(July 18, 2022) – New Haven Country Club and the Connecticut Open have a long and storied history. The Connecticut Open was first played at New Haven CC in 1934 and next week from July 25-27 for the ninth time in the 88 year history of the event the best players in the state will look to etch their name into the lore of the historic course.
This year’s field is highlighted by among others defending champion Peter Ballo, Alex Beach, and Brett Stegmaier.
Some of Connecticut’s greatest players have won the state open at New Haven CC including PGA Tour winners Harry Cooper, the 1939 winner, and Ken Green who captured the title in 1985. The impressive list of champions also includes four hall of famers including Cooper, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, and Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame members Don Hoenig, Mike Ballo, Sr., and Green.
“It is important to maintain our history,” New Haven CC head professional William Wallis said. “This will be our ninth time hosting and what makes it so special is that they all have been played on the same unchanged golf course.”
A Willie Park, Jr. design, opened in 1898 New Haven CC is one of the oldest clubs in the state. When the Connecticut Open was last played at New Haven CC in 2018 John VanDerLaan, now on the Korn Ferry Tour, set the tournament’s 54-hole scoring record with a score of 194 or 16-under-par. He combined rounds of 66-62-66 on his way to a two-stroke victory.
“The club is very excited to welcome the Connecticut Open again this year. With the amount of great players at the club, the membership is excited to see how they will rank among the best in the state,” said Wallis. “The club is always happy to showcase how great the golf course plays.”
Players will have to navigate large undulating greens and the winner will likely play Nos. 11-14 well for the week. That crucial stretch begins with the 424-yard par-4 11th, a Willie Park, Jr. signature designed hole.
“The hole offers a difficult tee shot with a blind approach,” explained Wallis. “Although the green is the largest on the course, the 11th is where you take your par and keep moving forward.”
Defending champion Peter Ballo will be seeking to defend his title on the same course that his father, Connecticut Golf Hall of Famer Mike Ballo, Sr. won the 1969 Connecticut Open. For Ballo that will bring some mixed emotions.
“My father passed away in April so there are going to be a lot of mixed emotions throughout the week,” Ballo said. “Hopefully I can keep them in tack and inline and I keep them focused in a good way to put myself in a good position.”
In previous events at New Haven CC Ballo has been able to put himself in a good position and this year he hopes things are no different. At the 2018 Connecticut Open Ballo finished T16 and in 2013 he reached the finals of the Connecticut Amateur.
“I think New Haven CC suits me well. It sets up for my eye in terms of a draw. I remember being fairly comfortable on most tee shots,” said Ballo.
However, becoming the first repeat champion in more than a decade will not be easy with a loaded field ready to compete at New Haven CC.
The 88th Connecticut Open will begin on Monday, July 25 at 7:30 a.m. with groups going off the 1st and 10th tees. Following Tuesday’s second round the field will be cut to the top 40 plus ties for Wednesday’s final round.
Notes on the Field:
Number of Players: 145
Past Champions (8): Peter Ballo (2021), Max Theodorakis (2020), Rasmey Kong (2019), Adam Rainaud (2016), Cody Paladino (2015), Frank Bensel (2009, 2011, 2014), Kyle Gallo (1998, 2000, 2004, 2010), Jim Becker (1975, 1976)
Players to Watch:
Peter Ballo – The defending champion will look to become the first player to repeat as Connecticut Open champion since Nick Cook in 2005-2006. Ballo finished second in 2020.
Mike Ballo, Jr. – The 2019 Met PGA New York State Open winner at Bethpage Black has made a run at the Connecticut Open on numerous occasions but has never hoisted the trophy. Last year he was seventh, in 2018 he finished T4 while in 2016 he was T2.
Alex Beach – A product of the University of Nebraska, Beach has played in the PGA Championship five times including earlier this year at Southern Hills.
Ben Carpenter (a) – The 2022 Connecticut Amateur champion made a run at the Connecticut Open title last year on his home course, the Country Club of Darien, leading at the start of the final round. As a freshman Carpenter won the Ivy League medalist title and helped the Bulldogs win the team title.
Rick Dowling (a) – Last month at the Connecticut Amateur Dowling, a two-time winner of the event, fell on the 37th hole of the championship match. Dowling, who recently qualified for the 2022 U.S. Amateur, won the Connecticut Mid-Amateur in 2021 and the Russell C. Palmer Cup in 2020.
Kyle Gallo – With a record tying four Connecticut Open titles Gallo is always a threat. In 2020 he finished in fourth place.
Rasmey Kong – The 2019 winner returned to the Connecticut Open last year and was T9.
Blake Morris – A former star at the University of Mississippi Morris is always in the mix at the Connecticut Open placing in the top five each of the last five years. In 2019 he played in the PGA Tour’s RSM Classic and in 2014 he won the Russell C. Palmer Cup.
Cody Paladino (a) – The two-time reigning Dick Tettelbach Player of the Year won the Connecticut Open in 2016. Earlier this year Paladino won his second Russell C. Palmer Cup and he reached U.S. Open Final Qualifying. Paladino won the 2013 Connecticut Amateur at New Haven CC.
Casey Pyne – In May Pyne made his PGA Championship debut at Southern Hills. Last year he finished T9 at the Connecticut Open.
Adam Rainaud – The head professional at the Country Club of New Canaan Rainaud was the winner of the 2016 Connecticut Open at Woodway Country Club.
Brett Stegmaier – After ten years as a professional following a career at the University of Florida the Madison native earned his PGA Tour card in 2016. His best finish that year came at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open when he finished second.
Max Theodorakis – In 2020 on his home course Ridgewood Country Club, Theodorakis won the Connecticut Open for his first professional victory. Last year in his title defense he made a valiant effort to defend but ended up falling short and finishing fourth.
Jason Thresher – A three-time winner of the Massachusetts Open Thresher finished T4 at the 2019 Connecticut Open. Thresher also won the New England Open in 2019.
Chris Wiatr – The former UConn standout made his PGA Tour debut last year at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship.
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.
