MANCHESTER — It's not hard to identify the key stretch of holes that allowed C.J. Konkowski to knock off defending champion Austin Fox in the Intermediate Division of the 55th annual Red Ryan CYO Golf Tournament on Thursday.

Konkowski, a 19-year-old Chesterfield resident, made the first of three consecutive birdies on the par-3 eighth hole at Derryfield Country Club. His birdie barrage turned a 1-hole deficit into a 2-up lead in the championship match, and he held on for a 1-up victory.

“I fell behind early, but I played well after the first few holes,” Konkowski said. “I made about a 20-foot putt for a birdie on eight, and that was probably the pivotal hole. Then I made probably five-footers (for birdies) on nine and 10.”

Konkowski played three years of golf at Keene High School, and was on the Franklin Pierce University golf team last year. He said he will transfer to the University of New Hampshire this year for academic reasons.

Fox, a Hooksett resident who played high school golf at Manchester Central, was 2-up through three holes. He was 1-down after he won No. 16, but both golfers made par on Nos. 17 and 18.

“I didn't make a birdie today and you can't really do much if you're not making birdies,” Fox said. “C.J. was rolling them in pretty good. It was a fun match. At least it went to 18.”

Konkowski also collected the tournament's Colin A. MacDonald Outstanding Golfer Award. He shot a 1-under-par 69 in the stroke-play portion of the tournament Tuesday.

► Click here to view Red Ryan CYO Golf Results.

Fox, who is on the golf team at New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, advanced to the championship match by beating Chase Dembisky 2 and 1 in the semifinals. Fox defeated Dembisky in last year's championship match.

“I just didn't make putts,” Fox said. “It happens.”

The tournament featured three divisions: Intermediate (under 19), Junior (under 16) and Mite (under 13). Thursday's other winners:

-- Dover's Anthony Colarusso, 18, defeated Jonathan Cullity 1-up to win the Intermediate Division's first flight.

-- Joshua Lacasse, a 16-year-old Bow resident, prevailed in the Junior Division's championship flight by beating Brandon Gillis, a 13-year-old from Nashua. Gillis received the Tony Haley Rookie of the Year Award.

-- Merrimack's Dylan Lortie, 13, won the Junior Division's first flight with a 2-and-1 victory over Brennan Gillis.

-- Manchester's James Manning defeated Chase Holombo in 19 holes to win the Junior Division's second flight.

-- Philip Schmitz, a 12-year-old Mont Vernon resident, won the Mite Division's championship flight by beating top-seeded Eric Keilty, 4 and 3.

-- Hollis resident Jack Fitzgerald, 11, defeated Thomas McLendon 2 and 1 to win the Mite Division's first flight.

“It was another successful tournament thanks in large part to Mike Ryan, Derryfield's head professional, and his staff,” tournament director Doug Smith said. “We had more players than we had last year and most of them were in the younger division, which is what we like to see.

“I'd also like to thank superintendent Stan Jaworski, who had the course in great shape.”

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Roger Brown may be reached at rbrown@unionleader.com.