Final Results – Tettelbach Division | Siderowf Division | Photo Gallery
The 11th Tournament of Champions concluded at Bull’s Bridge Golf Club with Jason Jaworoski of Shorehaven Golf Club and Michael Moraghan of the Country Club of Waterbury claiming the titles in their respective divisions.
Conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association, the Tournament of Champions presented by MasterCard is an 18-hole stroke play competition contested each year at Bulls Bridge Golf Club in South Kent, Connecticut. The tournament brings together past CSGA champions, as well as Club Champions and Senior Club Champions from CSGA member clubs for an event at one of New England’s premiere private facilities. The Tettelbach Division is open to all players, while the Siderowf Division is open to players ages fifty–five and over.
With sunny skies and light winds greeting a field of the state’s best amateur golfers, Jaworoski took advantage of the favorable scoring conditions with an incredible eight birdies on his round en route to firing a blistering round of four under-par 68 in the Tettelbach Division. Jaworoski entered the day with plenty of confidence, having captured the Shorehaven Golf Club Men’s Championship this past weekend.
“I felt good about my game coming into today after being fortunate enough to win the club championship again, but I was a little cautious because I had never played the golf course before,” said Jaworoski. “I made a couple of fifteen foot birdie putts, but my ball striking was really solid today.”
The win marks Jaworoski’s second CSGA championship of 2016, having also won the 76th Four-Ball Championship at Yale earlier this summer. He will be hoping to continue his great play when he competes in the 20th Jerry Courville, Sr. Memorial with playing partner T.J. Trimboli at his home club next week.
Josh Cameron of Norwich Golf Course, who captured the Tournament of Champions last year, nearly defended his title after shooting a round of two under-par 70. Cameron, who played his final three holes in three under-par, grabbed the clubhouse lead with only two groups remaining on the course and was seeking to become the first player in tournament history to successfully his title.
In the Siderowf division, Moraghan’s round of even-par 72 helped him to a one stroke victory and his first CSGA championship. Standing on the 16th tee at two over-par for the day, he felt like he needed something special to have a chance at the title.
“I made a really sloppy bogey on the opening hole, but I managed to hold it together throughout the day,” said Moraghan. “Going into the day, I felt like I needed to be under-par to have a chance. After being two over-par through fifteen holes, I had it in my head to try to birdie the last three holes.”
While a tall task to birdie the difficult 16th and 17th holes, he saved his best shots for the reachable par-5 finishing hole. A 300-yard drive left him with just an 8-iron into the green, which he hit to within fifteen feet and calmly rolled in the putt for an eagle and an even-par round. Moraghan, who is the CSGA’s Executive Director, will look to carry the momentum of his victory into a busy fall season on the senior golf calendar. He, along with many of the state’s top senior amateur golfers, will be competing in both the New England Senior Amateur (September 20-21 at Crestwood Country Club in Massachusetts) and the Connecticut Senior Amateur (September 26-27 at Madison Country Club).
“It gives me a lot of confidence going forward. It’s a matter of playing and practicing as much as possible with a full-time job, but I’m definitely looking forward to both the New England Senior Amateur and the Connecticut Senior Amateur,” said Moraghan. “I’ve never played the New England Senior Amateur before and Madison is a great venue for the Connecticut Senior Amateur, so I’m really excited to be competing in both of those great events.”
Robert Diskin of Bull’s Bridge Golf Club and Jim Romaniello of Shorehaven Golf Club both shot rounds of one over-par 73 to finish runner-up in the Siderowf Division.
The CSGA Championship season continues with USGA Four-Ball Qualifying on Monday, September 12th at Black Hall Club in Old Lyme, Conn., where the low two teams will advance to the 3rd U.S. Four-Ball Championship at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club.
