GOSHEN - Jeff Curl twice blew leads in Wednesday's final round of the 79th Connecticut Open golf championship at Torrington Country Club. The second collapse put him to a four-man, sudden-death playoff.
But Curl regrouped, sinking a dramatic 35-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to win his second Open title.
"I was hitting it so good all week, I felt like it was my tournament to win if I could hang in there long enough," Curl said.
Eric Steger, Ben Conroy and William Downes all shot 7-under-par 209 to join Curl in the playoff. Steger and Conroy missed birdie attempts before Curl made his. Downes mised from off the front of the green to end the playoff.
Curl won $12,500. Downes, Conroy and Steger all took hme $3,667.
Curl won this title in 2007 at his then home course, Lake of Isles in North Stonington.

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79th CONNECTICUT OPEN

(at Torrington CC)

Final round

a-denotes amateur; x-won in sudden-death playoff

x-Jeff Curl (Cedar Knob GC), 67-67-75-209; Ben Conroy (CC of Woodbridge), 70-74-65-209; Ben Conroy (CC of Woodbridge), 70-74-71-209; Eric Steger (TPC River Highlands), 67-71-71-209; Jason Caron (Stamford), 71-66-73-210; Frank Bensel (Norwalk), 72-71-67-210; Steve Sokol (Orange Hills CC), 71-72-68-211; John Martinchek (Blackledge CC), 71-71-70-212; John Bushka (Aspetuck Valley CC), 70-71-71-212; Dan Balin (Burning Tree CC), 68-75-69-212; a-Jeff Hogan (Watertown GC), 68-73-71-212; Mike Ballo Jr. (Woodway CC), 71-69-72-212; Jim St. Pierre (Redding CC), 70-68-75-213; a-John Vanderlaan (Heritage Village CC), 75-73-66-214; Tommy McDonagh (Shorehaven GC), 68-70-76-214; Brian Lamberti (Richter Park GC), 74-73-68-215; Fran Marrello (Plymouth), 74-71-70-215; a-John Jackopsic (Gillette Ridge GC), 76-68-7-215; Kyle Gallo (Connecticut National GC), 72-72-71-215; a-Peter ballo (Woodway CC), 74-70-72-216; Sam Wiley (Wee Burn CC), 7-70-75-216; Ryan Kalista (Innis Arden GC), 74-71-72-217; Ken Green (Richter Park GC), 7-75-72-218.