Highlands) and Craig Platt (Mill River CC) shared third at 3-over while Stuart Goldstein (Keney GC), Steven Fisch (Bull’s Bridge GC), Rick Malafronte (New Haven CC), and Steve Gersh (Rolling Hills CC) all finished 4-over to share fifth.
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.
