BOB MUCHA DEFENDS HIS CONNECTICUT PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE NEXT WEEK AT SHUTTLE MEADOW COUNTRY CLUB
KENSINGTON, Conn. (September 30, 2022) – A lot will be on the line for Connecticut Section PGA Professionals next week at Shuttle Meadow Country Club as the 26th playing of the Connecticut PGA Professional Championship gets underway on Tuesday.
This will be the final opportunity to earn Connecticut Section PGA Player of the Year points this season that will not only determine whose name goes on the Bob Shea Plaque as the Section Player of the Year, but also who secures spots to play on next year’s PGA Team in the Julius Boros Challenge Cup Matches.
In addition, the 48 of the 50 PGA Professionals who are entered into what is more commonly referred to as “the Connecticut Section Championship” are eligible to earn the two spots to advance to the 2023 PGA Professional Championship that is scheduled to be played in April in New Mexico. The Section Player of the Year also earns an exemption to the national event.
Last year, Bob Mucha of Edgewood Golf Course (Southwick, Mass.) captured his second Connecticut Section Championship title, 20 years removed from his first. Mucha (78.46), who currently ranks 17th on the Player of the Year rankings, shot rounds of 71-73 at The Ranch Golf Club and defeated Chris Tallman, the 2020 champion on the second hole of a sudden death playoff.
Mucha believes the par 71, 6,482-yard, Willie Park Jr. designed Shuttle Meadow golf course suits his game well.
“I’ve had success there before,” Mucha said. “It requires accuracy, and the greens are tricky, so pars are good.”
“The weather forecast looks a bit chilly which favors me and maybe the bombers won’t be hitting as far.”
Speaking of bombers, Tallman (361.00), the general manager at Orchards Golf Club (South Hadley, Mass.) stands atop the Player of Year rankings and can clinch his third straight Player of the Year title by finishing no worse than third no matter how his nearest challengers’ finish.
Second in the standings is Billy Street (314.00) of Whitney Farms Golf Course (Monroe, Conn.) who is the only other professional that has a shot at claiming the Player of the Year title. Last week Street captured his third Section Match Play title, defeating Tallman on his home course in the final match on the first extra hole.
Tallman, Street, and Matt Stein (247.60) of GREATHORSE (Hampden, Mass.) who is third in the standings are the featured pairing and scheduled to tee off at 9:00 AM on Tuesday.
The section champion will win the $4,000 first prize from the $20,000 prize purse.
The tournament presenting sponsors are Cadillac, Club Car and Rolex. Supporting sponsors are Titleist/FootJoy, Callaway, Nike, TaylorMade Golf Channel, and the PGA Tour.