Elliott wins Connecticut Senior Open in playoff

Former PGA Tour player John Elliott defeated Billy Downes in a sudden-death playoff to win the Connecticut Senior Open. Autumn Serruta leads going into the final round of the State Women’s Amateur.

Billy Downes pulled a Jordan Spieth on Tuesday, but it still wasn’t good enough to win the Connecticut Senior Open at Shenecossett Golf Course in Groton.

Downes holed a 50-foot bunker shot for eagle-3 on the final hole of regulation for a 1-under-par 70, a 36hole total of 5-under 137 and a tie with former PGA Tour player John Elliott, who grew up about 15 minutes away in Norwich.

As he did on the regulation finale, Downes pulled his second shot on the par-5 18th hole into the same bunker and blasted to 10 feet this time in the playoff. Elliott hit a poor second shot with a 6-iron right of the green but made a brilliant 40-yard pitch that stopped 2 feet from the hole.

After Downes missed his birdie try, Elliott converted for the victory and the $4,000 first prize.

Elliot shared the firstround lead with Downes and Robin Byrd, of Satellite Beach, Fla., who shot 72 for a 139 total and third place and $2,000.

Downes provided the histrionics on No. 18 that were reminiscent of Spieth holing a 61-foot bunker shot on the first playoff hole to beat Daniel Berger in the Travelers Championship last month. Elliott still had a chance to win in regulation, but he missed a 6-foot birdie putt after hitting his second shot over the green into a bunker.

Downes, who played in the Travelers for the first time after winning the Connecticut Section PGA Spring Stroke Play Championship, finished second and earned $2,750 in his tournament debut.

Clifford Blanchard of Warwick, R.I. tied for fourth at 140 with Kirk Hanefeld of South Hamilton, Mass. Each won $1,375.

Serruta leads Women’s Amateur

Autumn Serruta from the GC of Avon shot a secondround 74 to take a threestroke lead at the 52nd Connecticut Women’s Amateur Championship at Manchester CC.

Serruta, who recorded an opening round of 76 to share the overnight lead with Alexandra Sazhin of the Golf Performance Center, carded just three bogies and a birdie on the par-5 15th en-route to a two-round total of 6-over 150. Jen Holland, the 2008 winner, of Lyman Orchards GC sits in second (78-75— 153, 9-over).

Sarah Houle, who captured the CIAC Girls Championship last month, sits in third place at 12-over-par and six strokes behind the lead. Anelise Brown of Rolling Hills CC and Sazhin are tied for fourth at 13-over.

Silva leads NE Amateur

Kevin Silva of Rhode Island fired a 4-under-par 66 to hold a one-shot lead after one round of the New England Amateur Championship at Metacomet CC in East Providence, Rhode Island.

Bobby Leopold of Rhode Island and Rasmey Kong of North Haven are both a stroke back after shooting 67. Former Danbury High standout Max Theodorakis is in a tie for eighth place at 69.