Old Lyme, Connecticut (July 29, 2025) – Two days at the 91st Connecticut Open presented by Ascend Bank are in the books with Mike Ballo, Jr. and Jared Nelson sharing the lead at 8-under. Sparked by a hole-in-one, Dylan Newman is one shot further back at 7-under and in third place.
Mike Ballo, Jr. (Tamarack CC) began the second round at Black Hall Club one shot off the lead following a 5-under 66. However, things didn’t come as easily for Ballo, Jr. on day two.
Ballo, Jr. began his day on the 10th hole and after 14 holes he was 1-over. Looking to create some momentum late Ballo, Jr. stuffed his approach to five feet on the par-4 fifth and then holed out for eagle on the par-4 sixth. Not done yet Ballo, Jr. birdied the par-3 seventh to complete the stretch from Nos. 5-7 in 4-under.
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“That (run) kind of put me back in place,” Mike Ballo, Jr. said.
Following his run Ballo, Jr. closed with two pars to sign for a 3-under 68.
“Today felt like a little bit of hard work, but I’m obviously very pleased,” Ballo, Jr. expressed. “I have an opportunity to be in contention tomorrow. That is all you can ask for.”
With a victory Ballo, Jr. would join his father, Connecticut Golf Hall of Famer, Mike Ballo, Sr. (1969 & 1978) and his brother Pete Ballo (2021 & 2022) as a Connecticut Open champion.
Jared Nelson (Rutland, VT) began his week with a flawless 6-under 65 to share the lead after day one. On day two Nelson, a former UConn standout, continued his strong play, carding a 2-under 69 to maintain his spot atop the leaderboard.
Even-par after six holes, Nelson birdied Nos. 7 and 8 to kick start his day and move to 8-under. From there, it was an up-and-down round for Nelson. First, he birdied No. 11 to reach 9-under before giving two shots back with bogeys on the 12th and 13th holes.
Nelson would rebound with birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 to return to 9-under before dropping a shot on the closing par-4 to conclude his day 8-under for the tournament.
The round of the day was turned in by Dylan Newman (Westbury, NY). Beginning the day 1-under, Newman was 3-under by the time he reached the par-3 ninth hole. It was here with one swing Newman changed his outlook on the tournament.
With a pitching wedge in hand from 132 yards, Newman launched his ball high into the air. The ball landed softly on the slope above the pin and then he watched as it slowly rolled towards the cup before dropping in for a hole-in-one.
Newman continued to play well on the back nine carding a 2-under 34 to cap off a 6-under 65.
“Today went well,” Dylan Newman said. “I got off to a decent start but slowed down and then somehow I made a one on the ninth hole so that quickly turned my day into a pretty good round.”
First round co-leader Max Theodorakis (Ridgewood CC) fought his way to an even-par 71 in the second round and he will begin the final round 6-under in fourth place. Rounding out the top five are Patrick Healy (Centerport, NY) and Bradley Sawka (Ellington Ridge CC) in a tie for fifth at 5-under.
The top-50 players and ties have advanced to the final round of the 91st Connecticut Open presented by Ascend Bank. Play in the final round is set to begin at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning with groups going off both Nos. 1 and 10.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Open presented by Ascend Bank 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.
