It took all 36 holes, but Zack Zaback won the Connecticut Amateur championship on Friday, defeating Kevin Josephson at Lake of Isles Golf Club in North Stonington.

The lead was never more than 1-up either way during the first 18 holes of the match. Zaback, who plays out of TPC River Highlands, never trailed after the fourth hole and took the lead for good on hole No. 25 with a double bogey.

Josephson (CC of Farmington) fell behind 3-up with seven holes to play, but won the next two holes with par to get it back to 1-up. But Zaback never relinquished the lead to secure his first Amateur title on the final hole of regulation.

The Hoops for Heart Health tournament, put together by former NBA standout and Waterbury native Ryan Gomes, will be held at Southington Country Club. It's a shotgun start at 8 a.m., scramble format. Entry fee $150 per golfer. Proceeds go to www.hoopsforhealth.inc., which helps towards the donation of defibrillators at all athletic venues. Contact Peter at 203-527-5376 for further information.

Kevin Josephson from the Country Club of Farmington and Zack Zaback from TPC River Highlands in Cromwell advanced to the 36-hole final of the 112th Connecticut Amateur Championship at Lake of Isles Golf Club Thursday.

Josephson defeated John Flaherty  (TPC River Highlands) 2 and 1. Zaback had to go 21 holes to eliminate Branden Chicorka (Eclub of River Valley) in the other semifinal.

Quarterfinals
Kevin Josephson, CC of Farmington def. Jeffrey Evanier, Eclub of New Haven, 21 Holes
John Flaherty, TPC River Highlands def. Philip Perry, Black Hall Club, 1 Up
Zack Zaback, TPC River Highlands def. Monte Mullen, TPC River Highlands, 2 and 1
Branden Chicorka, Eclub of River Valley def. Patrick Albanesi, Hartford Golf Club, 6 and 5.

Semifinals
Josephson def. Flaherty, 2 and 1
Zaback def. Chicorka, 21 Holes

Today’s 36-hole final
8 a.m.: Josephson vs. Zaback

1. Bubba Watson (above): Won his first PGA Tour event here four years ago. Now, he is a two-time Masters champion. Has three other top-10 finishes at TPC River Highlands, including last year when he had the lead with three holes remaining.

2. Charley Hoffman: Hoffman was Watson two years ago, blowing a golden opportunity to win this tournament when he drowned his tee shot on the 71st hole. Finished tied for seventh last year.

3. Hunter Mahan: Former champion (2007) has shot below 65 seven times at TPC River Highlands. Mahan is due for another tour victory.

Kevin Josephson from Country Club of Farmington eliminated Sean Gaudette from the Course at Yale in the Round of 16 at the Connecticut Amateur golf tournament Wednesday at Lake of Isles Golf Club in North Stonington.

Jeff Evanier from the E-Club of New Haven advanced to the quarterfinals with a 1-up victory over Evan
Grenus (TPC River Highlands). Ross Kronberg from Great River GC in Milford lost to Phil Perry (Black Hall Club) 2 and 1.

Round of 16
Kevin Josephson (CC of Farmington) def. Sean Gaudette (The Course at Yale), 2 and 1; Jeff Evanier (EClub of New Haven) def. Evan Grenus (TPC River Highlands), 1-up; Phil Perry (Black Hall Club) def. Ross Kronberg (Great River GC), 2 and 1; John Flaherty (TPC River Highlands) def. Nick Torrance (Lake of Isles GC), 20 holes; Zach Zaback (TPC River Highlands) def. Dave Szewczul (Tunxis Plantation CC), 4 and 3; Monte Mullen (TPC River Hghlands) def. John VanDerLaan (EClub of New Haven), 2-up; Pat Albanesi (Hartford GC) def. Chris Wiatr (CC of Waterbury), 1-up; Branden Chicorka (EClub of River Valley) def. Kyle Buschmann (Fox Hopyard GC), 6 and 5.

Today's quarterfinal matches
Josephson vs. Evanier, 8 a.m.; Perry vs. Flaherty, 8:10; Zaback vs. Mullen, 8:20; Albanesi vs. Chicorka, 8:30 a.m.