Hamden, Connecticut (July 26, 2022) – The question heading into the final round of the 88th Connecticut Open at New Haven Country Club is who doesn’t have a chance to win? Three players – Max Theodorakis, Brett Stegmaier, and Cody Paladino share the lead at 4-under – however behind them is a long list of decorated players all still with a chance at capturing the title. In all 13 players will begin the final round within four shots of the lead.
Theodorakis, who shot a 5-under 65 on Monday, began the second round one shot off the first round pace set by Dylan Newman but by the time the 2020 champion teed off in the afternoon he was in the lead alone. Early in the round, it looked as if Theodorakis (Ridgewood CC) was going to create some separation from the rest of the field.
Even-par through four holes Theodorakis jump started his round with a birdie on No. 5 and then he jarred another birdie on No. 7 to move to 7-under. At that point his lead was three shots.
Seemingly in control of the tournament Theodorakis suddenly began to sputter. First, he bogeyed the scorable par-4 eighth and then he double-bogeyed the difficult par-4 11th to fall all the way back to 4-under and in the process welcome a large portion of the field back into the tournament.
Theodorakis, as measured as they come on the course, did manage to steady himself down the stretch playing the final eight holes in level par to sign for a 1-over 71.
Former PGA Tour pro and New Haven CC member Brett Stegmaier played himself back into the tournament with a 4-under 66.
Following an even-par first round Stegmaier, playing at New Haven CC for the first time in six years, caught fire during the second half of his round. Beginning his day on the par-5 10th the 1999 Connecticut Junior Amateur winner birdied the first two holes to move into the red. However, the quick start was quickly erased and then some with a bogey on the 12th and a double-bogey on the 13th to fall all the way back to 1-over.
Pars on Nos. 14 and 15 steadied Stegmaier and then on No. 16 he caught a break that changed the momentum of his round. Stegmaier pushed his drive right on the par-4 into the rough and despite needing to play his second shot from the trees he was able to find the green with his approach shot and two-putt for par.
That par save proved to be the spark that was needed. Stegmaier, a member of the Korn Ferry Tour last year, promptly responded with birdies on the next two holes to return to red figures. Now firing on all cylinders and with a sizeable crowd following Stegmaier continued his run with three consecutive birdies on Nos. 6-8, his final birdie was of the tap in variety after he nearly holed a long putt from the front of the eighth green for eagle.
“With this being a course that I have played countless times as a kid I have certain memories of shooting a lot of low scores here,” said Stegmaier a member of the club since he was 8 years old. “It was nice to play a good round today and put myself in position.”
2015 Connecticut Open champion Cody Paladino followed up his first round 3-under 67 with a 1-under 69 in the second round to earn his share of the lead.
“I know this golf course pretty well so I know what holes, tee shots, and pin locations are your opportunities to attack, and then other ones you need to be a little smarter and play for angles,” said Paladino who won the 2013 Connecticut Amateur at New Haven CC.
Paladino (Hartford GC) got off to a blistering start in the second round firing a flawless 3-under 31 on the front nine to reach 6-under and the lead alone. Then on the back nine he began to leak a little bit of oil bogeying three times to fall back to 3-under for the tournament.
Looking to end the round on a positive note Paladino missed the green on the par-5 18th with his second shot and needed to get up and down from the greenside bunker for birdie. Paladino did just that, nearly holing out his bunker shot leading to a tap-in birdie to complete his day.
“The birdie on No. 18 was really important,” Paladino said after his round. “When I was approaching the green I looked at the leaderboard and saw that Brett Stegmaier had reached 4-under so I really wanted to get into the house and match him.”
Defending champion Peter Ballo (Connecticut Golf Club) rolled in a birdie on the 18th hole to move to 3-under where he will begin the final round in a tie for fourth place just one shot off the lead. Joining Ballo at 3-under is first round leader Dylan Newman (Brae Burn CC) and Matt Shubley (Great River GC). A large group is at 2-under sharing seventh place. The group is comprised of 2019 champion Rasmey Kong, Blake Morris (CC of Waterbury), Jack Woods (Ridgewood CC), 2016 champion Adam Rainaud (CC of New Canaan), Chris Wiatr (CC of Waterbury), and Jason Thresher.
The final round of the 88th Connecticut Open will begin at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday morning with groups beginning on Nos. 1 and 10.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Open is one of 20 championships conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association. The CSGA functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
