Close Competition Showcased At 91st Connecticut Open Golf Championship

OLD LYME, CT — In the most prestigious of the 20 annual championship tournaments conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association, the top 10 of the leaderboard after two rounds of the 91st Connecticut Open features a mix of seasoned veterans and up-and-coming young guns.

After firing rounds of 66-68 at the Black Hall Club, Mike Ballo Jr. of Stamford, who plays out of Tamarack Country Club, is tied for the lead at 8-under par 134. His score was matched by former UConn player Jared Nelson of Rutland, Vermont (65-69); the two will tee off in the final threesome of the day Wednesday at 9 a.m., joined by Dylan Newman of Westbury, N.Y., who is alone in third place, one stroke behind.

2020 champion Max Theodorakis of Danbury (65-71) is another stroke back at 6-under 136. Amateur Bradley Sawka of Ellington Ridge Country Club (66-71) is tied for fifth with Patrick Healy of Centerport, N.Y., while another Connecticut amateur, defending champion Jackson Roman of Berlin (72-66) is in a 5-way tied for seventh at minus-4, in a group which includes David Pastore of Greenwich and Nick Deni of Enfield, now an assistant pro at the world-famous Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Six other golfers from the Nutmeg State are currently below par, within seven strokes of the top. Blake Morris (Country Club of Waterbury) and 2017 champion Jeff Evanier (Clinton Country Club) are at 2-under 140, while a group at 1-under 141 includes 4-time champion Kyle Gallo (Berlin), Casey Pyne (Greenwich), Fletcher Babcock (Danielson) and Paul Pastore (Stamford).

In addition to Theodorakis, Roman, Evanier and Gallo, other past winners to make the 36-hole cut were Peter Ballo of Stamford (2021, 2022, +1), Brett Stegmeier of New Haven Country Club (2023, +2), Cody Paladino of West Hartford (2015, +4) and Rasmey Kong of West Haven (2019, +4).

Complete results, including Wednesday tee times, may be found here.