Kent, Connecticut (September 24, 2024) – On a gorgeous late September day with fall foliage starting to pop Ashton Lewis and Craig Platt captured the 19th Tournament of Champions titles at Bull’s Bridge Golf Club.
Leading the way in the Tettelbach Division was Ashton Lewis. Just under two months after nearly winning the Connecticut Public Links, Lewis carded a 2 under 70 to earn a two-shot triumph over two others.
“This was pretty cool,” exclaimed Lewis. “I have had a lot of close finishes this year. Losing the playoff at the Connecticut Public Links really hurt. But this means everything to me. It was cool just getting out and playing. I’ve been working a lot, so it was really cool to just play solid golf.”
1 over through five holes, Lewis caught fire playing Nos. 6-11 in 4 under highlighted by birdies on 6, 8, 10, and 11. The 2024 Connecticut Amateur semifinalist did cool off down the stretch recording two bogeys and one birdie over the last four holes but he had done more than enough work earlier in his round to build an insurmountable advantage.
Recent Connecticut Public Links winner Adam Friedman (Great River GC) and 2024 Connecticut Amateur champion Austin Perkins (Hartford GC) shared second at even par while Andrew Szandrocha (Indian Hill CC), Conor Deasy (EClub of Connecticut), and Peter Tomlinson (Orange Hills CC) finished in a tie for fourth at 1 over.
In the Siderowf Division Craig Platt (Mill River CC) fired a 3 under 69 to earn a one-shot victory over John Herbert (Rockledge CC).
“It’s great,” Platt said following his round. “I played really well last week at the New England Senior Amateur and just couldn’t finish it off. So today I was able to keep the momentum going. This is a really good golf course. I played really solid and just feel really good about my game.”
Platt got off to a quick start with a birdie on the dramatic downhill 520-yard opening par-5. Following a bogey on the par-4 third, Platt refound his form with birdies on Nos. 4, 7, and 9 to make the turn in 3 under 33.
On the back nine Platt stumbled briefly with a bogey on No. 10 before rattling off six straight pars highlighted by a clutch up and down for par on No. 17.
With the stage set for some late dramatics Platt bookmarked his round with a birdie on the closing 495-yard par 5 to post 3 under and earn the title.
Rounding out the top five in the Siderowf Division were James Lawler (Mohegan Sun GC), Geoff Deville (Lyman Orchards GC), and Dave Jones (Mohegan Sun GC) in a tie for third at 1-over.
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.
