CSGA Publications: 2015 Connecticut Open Media Preview | Page 6

CONNECTICUT OPEN PREVIEW

Player Storylines
A total of 150 players will begin their quest for the 81st Connecticut Open
Championship, of which 78 are professionals and 72 are amateurs. 94 players
earned their way to The Patterson Club by qualifying at one of six sites across
the state, and 56 players were exempt based on previous accomplishments.
Last Year’s Champion and three-time Connecticut Open winner Frank
Bensel of Norwalk, Conn. will seek to become just the fourth player in
tournament history to capture the title four times (Kyle Gallo and John
Golden share the record). Among Bensel’s many accomplishments include
three National PGA Assistant Championships (2010, 11 and 13), the 2007
Metropolitan Open and the 2009 Metropolitan PGA Championship.
A total of eight past Connecticut Open Champions are in the 2015 field:
- Frank Bensel, Century Country Club – 2009, 2011 and 2013 Champion
- Kyle Gallo, Tallwood Country Club – 1998, 2000, 2004 and 2010 Champion
- Nick Cook (a), Tashua Knolls Golf Course – 2004 and 2005 Champion
- Steve Sokol, Orange Hills Country Club – 2003 Champion
- Mike Gilmore, Winged Foot Golf Club – 1997 Champion
- Kevin Giancola, Golf Quest – 1987, 1988 and 1994 Champion
- Jack McConachie, North Ridge Golf Course – 1984 Champion
- James Becker, Blue Fox Run Golf Course – 1975 and 1976 Champion
At 17 years, 3 months and 27 days of age, Matt Cesare of Great River Golf Club is the youngest player in the field.
Cesare advanced to his first Connecticut Open Championship at Richter Park Golf Course, shooting a round of two
over-par 74.
On the opposite end, Bill Dober, 73, of Brooklawn Country Club is the oldest player in the field. Although he has
never won the Connecticut Open before, Dober previously won the Connecticut Senior Amateur in 1997 and 2000.
Assistant PGA Professional Adam Rainaud of Black Hall Club recently finished 10th at the PGA Professional
National Championship, good enough to earn a berth at the PGA Championship next month at Whistling Straits. For
Rainaud, the PGA Championship will mark the second PGA Tour event for the reigning Connecticut Section PGA
Player of the Year, who qualified for the Travelers Championship last year.
Also qualifying for the PGA Championship via the Professional National Championship was Brian Gaffney of
Darien, Connecticut. Gaffney, the Head Professional at Quaker Ridge Golf Club, earned the twentieth and final spot
by virtue of a five-man playoff after shooting rounds of 73-69-71-73--286. This will mark his fourth appearance in
the PGA Championship, having also qualified in 2000, 2009 and 2012.
Danny Balin of Burning Tree Country Club won the PGA Tour Latinoamerica’s Guatemala Open this spring with
rounds of 70-65-66—201. He currently sits in fifth place on the money list, with the top five earning Web.com tour
cards at the conclusion of the fall season.
Fran Marrello of Plymouth, Conn. recently qualified for his second U.S. Senior Open at Del Paso Country Club in
Sacramento, California and will be looking to add the Connecticut Open Championship to his collection. Marrello
was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame in 2009, and has won the Connecticut Section Player of the
Year title seven times (1992-96, 2007 and 2012).
Also qualifying for his third U.S. Senior Open was Gerard Courville of Stratford, Conn. and the son of Jerry
Courville, Sr. who was inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame in 1975. Courville, Jr. is the last player from
6 | CSGA Links // July, 2015

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