Groton, Connecticut (May 7, 2025) – The torrential rains of the previous three days finally subsided and the field at 45th U.S. Senior Open Local Qualifying were treated to a gorgeous day along the Connecticut shore. Playing at the Donald Ross designed Shennecossett Golf Course, four-time Connecticut Open winner Kyle Gallo shot a stellar 6 under 65 to earn medalist honors and one of the 15 spots in U.S. Senior Open Final Qualifying.
“I was under control today,” Kyle Gallo said. “I’ve played the course a number of times. It is pretty wide open, and there are a lot of birdie opportunities. I was in a good position off the tee for most of the day and had wedges into a lot of holes.”
Gallo, playing in his first senior event since turning 50 years old in March, parred the opening hole then found his groove with a kick-in birdie on the par-4 second. A second consecutive birdie on the par-4 third followed and after a bogey on No. 4 a third birdie dropped on the par-5 eighth allowing Gallo to make the turn in 2 under.
On the back nine, Gallo found another gear. First, he birdied the par-4 10th and then after nearly acing the 125-yard par-3 12th he was able to brush in the short birdie putt to reach 4 under.
Gallo moved to 5 under with his sixth birdie of the day on No. 13 before dropping a shot on No. 15. However, despite the misstep the Berlin, Connecticut native could not be slowed as he concluded his round with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18. In the end, the eight birdie, two bogey day resulted in Gallo earning medalist honors by five shots over Bobby Gage (Lake Worth, FL) and Paul Ferrone (Darien, CT), both of whom posted 1 under 70.
Throughout his career, Gallo has had a number of close calls in U.S. Open Final Qualifying, none closer than the year he missed by just one shot. Overall, Gallo has played in U.S. Open Final Qualifying better than 10 times including last year at Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey.
But now, with the start of a new decade Gallo is ready to embark on the next chapter of his golfing life.
“It was very weird for me to walk into my first senior tournament,” admitted Gallo. “But I embraced it and said it is the next stage in my life. I have had a lot of success and it is like a new chapter in my life. I don’t know what it will look like but I will keep my options open. I am looking forward to the next stage. I am comfortable with my game and I am just going to do my thing.”
The top five was rounded out by John Bushka (Stratford, CT), Charlie Blanchard (Warwick, RI), Dave Fusco (Goshen, NY), and two-time Connecticut Open winner James Becker (Bloomfield, CT) in a tie for fourth at even-par.
Meanwhile, in a tie for eighth at 1 over were Jason Gobleck (Madison, CT), Michael Laudien (Stony Point, NY), and Ed Kirby (North Kingstown, RI).
The final five spots were determined in a 10-for-5 playoff at 2 over. Among those earning spots were amateurs Phillip Boehme (Fairfield, CT) and Glen Boggini (Coventry, CT), Fred Sutton (Bosie, ID), Peter Walsh (Northern Ireland), and Christopher Erick (Hingham, MA).
Lastly, Robert Bigonette (Fairfield, CT) earned the first alternate spot while Shelby Lowman (Ridgefield, CT) took the second alternate spot.
Qualifying for the 45th U.S. Senior Open will continue with final qualifying set to take place between May 19-June 2. The 45th U.S. Senior Open will be contested at The Broadmoor in Colorado from June 26-29.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut State Golf Association 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.
