Rocky Hill's Steger Falls Short In Playoff At Connecticut Open

Eric Steger of Rocky Hill didn't know what the final day of the Connecticut Open would hold but it turned out to be a roller coaster of a day.

He was behind leader Jeff Curl by four shots going into the final round, birdied the second hole to get to -7 and he was right in the mix. While this was going on, Curl was faltering to a final round 75. 

But then Steger struggled with a bogey on the ninth and a double on the 10th hole to fall to -4. His hopes had evaporated in two holes. 

But he would fight. He birdied 12, 13 and 16 to finish -7. It still looked like it would not be enough but Curl struggled and suddenly found himself in a four-way playoff with Ben Conroy, William Downes of Longmeadow, Mass. and Steger 

Steger left the course, thinking that Curl was going to win by at least three shots. According to a reporter at the course, Steger's caddie called him and told him Curl was making a mess of the 18th hole. Steger then turned around and came back to play in the playoff. 

Curl birdied the first hole to win a four-way playoff and capture the 79th Connecticut Open Championship. The state’s top open event was held July 29th-31st at the 6,589 yard, par 72 Torrington Country Club.

Conroy of Durham had other plans. Beginning the day 10 strokes back and a full 90 minutes ahead of the leaders, Conroy sent shockwaves through the course as he made the turn in four under before making birdies on #11, 12, 15 and 16 to grab the outright lead at eight-under par.

Even with his final round charge, he couldn’t have taken the lead without some help from the leaders. Curl began his final round in a disastrous way, making bogey on the par-3 3rd hole before making a triple bogey 7 on the 4th hole. His three shot lead had vanished, and suddenly Conroy was the one that everyone was chasing.

“It was one of those days, the putts went in and everything went my way,” Conroy said. “When I saw the leaderboard on the 14th tee, I was one stroke back and at that point, I knew I was in it.”

Although Conroy would make a bogey on the final hole to finish the tournament at seven under, he posted an unbelievable round of 65 to set the new competitive course record at Torrington Country Club.

“It just kept unraveling. All day, I felt like it was my tournament to win if I could hang in there long enough,” said Curl. “Coming off the 18th green, I can’t remember a time when I’ve been that down on myself.”

Beginning on Hole #1, Conroy, Steger and Curl all hit the green, with Downes just short in the fringe.

After Conroy and Steger lagged their putts to within a few feet of the hole, it was Curl’s time to shine. With just over 35 feet left for birdie, he made the putt of the tournament. “I didn’t even see it go in,” said Curl. “Five feet out, I knew it was in and just started running.”

1. Curl, Jeff Cedar Knob GC +3 F -7 67 67 75 209 $12,500
2. Conroy, Ben CC of Woodbridge -7 F -7 70 74 65 209 $3,666.67
3. Downes, William Longmeadow, MA -1 F -7 70 68 71 209 $3,666.67
4. Steger, Eric TPC of River Highlands -1 F -7 67 71 71 209 $3,666.67