Connecticut Open (golf)

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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.

Contents

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

YearChampion(s)VenueScoreRef.
2023 Brett Stegmaier Shuttle Meadow CC198
2022Peter BalloNew Haven CC203
2021Peter BalloCC of Darien201 [11]
2020Max TheodorakisRidgewood CC206 [12]
2019Rasmey KongTorrington202
2018John VanDerLaan New Haven Country Club 194
2017Jeffrey EvanierEllington Ridge205
2016Adam RainaudWoodway206
2015Cody PaladinoPatterson Club207
2014Frank BenselRolling Hills203
2013Jeff CurlTorrington209
2012Jason CaronWee Burn214
2011Frank Bensel Brooklawn Country Club 205
2010Kyle GalloCC of Fairfield200
2009Frank BenselHartford204
2008Jeff HeddenRound Hill206
2007Jeff CurlLake of Isles208
2006Nick CookRidgewood211
2005Nick CookCC of Waterbury206
2004Kyle GalloMill River CC203
2003Steve SokolBlack Hall Club209
2002Jim St. PierreNew Haven203
2001John PaesaniAvon207
2000Kyle GalloFairfield209
1999Jay RiceWee Burn213
1998Kyle GalloEllington Ridge214
1997Michael GilmoreRace Brook204
1996Brendan WalshPatterson208
1995John A. GentileWoodway209
1994Kevin GiancolaWethersfield207
1993Michael GilmoreStanwich216
1992 Ken Green Ridgewood200
1991 Mike Colandro Brooklawn Country Club 207 [13]
1990Michael DowneyWee Burn218
1989John David ParsonsAvon213
1988Kevin GiancolaWoodbridge204
1987Kevin Giancola (a)Tamarack211 [14]
1986 Mike Colandro Hartford215 [15]
1985 Ken Green New Haven Country Club 209
1984Jack McConachieTumble Brook214
1983Ed SaboWoodway218
1982Ed SaboWethersfield205
1981Ed Sabo Yale Golf Course 213
1980Doug Dalziel Wampanoag Country Club 205 [16]
1979Doug DalzielEllington Ridge209 [16]
1978Mike BalloAvon209
1977Bobby BensonRace Brook210
1976 Jim Becker Woodbridge214
1975 Jim Becker Ellington Ridge208 [17]
1974Austin StraubWee Burn217
1973 Dick Siderowf (a) Brooklawn Country Club 213 [18]
1972Paul KellyTamarack211
1971Bobby BensonWethersfield203
1970John Gentile, Jr. (a)Hartford212 [19]
1969Mike Ballo New Haven Country Club 208
1968Denny Lyons Wampanoag Country Club 209 [20]
1967Roy Pace, Jr.Avon210 [17] [21] [22]
1966Roy Pace, Jr.Tumble Brook216 [17] [23]
1965Jerry Courville, Sr.Race Brook207 [24]
1964Bob KayWoodway211
1963John ClearyFarmington212
1962Bob CloughenTorrington207
1961Edward KunaMill River209
1960Allan Breed Shennecossett Golf Course 211
1959 Dick Siderowf (a)Shorehaven214
1958 Dick Siderowf (a) Brooklawn Country Club 214
1957Don HoenigAvon204
1956Don Hoenig New Haven Country Club 214
1955John GaleskiRidgewood210
1954Ted LenczykShuttle Meadow207 [25]
1953Les Brownlee (a)Wee Burn213 [25]
1952Joe CurtinHartford209 [26] [27]
1951Harry NettelbladtWethersfield207 [25]
1950Harry Nettelbladt Wampanoag Country Club 284 [25]
1949Frank Staszowski New Haven Country Club 286 [25]
1948Frank StaszowskiRace Brook277 [25]
1947Frank StrazzaIndian Hill285 [25]
1946 Felice Torza (a)Torrington293 [25]
1942–45: No tournament due to World War II
1941 Jimmy Demaret Race Brook280 [8]
1940Harold H. Mandly, Jr. (a) Wampanoag Country Club 289 [26]
1939 Harry Cooper New Haven Country Club 279 [25]
1938Eddie Burke Brooklawn Country Club 287 [25]
1937Leo Mallory Wampanoag Country Club 284 [25] [7]
1936Leo MalloryShuttle Meadow283 [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 Meadow291 [25] [31]
1932 Johnny Golden Wampanoag Country Club 143 [25] [31]
1931 Henry Ciuci Yale Golf Course 152 [6]

Source: [33]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "Connecticut Open Annexed by Cuici" (PDF). The New York Times. August 25, 1931.
  7. 1 2 3 Lee, W. J. (August 12, 1940). "With Malice Toward None". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. p. 9. Retrieved December 22, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "Dalziel Shooting For 3rd Straight State Open Title". Hartford Courant. Connecticut. August 2, 1981. p. D13. Retrieved November 20, 2021– via Newspapers.com.
  17. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 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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