Andy Paul Wins 2026 LFG Championship
Season to Championship: the road Andy rode
After a competitive regular season of 12 events and two intense playoff rounds, the Live Free Golf Tour field gathered at Connecticut National Golf Club for the Championship to crown our 2026 champion. We used our starting-strokes format to reward season-long performance: players began the final round with handicapped starting scores based on their playoff positioning.
Andy Paul entered the Championship after finishing 8th in the playoffs and began the day at -4. That left him five strokes behind clubhouse leader Ricky Dichard, who started at -9. The setup made for a dramatic day — the leaderboard was packed early and there was plenty of opportunity for movement on Connecticut National’s challenging layout.
Championship day: steady play and a late surge
Andy posted a gross 78 and, with his starting strokes, finished at net -8 to take the title. His round was a case of steady golf under pressure: fairways found, key up-and-downs, and a clutch stretch in the back nine that moved him past several contenders on a course that rewarded both accuracy and course management.
Around the midway point of the round, the leaderboard was razor-close — roughly eight players were within two strokes of the lead. That tight cluster set up a nervy back nine where every par and birdie mattered. Last year’s champion, Jim Tokanel, came to the final hole needing a birdie to force a playoff. He gave it a run, but the birdie didn't fall, and Andy’s net score held up as the eventual winning number.
Top finishers
Here are the top finishers and how their starting positions translated to final results:
| Player | Start | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Andy Paul | -4 | -8 |
| Jim Tokanel | -6 | -6 |
| Ricky Dichard | -9 | -5 |
| Chris Murray | -1 | -4 |
| Rocky LeFort | -6 | -4 |
| Chris Roussin | -3 | -3 |
| Scott Smith | -5 | -3 |
Congrats to Andy for closing the gap from an 8th-place starting position and to everyone who competed — those final positions reflect a hard-fought season and a tight Championship at Connecticut National.
What this means for LFG
Andy’s victory is a great example of how our season-plus-playoff structure rewards persistence and peak performance when it counts. The starting-strokes format continues to produce exciting finishes and keeps more players in contention throughout the day, which makes for better competition and better spectating.
Thanks to all members who played in the 12 regular events and both playoff rounds — your participation made this Championship one to remember. We’ll be sharing more highlights, hole-by-hole moments, and a few clubhouse stories from the Championship in the coming days, so watch the site and our social channels for photos and player quotes.
Looking ahead
We’re already looking forward to the next season. Whether you played every event or are thinking about joining for the first time, now’s a great time to start planning your schedule and sharpening your game. Congrats again to Andy Paul — our 2026 LFG Champion — and to everyone who made this season a success.