Connecticut Open (golf)

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

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
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

References
  1. "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. "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. "Connecticut Open Annexed by Cuici" (PDF). The New York Times. August 25, 1931.
  7. Lee, W. J. (August 12, 1940). "With Malice Toward None". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 9. Retrieved December 22, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "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. "Dalziel Shooting For 3rd Straight State Open Title". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. August 2, 1981. p. D13. Retrieved November 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. 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. 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. 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. 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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