Groton — Approaching the 18th green holding a two-shot lead, John Elliott figured something goofy had to happen to prevent him from closing out his first Connecticut Senior Open golf title.

Then Billy Downes miraculously chipped in from a green-side bunker for an eagle and Elliott missed a potential match-sealing birdie putt to force a playoff at Shennecossett Golf Course.

Elliott congratulated Downes, saying: "Great job. I'm probably going to lose. I'm used to losing playoffs."

Not this time.

Elliott, 53, kept his cool and went back to work on the first playoff hole, No. 18 again. He clinched the title by hitting a 40-yard chip shot to within a couple of feet of the pin and calmly drained the short birdie putt for the victory.

Walking off the green, the Norwich Free Academy graduate tipped his hat to the applauding gallery, which was mostly comprised of friends and supporters.

"It's a great tournament for me," Elliott said. "At least I've got that under my belt. I've won the Cooperstown (N.Y.) Senior Open and I've qualified for some Champions (Tour) events, but it's nice to win my own (Senior) Open. ... It's great. I really wanted to win today and I did. No matter which way it happened, it happened."

Elliott, a former PGA Tour player, has come tantalizingly close to winning the Senior Open in three previous attempts. In 2014, he lost a two-shot lead with three holes to play and fell to Jerry Courville on the second playoff hole. He tied for fourth last year.

Entering Tuesday's final round, Elliott shared the lead at 4-under with Downes, who's from Longmeadow, Mass., and Robin Byrd of Satellite Beach, Fla.

The match remained tight into the back nine due in part to Elliott missing some makeable putts and his opponents' steady play. Downes saved par by chipping in on the fourth hole.

When Elliott hit a terrific tee shot on the par 3, 15th hole and then converted the 4-foot birdie putt, he lowered his overall score to 5-under and his lead grew to two strokes over Byrd and three over Downes.

Downes rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on 17th  to climb to within two strokes of the lead.

The match appeared over when Downes' second shot found the bunker on the front left side of the 18th green and Elliott's nice shot from the back-side bunker left him with about a six-foot putt for birdie.

A few minutes later, Downes was pumping his fist after his stunning bunker shot from about 20 yards landed on the green and found the bottom of the cup.

"If I just make a birdie, I'm good and I win," Elliott said. "I couldn't make a putt all day and couldn't take advantage. I played probably as good as I can play tee to green."

Downes found the same bunker on the first playoff hole but couldn't pull off the magic act again.

"Where I was with two holes to go, I guess you've got to look back and say I'm pretty fortunate to get in the playoff," Downes said.

Downes, who qualified for the Travelers Championship this year, felt good about his performance in his first Connecticut Senior Open despite finishing as the runner-up. His friendship goes way back with Elliott.

"It was fun," Downes said. "I hadn't seen him for a couple of years. We were on the Nike Tour at the same time in the late 90's. ... I've known him from there and just playing around New England before that. So it was nice to play with him."

Both Downes and Elliott shot a 1-under 70 in the second round and finished with a two-round total of 5-under 137. Byrd took third at 3-under 139 while Clifford Blanchard of Warwick and Kirk Hanefeld of South Hamilton, Mass., tied for fourth at 140. Blanchard played the best round of the day, firing a 6-under 65.

Elliott's putter might have let him down on Tuesday, but he still did enough to pull out the win. He finished with only one bogey and had two birdies.

"I think I'm the best player if I putt well," Elliott said. "If you don't make putts, guys are going to pass you. Fortunately for me a lot of guys didn't play really well. ... It all worked out. Hey, a win is a win. ... I played great. I drove the ball perfect all day today. I was in position to birdie most holes."

Elliott, who's staying in Westerly with his family, has a busy upcoming tournament schedule. He's playing in the Bangor Open starting Thursday and then the Maine Open on Monday and Tuesday.

Thanks to his Connecticut Senior Open victory, he has some money in his pocket for the trip after accepting a check for $4,000.

g.keefe@theday.com