Connecticut Open (golf)

American golf tournament

The Connecticut Open is the Connecticut state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Connecticut State Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1931 (except for war years) at a variety of courses around the state. It was considered a PGA Tour event in the 1930s.

## History[edit]

In 1915 and 1916 there was a significant golf event entitled the Connecticut Open. The English golfer Jim Barnes won it both years.[1] In the 1920s, there was talk of renewing the event.[1][2] In 1930, an event entitled the Connecticut Open was scheduled to be hosted on September 13 and 14. The event was scheduled to be held at Shenecossett Club. However, it failed to receive "sanction" from the Connecticut Golf Association. The event was canceled by September 3.[3] It was also reported during late 1930 that the Connecticut Golf Association was planning on sanctioning an official state open in the summer of 1931.[3]

The first Connecticut Open sanctioned by the Connecticut Golf Association was held in 1931.[4][5] Eighty players entered in the first tournament. The event was two rounds long and played over one day at Yale Golf Course. Playing against "a light rain" and "a strong, chilly wind," as reported by The New York Times, Henry Ciuci managed to score 152 to win. He defeated Jack Ryan, the assistant professional at Yale GC, by two shots. A number of players finished one shot further back to tie for third, including amateur Charles Clare. As low amateur, he earned a silver plate. Ciuci won $250 and the right to hold a Connecticut Golf Association shield for a year.[6] For most of the early years of the Connecticut Open, however, it was the professional Johnny Golden that dominated. Golden won four consecutive tournaments from 1932 through 1935. However, in January 1936 he abruptly died of pneumonia. Later in the year, Leo Mallory, Golden's former assistant at Wee Burn, won the Connecticut Open with 283 total. It was the lowest total since the tournament switched from a two-round tournament to a four-round tournament. The following year, at Wampanoag Country Club, he won by 10 shots, another tournament record.[7] In 1941, Jimmy Demaret, who won the Masters the previous year, won the Connecticut Open.[8] The tournament was not held until 1946 due to World War II.[8]

Former PGA Tour pro Mike Colandro won the event in 1986. Despite his win, he advocated some changes to the tournament. According to the Hartford Courant, shortly after his victory "he called for the sponsoring Connecticut State Golf Association to open the event to all state pros, get a sponsor and increase the $10,000 purse."[9]

In 1997, PGA Tour player Ken Green played the event. Many were surprised to see a current PGA Tour player in the field. He explained, "I don't really want to be here, but I don't have any choice. I have a negative net worth."[10]

## Winners[edit]

Year  | Champion(s)  | Venue  | Score  | Ref.

|
|
|
|

2023  | Brett Stegmaier | Shuttle Meadow CC  | 198  |
2022  | Peter Ballo  | New Haven CC  | 203  |
2021  | Peter Ballo  | CC of Darien  | 201  | [11]
2020  | Max Theodorakis  | Ridgewood CC  | 206  | [12]
2019  | Rasmey Kong  | Torrington  | 202  |
2018  | John VanDerLaan  | New Haven Country Club | 194  |
2017  | Jeffrey Evanier  | Ellington Ridge  | 205  |
2016  | Adam Rainaud  | Woodway  | 206  |
2015  | Cody Paladino  | Patterson Club  | 207  |
2014  | Frank Bensel  | Rolling Hills  | 203  |
2013  | Jeff Curl  | Torrington  | 209  |
2012  | Jason Caron  | Wee Burn  | 214  |
2011  | Frank Bensel  | Brooklawn Country Club | 205  |
2010  | Kyle Gallo  | CC of Fairfield  | 200  |
2009  | Frank Bensel  | Hartford  | 204  |
2008  | Jeff Hedden  | Round Hill  | 206  |
2007  | Jeff Curl  | Lake of Isles  | 208  |
2006  | Nick Cook  | Ridgewood  | 211  |
2005  | Nick Cook  | CC of Waterbury  | 206  |
2004  | Kyle Gallo  | Mill River CC  | 203  |
2003  | Steve Sokol  | Black Hall Club  | 209  |
2002  | Jim St. Pierre  | New Haven  | 203  |
2001  | John Paesani  | Avon  | 207  |
2000  | Kyle Gallo  | Fairfield  | 209  |
1999  | Jay Rice  | Wee Burn  | 213  |
1998  | Kyle Gallo  | Ellington Ridge  | 214  |
1997  | Michael Gilmore  | Race Brook  | 204  |
1996  | Brendan Walsh  | Patterson  | 208  |
1995  | John A. Gentile  | Woodway  | 209  |
1994  | Kevin Giancola  | Wethersfield  | 207  |
1993  | Michael Gilmore  | Stanwich  | 216  |
1992  | Ken Green | Ridgewood  | 200  |
1991  | Mike Colandro | Brooklawn Country Club | 207  | [13]
1990  | Michael Downey  | Wee Burn  | 218  |
1989  | John David Parsons  | Avon  | 213  |
1988  | Kevin Giancola  | Woodbridge  | 204  |
1987  | Kevin Giancola (a)  | Tamarack  | 211  | [14]
1986  | Mike Colandro | Hartford  | 215  | [15]
1985  | Ken Green | New Haven Country Club | 209  |
1984  | Jack McConachie  | Tumble Brook  | 214  |
1983  | Ed Sabo  | Woodway  | 218  |
1982  | Ed Sabo  | Wethersfield  | 205  |
1981  | Ed Sabo  | Yale Golf Course | 213  |
1980  | Doug Dalziel  | Wampanoag Country Club | 205  | [16]
1979  | Doug Dalziel  | Ellington Ridge  | 209  | [16]
1978  | Mike Ballo  | Avon  | 209  |
1977  | Bobby Benson  | Race Brook  | 210  |
1976  | Jim Becker | Woodbridge  | 214  |
1975  | Jim Becker | Ellington Ridge  | 208  | [17]
1974  | Austin Straub  | Wee Burn  | 217  |
1973  | Dick Siderowf (a)  | Brooklawn Country Club | 213  | [18]
1972  | Paul Kelly  | Tamarack  | 211  |
1971  | Bobby Benson  | Wethersfield  | 203  |
1970  | John Gentile, Jr. (a)  | Hartford  | 212  | [19]
1969  | Mike Ballo  | New Haven Country Club | 208  |
1968  | Denny Lyons  | Wampanoag Country Club | 209  | [20]
1967  | Roy Pace, Jr.  | Avon  | 210  | [17][21][22]
1966  | Roy Pace, Jr.  | Tumble Brook  | 216  | [17][23]
1965  | Jerry Courville, Sr.  | Race Brook  | 207  | [24]
1964  | Bob Kay  | Woodway  | 211  |
1963  | John Cleary  | Farmington  | 212  |
1962  | Bob Cloughen  | Torrington  | 207  |
1961  | Edward Kuna  | Mill River  | 209  |
1960  | Allan Breed  | Shennecossett Golf Course | 211  |
1959  | Dick Siderowf (a)  | Shorehaven  | 214  |
1958  | Dick Siderowf (a)  | Brooklawn Country Club | 214  |
1957  | Don Hoenig  | Avon  | 204  |
1956  | Don Hoenig  | New Haven Country Club | 214  |
1955  | John Galeski  | Ridgewood  | 210  |
1954  | Ted Lenczyk  | Shuttle Meadow  | 207  | [25]
1953  | Les Brownlee (a)  | Wee Burn  | 213  | [25]
1952  | Joe Curtin  | Hartford  | 209  | [26][27]
1951  | Harry Nettelbladt  | Wethersfield  | 207  | [25]
1950  | Harry Nettelbladt  | Wampanoag Country Club | 284  | [25]
1949  | Frank Staszowski  | New Haven Country Club | 286  | [25]
1948  | Frank Staszowski  | Race Brook  | 277  | [25]
1947  | Frank Strazza  | Indian Hill  | 285  | [25]
1946  | Felice Torza (a)  | Torrington  | 293  | [25]
1942–45: No tournament due to World War II |
1941  | Jimmy Demaret | Race Brook  | 280  | [8]
1940  | Harold H. Mandly, Jr. (a)  | Wampanoag Country Club | 289  | [26]
1939  | Harry Cooper | New Haven Country Club | 279  | [25]
1938  | Eddie Burke  | Brooklawn Country Club | 287  | [25]
1937  | Leo Mallory  | Wampanoag Country Club | 284  | [25][7]
1936  | Leo Mallory  | Shuttle Meadow  | 283  | [28][29][7]
1935  | Johnny Golden | Brooklawn Country Club | 291  | [25][30]
1934  | Johnny Golden | New Haven Country Club | 286  | [25][31][32]
1933  | Johnny Golden | Shuttle Meadow  | 291  | [25][31]
1932  | Johnny Golden | Wampanoag Country Club | 143  | [25][31]
1931  | Henry Ciuci | Yale Golf Course | 152  | [6]

Source:[33]

## See also[edit]

* Connecticut Open (1910s event)
* New Haven Open

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Pro Question Serious". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. March 5, 1922. p. 1 (part 4). Retrieved December 11, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
2. ^ Keane, Albert W. (June 2, 1927). "Call 'Em Right". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 13. Retrieved December 11, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ a b "Conn. Open Golf Tourney Is Off". The Meridian Daily Journal. Connecticut. September 3, 1930. Retrieved December 11, 2021 - via Google News Archive.
4. ^ "Connecticut Open: Past Champions". Connecticut State Golf Association. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
5. ^ Griffith, Owen (July 23, 1951). "Cichon, Hoenig Share Lead In State Open With 69 Cards". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 13. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
6. ^ a b "Connecticut Open Annexed by Cuici" (PDF). The New York Times. August 25, 1931.
7. ^ a b c Lee, W. J. (August 12, 1940). "With Malice Toward None". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 9. Retrieved December 22, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
8. ^ a b c "Connecticut Open Golf Play Moves Into Final Round". The Meriden Daily Journal. Connecticut. Associated Press. August 13, 1946. p. 4. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
9. ^ Berlet, Bruce (May 3, 1987). "GHO, Senior Open highlight '87". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. C10. Retrieved October 12, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
10. ^ Berlet, Bruce (August 5, 1997). "Green get his game in order". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 192. Retrieved October 16, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
11. ^ Morelli, Joe (July 28, 2021). "Peter Ballo shoots 66 to claim first Connecticut Open crown". Connecticut Post. Norwalk, Connecticut.
12. ^ Morelli, Joe (August 6, 2020). "Max Theodorakis runs away with 86th Connecticut Open title". Connecticut Post. Norwalk, Connecticut.
13. ^ Berlet, Bruce (July 31, 1991). "Open-and-shut case: Colandro wins by seven". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. F1. Retrieved October 16, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
14. ^ Berlet, Bruce (August 5, 1987). "Giancola captures Connecticut Open". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. pp. F1, F5. Retrieved October 12, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
15. ^ Berlet, Bruce (August 6, 1986). "Colandro Hangs On To Wins State Open by 1 Shot". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. F1. Retrieved October 6, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
16. ^ a b "Dalziel Shooting For 3rd Straight State Open Title". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. August 2, 1981. p. D13. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
17. ^ a b c Canfield, Owen (August 3, 1976). "Becker, Rubis Fire One-Under-Par 70s To Share State Open Lead". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 45. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
18. ^ Smith, George (August 7, 1974). "Trio Deadlocked In State Open". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 11. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
19. ^ Canfield, Owen (August 5, 1970). "Gentile Captures Open by 6 Strokes". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 23. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
20. ^ "Wins tourney". The World. Coos Bay, Oregon. Associated Press. August 7, 1968. p. 13. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
21. ^ Griffith, Owen (August 9, 1967). "Roy Pace Retains Connecticut Open Title". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 29. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
22. ^ Griffith, Owen (August 5, 1968). "Mark Marquis, Open Champ's Caddy, Awaits Assignment At Wampanoag". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 23. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
23. ^ "Defending Titlist Takes Charge In State Open Golf". Meriden Journal. Connecticut. Associated Press. August 8, 1967. p. 4. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
24. ^ "Galeski, Wojack Qualify For Connecticut Open Golf Final". Naugatuck Daily News. Connecticut. August 9, 1966. p. 5. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Griffith, Owen (July 17, 1955). "Dr. Ted Lenczyk Begins Defense Of State Open Title Today". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 6 (part IV). Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
26. ^ a b Griffith, Owen (July 18, 1954). "Connecticut Open Golf Tourney Today At Shuttle Meadow". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 4 (part IV). Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
27. ^ Griffith, Owen (July 23, 1952). "Joe Curtin Captures State Open Golf Crown". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 13. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
28. ^ Lee, William J. (August 19, 1936). "Leo Mallory Wins Connecticut Open Golf Crown With Record-Breaking 283". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 13. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
29. ^ Lee, W. J. (August 17, 1937). "Joe Sullivan One Over Par To Lead At Halfway Mark In Connecticut Open Golf". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 13. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
30. ^ Lee, William J. (August 28, 1935). "John Golden Captures Connecticut Open Golf Title For Fourth Consecutive Year". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 13. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
31. ^ a b c Lee, William J. (August 27, 1935). "Eddie Burke, Kid Brother Of Famed Billie, Leads Connecticut Open Golf Field". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 13. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
32. ^ "Johnny Golden, With 286, Wins Connecticut Open Golf Title". Meriden Record. Connecticut. Associated Press. August 29, 1934. p. 4. Retrieved November 20, 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
33. ^ "Connecticut Open: Past Champions". Connecticut State Golf Association. Retrieved November 20, 2021.

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