The CSGA Links Volume 2 Issue 1 March, 2014 | Page 32

Paladino, Balin Qualify for PGA Tour Latinoamerica C ody Paladino of Wethersfield Country Club and Danny Balin of Burning Tree Country Club earned full status on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica for the 2014 season this Winter. The qualifying tournament, which was held January 21st - 25th at Sun N’ Lake Golf Club in Sebring, Florida, awarded a total of 20 cards to top finishers. After opening with a five under-par round of 67 and a share of the lead, Paladino recorded rounds of 74-74-73 for a 288 total. His T-11 finish at even par was two shots clear of the cut line. Paladino entered the qualifying tournament with plenty of momentum, having capped off an incredible season by earning the 2013 CSGA Dick Tettelbach Payer of the Year honors. Paladino’s 2013 campaign included wins at the Russell C. Palmer Cup at the Country Club of Waterbury and Connecticut Amateur Championship at New Haven Country Club, in addition to winning the California State Fair Amateur over Labor Day weekend. In opposite fashion, Balin used a final round 69, the second lowest round of the day, to catapult to ninth place and safely inside the cut line. Balin has qualified for the PGA Championship each of the past four years (2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013) by finishing in the top 20 at the PGA Professional National Championship, and also won the 97th Metropolitan Open in 2012. Balin will be entering his second full season on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica after The NEC Series – PGA TOUR Latinoamérica 2014 season features 16 events in nine countries throughout Latin America played in two halves, March-May and October-December. The top-five players at the end of the season will receive Web.com Tour cards. For more information and live scoring, visit pgatourla.com. Danny Balin, Burning Tree CC Cody Paladino, Wethersfield CC “ I battled, and made some big saves and putts. Every shot mattered so much. My whole life has been geared to try to make the PGA Tour. This is my first big step toward that. “ - Cody Paladino, Wethersfield Country Club 32 Connecticut State Golf Association