ON HIS FIRST SWING AS A CONNECTICUT SECTION PGA PROFESSIONAL KYLE PUZZO MAKES A HOLE IN ONE ON THE PAR 4 FIRST HOLE
Chris Tallman and Billy Street lead with 4-under par 66s
HARTFORD, Conn. – There maybe two at the top of the leaderboard and a total of five PGA Professionals breaking par today at the City of Hartford’s Keney Park Golf Course. But the story in the first round of the 88th Connecticut PGA Championship was the first swing by the last player teeing off in the tournament.
Kyle Puzzo, assistant professional at Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley, Mass., was entered in his very first Connecticut Section PGA tournament. Puzzo just became a registered PGA of America Associate member five days ago. As the last player in the last group, his tee shot found the bottom of the hole at the 314-yard, par 4 first hole for a double eagle, hole in one. Nice way to start your professional career.
“I thought the guys on the green were upset with me,” Puzzo said. “They were waiving their hands. I didn’t realize until I walked about 40 yards from the green that they weren’t pulling my leg and the ball actually went in.”
Puzzo posted a first round 74 and stands tied for 25th heading into tomorrow’s final round.
One of the co-leaders, Chris Tallman who shot 66, is the PGA General Manager at the Orchards and supervises Puzzo.
Tallman heard about the heroics of his assistant professional out on the course.
“Before we started today, Kyle said he was coming after me,” Tallman said in the scoring tent. “I guess he really meant it.”
Billy Street, the head golf professional at Whitney Farms Golf Course also shot 66. Street started his round with three straight birdies. But bogies on his final two holes put a damper on what could have been an even better first round.
Keney Park recently held both the Girls and Boys PGA of America Junior Championships. And, today’s course set up mirrored round two hole locations from both of those championships.
Joe Mentz, the head professional at Hartford’s sister course, Goodwin Park, shot 68, as did 5-time Connecticut PGA Champion Kevin Giancola of Golf Quest in Southington.
Joe Cordani, the head professional at Hop Meadow Country Club shot 69 and is fifth place alone.
The 36-hole stroke play championship concludes tomorrow. Starting times begin at 8:00 AM, with the leaders starting at 11:10 AM..
The winner will receive $4,200 from the $19,150 purse.
The Championship sponsors are Club Car, Mohegan Sun, OMEGA, and the PGA TOUR.
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Round 1 results
T1 William Street Whitney Farms GC 32-34–66 -4
T1 Christopher Tallman Orchards GC 33-33–66 -4
T3 Kevin Giancola Golf Quest Family Sports Cntr 35-33–68 -2
T3 Joe Mentz Goodwin Park Golf Course 33-35–68 -2
5 Joe Cordani Hop Meadow CC 36-33–69 -1
6 Kyle Bilodeau PGA Active Member 35-35–70 E
T7 E.J. Altobello Springfield CC 36-35–71 +1
T7 Adam D’Amario Indian Hill CC 36-35–71 +1
T7 Ron Dellostritto Wethersfield CC 38-33–71 +1
T7 Jason Gobleck PGA Member 35-36–71 +1
T7 Fran Marrello Canaan CC 38-33–71 +1
T7 Zac Stennett Tallwood CC 36-35–71 +1
T13 Frank Leja Springfield CC 38-34–72 +2
T13 Kevin Mahaffy Pequabuck GC 34-38–72 +2
T13 Matthew Rosengrant Rock Ridge CC 35-37–72 +2
T13 Sean Sweitzer Madison CC 34-38–72 +2
T13 Jantzen Vargas PGA Active Member 37-35–72 +2
T18 Jeff DelRosso Prospect Golf 40-33–73 +3
T18 Jordan Gosler Twin Hills CC 37-36–73 +3
T18 Brian Keiser Longmeadow CC 35-38–73 +3
T18 Mike Martin Tashua Knolls GC 35-38–73 +3
T18 Ted Perez East Mountain CC 36-37–73 +3
T18 Aaron Ungvarsky Hartford GC 36-37–73 +3
T18 Jan Wivestad Crestbrook Park GC 35-38–73 +3
T25 Dan Benedetti Springfield CC 36-38–74 +4
T25 James Giampaolo Shuttle Meadow CC 37-37–74 +4
T25 Jim Hanlon The Farms CC 38-36–74 +4
T25 Mike Kanios Whitney Farms GC 37-37–74 +4
T25 Jack McConachie Oronoque CC 39-35–74 +4
T25 Kyle Puzzo Orchards GC 34-40–74 +4
T25 Matt Stein GreatHorse 37-37–74 +4
T25 William Wallis New Haven CC 37-37–74 +4
T33 Marc Bayram Timberlin GC 39-36–75 +5
T33 Donny Kirkpatrick Wampanoag CC 38-37–75 +5
T33 Bob Mucha Edgewood GC 36-39–75 +5
T33 Kevin Shea Great Neck CC 38-37–75 +5
T33 Bob Sparks Fairview Farm GC 39-36–75 +5
T38 Bobby Brown Tashua Knolls GC 42-34–76 +6
T38 Glenn Carlson Torrington CC 38-38–76 +6
T38 Rick Fleury The Ledges GC 40-36–76 +6
T41 Philip Krick Mohegan Sun GC 36-41–77 +7
T41 Bart McCarthy Wyckoff 36-41–77 +7
T41 Bobby Powell First Tee of CT 38-39–77 +7
T41 Justin Whipple CC of Waterbury 37-40–77 +7
T45 Robert Clark Timberlin GC 40-38–78 +8
T45 Michel Painchaud Mohegan Sun GC 36-42–78 +8
T45 Ronnie Pfaefflin Norfolk CC 37-41–78 +8
T45 Nicholas Segaline Wampanoag CC 41-37–78 +8
T45 Dan Simons Mill River CC 39-39–78 +8
T50 Josh Carney Manchester CC 39-40–79 +9
T50 Michael Jezierski Raceway GC 40-39–79 +9
52 John Vitale GolfTEC – West Hartford 40-40–80 +10
T53 Sean Smedick Sharon CC 40-41–81 +11
T53 Bryan Truszkowski Candlewood LC 40-41–81 +11
55 Joseph Forget Richter Park GC 42-40–82 +12
56 Dave Cook Pomperaug GC 37-46–83 +13