(July 19, 2023) – Two-time defending champion Peter Ballo along with nine additional past champions will be in the field from July 24-26 at the 89th Connecticut Open presented by GSB.
“It is an honor to be the defending champion,” said Ballo who will look to become the first player to win the title in three consecutive years since Ed Sabo accomplished the feat from 1981-1983. “It means a lot to me to be playing again this year as defending champ with the history of my dad as a two-time winner. Last year meant the world to me with everything that happened and hopefully, I can perform again this year and have my name in the conversation for the championship.”
In order to defend Ballo will have to conquer another Willie Park, Jr. designed golf course. One year after winning at New Haven Country Club, Ballo will be looking for the same success at Shuttle Meadow Country Club.
“I do not know much off the top of my head (about Shuttle Meadow CC) so I am looking forward to a practice round there to see what it is all about,” Ballo said. “I have heard a lot of great things about the course. It’s a Willie Park course which I am used to and enjoy his style of design.”
Set to host for the fourth time and for the time since 1954 the field will be tasked with navigating its way around a 6,550-yard par-71 layout that will challenge the field right out of the gate. Players will begin their rounds with one of the most difficult holes on the course. The opening par-4 requires a good tee shot up to the left center of the fairway and an even better shot to a green that requires players to be precise as they navigate a large false front.
“Shuttle Meadow provides a unique layout,” head professional Ian Marshall explained. “Placement off the tee will be critical to allow the players the best angle for their approach shots. Many of the greens have large sloping areas that will challenge players to be precise with approaches.”
The challenging opening hole is just the beginning of the journey for the field as they will have to navigate a layout that uniquely features five par-3s, all of which come during a ten-hole stretch in the middle of the round.
Players will then conclude their round with an exciting four-hole stretch that includes a long par-3, two par-4s, and a par-5 that is reachable in two. The final stretch begins with the 230-yard par-3 15th where players have to navigate a blind tee shot into a large green that slopes back to front and then right to left.
Up next is a short par-4 with a difficult green followed by the par-4 17th with its sloping fairway and an uphill approach to the green. Finally, the round will conclude with a 492-yard par-5 that can be reached in two. However, to do so players must avoid the deep fairway bunker aptly named ‘big mouth.’ Once players reach the green they must find their way around a three-tiered green.
“The club is very excited to host the Connecticut Open as it kicks off its 125th anniversary of the clubs founding,” said Marshall. “We look forward to providing a great experience for all who visit during the event.”
The 89th Connecticut Open presented by GSB will begin on Monday, July 24 at 7:30 a.m. with players going off both sides. Play will continue with the second round on Tuesday before the field is cut to the top 40 and ties for the final round on Wednesday.
Notes on the Field:
Number of Players: 150
Past Champions (11): Peter Ballo (2021, 2022), Max Theodorakis (2020), Rasmey Kong (2019), Adam M. Rainaud (2016), Cody Paladino (2015), Frank Bensel (2009, 2011, 2014), Kyle Gallo (1998, 2000, 2004, 2010), Mike Gilmore (1993, 1997), Ken Green (1985, 1992), Jim Becker (1975, 1976)
Players to Watch:
Peter Ballo – The two-time defending champion will be looking to become the first player to win three in a row since 1981-1983 when Ed Sabo accomplished the feat.
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, and in 2016 he was T2.
Alex Beach – A product of the University of Nebraska, Beach has played in the PGA Championship six times including earlier this year at Oak Hills Country Club.
Ben Carpenter (a) – The 2022 Connecticut Amateur champion made a run at the Connecticut Open title in 2021 on his home course, the Country Club of Darien.
Jeff Curl – The 2007 and 2013 Connecticut Open winner has played in six PGA Tour events making the cut three times including at the 2012 U.S. Open.
Kyle Gallo – With a record-tying four Connecticut Open titles Gallo is always a threat. In 2020 he finished in fourth place.
Geoff Gelderman – In 2022 Gelderman won the Connecticut PGA Championship and this year he reached U.S. Open Final Qualifying.
Ken Green – The 1985 and 1992 winner and former PGA Tour player returns to the Connecticut Open this year. Green won five times on the PGA Tour, reached No. 15 in the World Golf Rankings, and was a member of the 1989 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
Evan Grenus – The 2014 Connecticut Junior Amateur and 2015 Connecticut Amateur winner turned professional after a strong career at Wofford College.
Rasmey Kong – The 2019 winner finished T9 in 2021 and last year he was tied for 13th.
Blake Morris – A former star at the University of Mississippi Morris is always in the mix at the Connecticut Open placing in the top 10 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 three-time reigning Dick Tettelbach Player of the Year won the Connecticut Open in 2015. Last month he reached the finals of the Connecticut Amateur. In 2022 Paladino played in the final group at the Connecticut Open on his way to earning low amateur honors.
David Pastore – Currently Pastore is a member of the PGA Tour Latino America and this year he has played in 10 events making five cuts. Last month he won the Massachusetts Open and in 2017 he won the New Hampshire Open. In 2021 he made the cut in his lone PGA Tour start finishing T67 at the Barbasol Championship.
Adam M. Rainaud – The head professional at the Country Club of New Canaan Rainaud was the winner of the 2016 Connecticut Open at Woodway Country Club. Last year he made a final round charge before tying for seventh.
Brett Stegmaier – A former full-time member of the PGA Tour, Stegmaier has played in two events on tour this year and has made the cut both times. First, at the Travelers Championship, he finished T56 and then at the Rocket Mortgage Classic he was T29. Last year Stegmaier played in the Connecticut Open tying for second place.
Andrew Svoboda – Currently in his first year as the head professional at Great River Golf Club, Svoboda has won three times on the Korn Ferry Tour and he played on the PGA Tour in 2015 and 2016. This year he qualified for his fifth U.S. Open and made the cut at the Travelers Championship.
Max Theodorakis – The 2020 Connecticut Open winner at Ridgewood Country Club has added two top-five finishes at the Connecticut Open since his victory. In 2021 he finished T2 at the Massachusetts Open.
Jason Thresher – A three-time winner of the Massachusetts Open Thresher finished T2 last year at the Connecticut Open and T4 in 2019. Thresher also won the New England Open in 2019.
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.
