Connecticut Open Championship

The state’s best amateurs and professionals will head to a founding club of the CSGA for this year’s Connecticut Open.  Brooklawn Country Club will be hosting its sixth Connecticut Open, second most all time to New Haven Country Club's seven.  When Brooklawn last hosted the Connecticut Open, twenty years ago, Connecticut Section PGA member Mike Colandro finished at a six under par to claim his second Open title.

Over the past thirteen years the Conn. Open has been dominated by one golfer, Kyle Gallo.  Gallo, a professional playing out of Hop Meadow Country Club, won his fourth Conn. Open at Country Club of Fairfield in 2010. In this timespan he also has three runner-up finishes and a number of top ten performances.

Schedule of Events

Monday, July 25, 2011
First Round, 18 Holes

Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Second Round, 18 Holes
The low 40 players including ties will advance to the final round on Wednesday, July 27th.  Starting times will be reassigned following the cut based on scores with the leaders teeing off last.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Final Round, 18 Holes
The lowest 54 hole total will be declared the champion.  In the event of a tie, a hole-by-hole playoff will begin immediately following conclusion of all rounds.

Spectator Information

• Admission throughout the three-day event is free of charge for the general public.  This is a unique opportunity for golf enthusiasts to freely walk Brooklawn Country Club and enjoy great golf being played by the top professionals and amateurs from the state of Connecticut.
• To help spectators plan ahead, starting times for Round 1 and Round 2 are now available as well as a special Brooklawn Program Guide that includes an aerial course map and an official CSGA scorecard.
• A scoreboard area will be set up outside of the clubhouse so that all spectators and players can follow all of the action.
• Food and beverage will be made available for purchase on a cash basis on the patio of the clubhouse and at the snack bar located near the 10^th tee.
• Restrooms are available at the clubhouse and on the course between the 8^th green and 9^th tee.
• Results - including 9-hole splits - will be posted online throughout the event at www.csgalinks.org

The Championship Course

• Brooklawn Country Club will play host to its sixth Connecticut Open (1935, 1938, 1958, 1973, 1991, and 2011). 
• The lowest 54 hole total for a Connecticut Open Championship held at Brooklawn is 207 shot by Michael Colandro in 1991, the last time the event was held at Brooklawn.
• The 130 player field will face a challenging 6,617-yard layout in Fairfield.
• The par 71 layout has a course rating of 73.3 and a slope rating of 138.

Notable Players

• Kyle Gallo (Kensington, CT) - Kyle Gallo is the defending champion and four time winner of this event.  He has been runner up three times.  Kyle is also coming off an impressive victory at the 102nd Massachusetts Open Championship held at Oak Hill Country Club on June 27-29, 2011.
• Evan Beirne (North Haven, CT) - 2010 Connecticut Open Championship Runner Up.
• a-Branden Chicorka (eClub of River Valley) - Branden Chicorka is having a great summer including winning his first CSGA major at the 8^th Russell C. Palmer Cup Championship held at Hop Meadow Country Club on May 24-25, 2011.
• Mike Ballo Jr. (Stamford, CT) - Mike is coming into this event with confidence from his runner up finish at the 102nd Massachusetts Open Championship held at Oak Hill Country Club on June 27-29, 2011.
• a-Jeff Hedden (Black Hall Club) – Three-time CSGA Player of the Year, 2008 Connecticut Open Champion and recent 2011 New England Amateur Champion.

Past Champions in the Field

• Kyle Gallo – 1998, 2000, 2004, 2010
• Frank Bensel - 2009
• Jeff Hedden – 2008
• Steve Sokol – 2003
• James St. Pierre – 2002
• Jay Rice – 1999
• John Gentile – 1995
• Kevin Giancola – 1987, 1988, 1994
• Michael Downey – 1990

Connecticut Open Championship Facts

  - A record 495 golfers applied to play in this year’s championship.  56 of those players were exempt and the remaining 439 golfers competed for the 60 spots plus ties that were available at the five CSGA qualifying sites. The Championship Proper field is 129.

  - The youngest player in the 2011 field is 17 year old Jack Ayers.  The oldest player in the 2011 field is 67 year old William Lee.

 - The first Connecticut Open Championship was contested in 1931 at The Course at Yale and won by Henry Ciuci.

 - This year's event will mark the sixth Connecticut Open Championship being held at Brooklawn Country Club.  Here are the host years and winners: 1935 – John Golden; 1938 – Eddie Burke; 1958 – Richard Siderowf; 1973 – Richard Siderowf; and 1991 – Mike Colandro.

 - The lowest 54 hole winning score for a Connecticut Open is 200.  This was shot by Ken Green in 1992 at Ridgewood Country Club and Kyle Gallo in 2010 at the Country Club of Fairfield.

 - 11 people have successfully defended their Connecticut Open Championship: Nick Cook, Kevin Giancola, Ed Sabo, Doug Dalziel, James Becker, Richard Siderowf, Don Hoenig, Harry Nettelbladt, Frank Stazzowski, Leo Mallory, and John Golden

 - Kyle Gallo and John Golden have won the most Connecticut Open Championships with four each.  John Golden captured the title a record four years in a row from 1932-1935.

 - Jeff Hedden was the last amateur to win the Championship- 2008 at Round Hill Club

 - New Haven Country Club has hosted the most Connecticut Open Championships with seven (1934, 1939, 1949, 1956, 1969, 1985, 2002).

 - The longest any champion has ever gone between winning two Connecticut Open Championships is 14 years (Richard Siderowf: 1959, 1973).