CSGA Publications: 2015 Connecticut Open Media Preview | Page 8

CONNECTICUT OPEN PREVIEW
to win the Junior Amateur and Amateur titles in consecutive years (Dick
Siderowf 1954 Junior and 1955 Amateur), having also won the Junior
Amateur in 2014.
Chris Kenney, host PGA Professional at The Patterson Club, will look to
follow in the footsteps of his predecessor when he begins his quest for the
Connecticut Open title. Brendan Walsh, now the Head Professional at The
Country Club in Brookline, Mass., was the previous Head Professional at the
club and won the Connecticut Open as the host professional when it was last
played at Patterson in 1996.
Mike Gilmore last won the Connecticut Open in 1997 and finished tied for
seventh in 2014, but his final round at last year’s Connecticut Open made
headlines around the state. The Head Professional at Winged Foot Golf
Club shot a round of nine under-par 62 to catapult into contention. His
round, which broke the previous course record by two shots, included eleven
birdies on the card including five straight to open his round.
There are four pairs of brothers in the field, all of whom are seeking their
first Connecticut Open title:
- Mike and Peter Ballo: Mike was the runner-up at last year’s Connecticut Open, and Peter was the runner-up at the
2013 Connecticut Amateur.
- Cody and Brent Paladino: Cody was the 2013 CSGA Player of the Year and currently plays on the PGA Tour
Latinoamerica, and Brent was the Runner-Up in the 2005 Connecticut Open.
- Alex and Nick Taylor: Alex is a rising senior at Farifield University and competes on their Division I golf team, and
Nick was a finalist at the 2010 Connecticut Amateur Championship.
- Brian and Chris Tohir: Brian is a recent graduate of Georgetown University where he competed on their Division I
golf team, and Chris Tohir recently graduated from New Canaan High School where he was captain of their golf team.
The Connecticut Junior Amateur, open to junior golfers under the age of eighteen, has long represented the foundation
for building lifelong CSGA champions. A total of 7 past Connecticut Junior Amateur champions are in the field, all of
whom are seeking to win their first Connecticut Amateur title. They are:
- Andrew Sciarretta (Brooklawn CC) – 2015 Champion
- Mike Ballo (Woodway CC) – 2006 Champion
- Evan Grenus (TPC River Highlands) – 2014 Champion
- Ian Marshall (Watertown GC) – 1997 Champion
- John Flaherty (TPC River Highlands) – 2011 Champion - Gerard Courville (Shorehaven) – 1975 Champion

8 | CSGA Links // July, 2015

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