Kensington, Connecticut (July 24, 2023) – Three names ascended to the top of the leaderboard on day one of the 89th Connecticut Open presented by GSB. On a picture perfect day at Shuttle Meadow Country Club Peter Ballo, Jackson Roman, and Blake Morris all fired 6-under 65s and they will carry a one shot lead into Tuesday’s second round.
Ballo, the two-time defending champion, was shaky off the tee on Monday but still off to a quick start firing a 5-under 32 on the front nine.
“I did feel some nerves going for a three-peat,” said Peter Ballo (Connecticut GC). “It was the first time in a while. My first few drives were not my best. My caddie has been on the bag for the last three Connecticut Opens and he looked at me and said, ‘what are you doing,’ and I said, ‘honestly I am a little nervous.’ It has been a longtime since I have felt that. I think the last time was in 2021 at the PGA Championship.”
Following an opening par, Ballo birdied Nos. 2 and 3 before dropping a stroke on the sixth. Unfazed by the dropped shot Ballo birdied the par-5 seventh to get the stroke right back and then holed out for eagle with a gap wedge from 130 yards out on the 601 yard par-5 eighth.
Now sitting at 4-under Ballo struck a gorgeous 8 iron on the par-3 ninth leaving himself six feet uphill for his fourth birdie on the front nine. Despite a bogey on No. 11 Ballo continued his impressive play recording birdies on the par-4 14th and the par-5 18th to close out his round.
A few groups later Blake Morris (CC of Waterbury) and Jackson Roman (Shuttle Meadow CC) turned in 6-under 65s to join Ballo atop the leaderboard.
Morris, who retired from full-time competitive golf last year to work in the insurance business, returned to the arena on Monday and it looked like he never left.
“There hasn’t been a lot of golf at all lately but just to come out here and compete is just fun to begin with. I am excited about the opportunity to come out and compete and do what I have done for all my life until about a year ago,” said Blake Morris who was heading to the office following his round. “I am looking forward to the competition and feeling the nerves.”
In the first round Morris, a regular in the top-10 at the Connecticut Open, didn’t show any nerves putting together a bogey-free 3-under 34 on the front nine. Morris began the back nine with three pars before finding his first birdie on the homeward nine with a kick in birdie on the par-3 13th. On the ensuing 369 yard par-4 14th Morris found the fairway with his drive and with only 135 yards remaining he holed out his wedge for an eagle that jumped him to 6-under.
Morris did bogey the long difficult par-3 15th before rebounding with a closing birdie on No. 18.
With a birdie on the last Blake Morris fired an opening 6-under 65 #csga #csgalinks pic.twitter.com/j7kK1bXdbO
— CSGA (@CSGALinks) July 24, 2023
The final member of the lead group is Jackson Roman. Playing on his home course Roman was 1-under through 13 holes and playing solid. In a blink solid golf turned into specular golf as Roman, who redshirted this year at Loyola University Maryland after needing surgery, birdied the last five holes to surge up the leaderboard.
“I had a bunch of birdie putts early but they didn’t go in,” said Jackson Roman. “I knew with the tough greens out there that if I could give myself some opportunities I could make a few coming down the stretch.”
Some of the highlights from the sprint to the finish included a five footer on the par-3 15th after hitting the flagstick and a 15 foot slider on the par-4 17th.
Defending champion Peter Ballo had it rolling on day one of the Connecticut Open firing an opening round 6-under 65 #csga #csgalinks pic.twitter.com/VirSjvjXeX
— CSGA (@CSGALinks) July 24, 2023
“On the first few holes I don’t think playing on my home course helped,” said Jackson the only amateur currently in the top 10. “I was pretty nervous out there. Playing on your home course can add a lot of pressure. However, once I got through a few holes I was able to use my knowledge of the greens to my advantage. The greens are really tough here. There are a lot of hidden ridges that you don’t really see.”
David Pastore (Fairview CC), the 2023 Massachusetts Open winner, will begin the second round in fourth place at 5-under while Jason Thresher (West Suffield), Geno Giancola (Timberlin GC), Casey Pyne (Stanwich), and Christopher Tallman (Greathorse) are tied for fifth at 4-under.
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.
