BOB MUCHA ATOP A BUNCHED LEADERBOARD IN THE CONNECTICUT PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
SOUTHWICK, Mass. (September 20, 2021) – On a beautiful day for most any outdoor activity, Bob Mucha strolled around the Ranch Golf Club hitting 15 greens in regulation on his way to posting a one-under par 71, and taking a one-stroke lead in the 25th playing of the Connecticut PGA Professional Championship.
Mucha, the head professional at nearby Edgewood Golf Course and the winner of this championship in 2000, got hot on the back nine after turning the front nine in one over par 37 that included a birdie on hole 3, and back to back 3-putt bogeys on holes 8 and 9.
A good shot with a hybrid to 8 feet on hole 10, set up the first of four birdies Mucha made coming home. After birdies on holes 12, 15, and 16, he closed with his third and final bogey on hole 18, again by 3-putting.
“I played well,” Mucha said. “I only missed three greens and got up and down on all of them. My only bogeys were the 3-putts.”
There’s not much separation between Mucha and 12 other PGA Professionals who are stacked up behind him, all whom are within four shots heading into tomorrow’s final round of the 36-hole championship.
The closest contenders are Donny Kirkpatrick (Wampanaog CC), Mike Martin (Tashua Knolls GC), and Billy Street (Whitney Farms GC) who all shot even par 72.
Defending and two-time champion Chris Tallman (Orchards GC) is alone in fifth place at 73.
Kirkpatrick, who lost in a playoff in 2019, had three birdies and an eagle two on the par 4 second hole.
Street, the 2017 champion, said his round was saved by his putting. A turning point for him was making a 60-foot birdie putt on hole 11 after almost hitting it out of bounds.
Martin was runner up to Tallman in 2018 and said he also putted well, sinking four birdie putts all under 10 feet. He said his only mistake was short-siding himself on hole 11 that led to a double bogey.
Tomorrow’s winner earns $4,000 and 100 Player of the Year points, and the top three finishers get berths in the 55th PGA Professional Championship at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas on April 17-20, 2022. The Section Player of the Year also earns an exemption to the national event, but if he finishes in the top three, the first alternate goes to Austin.
The tournament is presented by Cadillac, Club Car and Rolex. Supporting sponsors are Titleist/FootJoy, NIKE and TaylorMade. Presenting partners are Golf Channel and the PGA Tour. The 41 section championships and the national tournament offer a combined purse of more than $1.5 million.
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Round one results
1 Bob Mucha Edgewood GC 37-34--71 -1
T2 Donny Kirkpatrick Wampanoag CC 33-39--72 E
T2 Mike Martin Tashua Knolls GC 35-37--72 E
T2 William Street Whitney Farms GC 37-35--72 E
5 Christopher Tallman Orchards GC 37-36--73 +1
T6 Alexander Bardani The GC at Oxford Greens 38-36--74 +2
T6 Jordan Gosler Manchester CC 36-38--74 +2
T6 Brian Keiser Longmeadow CC 34-40--74 +2
T6 C.J. Konkowski Hartford GC 37-37--74 +2
T10 Joe Cordani Hop Meadow CC 37-38--75 +3
T10 Jason Gobleck Golf Center at Lyman Orc 40-35--75 +3
T10 Kevin Mahaffy Pequabuck GC 37-38--75 +3
T10 Sean Sweitzer Madison CC 38-37--75 +3
T14 Marc Bayram Timberlin GC 33-43--76 +4
T14 Michael Jezierski Raceway GC 39-37--76 +4
T14 Bart McCarthy Oak Ridge GC 37-39--76 +4
T17 Ronnie Pfaefflin Norfolk CC 37-40--77 +5
T17 Milton Torres Crestview
T19 Adam D'Amario Indian Hill CC 38-40--78 +6
T19 William Wallis New Haven CC 40-38--78 +6
21 Fran Marrello PGA Life Member 39-40--79 +7
T22 Jim Hanlon The Farms CC 40-40--80 +8
T22 Brad Lusenhop CC of Waterbury 41-39--80 +8
T22 Nicholas Tamburini The Ranch GC 39-41--80 +8
T22 Jan Wivestad Crestbrook Park GC 38-42--80 +8
26 Ron Dellostritto Fairways Golf Range and Pro Shop 39-42--81 +9
T27 Jeff DelRosso Prospect Golf 40-42--82 +10
T27 Joe Mentz Mohegan Sun GC 40-42--82 +10
29 Tom Halsted Sharon CC 41-42--83 +11
T30 Robert Bigonette H. Smith Richardson GC 43-41--84 +12
T30 Rick Fleury The Ledges GC 42-42--84 +12
T32 Dave Cook Pomperaug GC 43-42--85 +13
T32 Bryan Truszkowski Candlewood LC 39-46--85 +13
T34 E.J. Altobello Springfield CC 46-42--88 +16
T34 Ted Perez East Mountain CC 42-46--88 +16
36 Bobby Powell First Tee of CT 43-47--90 +18
DID NOT FINISH
WD Zac Stennett Twin Hills CC
DQ Matt Stein GreatHorse
NC Philip Krick Mohegan Sun GC 43-0--43 +7