Paladino is in position to defend CT Open

DARIEN >> That name is there once again, staring the other competitors in the 82nd Connecticut Open square in the face.

You expect Frank Bensel’s name to be atop the leaderboard in the state’s second-biggest golf tournament behind the Travelers Championship. In his last six appearances, Bensel has done no worse than a tie for seventh place and won the event three times.

But despite shooting a 4-under-par 67 to get into contention, Bensel still trails the leader by four. That would be the defend-

ing champion - Cody Paladino - who posted a 68 for a two-shot lead heading into today’s final round.

“I had a lot of really good (birdie) chances I didn’t convert on, but I hit the ball exceptionally well and that’s kind of the most important thing,” Paladino said.

Corey Birch, who just turned pro this week and finished second in the State Amateur last month, fired a 5-under 66 to stand two behind Paladino.

“It will be fun. I’m excited,” Birch said about the final round. “I’m doing a good job at hitting the reset button after every shot and hole.”

Jeff Curl, a former twotime champion himself, also shot 66 while playing with Birch. He is third all alone 4-under 138. He will play with Bensel today in the penultimate group. Whitney Farms GC head pro Billy Street is tied for fourth with Bensel at 139.

Paladino is looking to become the first player to repeat since 2005-06 by Shelton native Nick Cook - Paladino’s playing partner the first two rounds.

“When I saw the pairing with Nick, I thought it could be an omen honestly,” Paladino said. “I’m super-excited for tomorrow, but like I said all week, it’s just another tournament and just another day of competition. I’m playing well and that’s all you can ask for.”

The last putt dropped at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday. Despite not being able to finish the first round until Tuesday morning, the second round was able to be completed despite how dark it was. Although the horn blew for that very reason - darkness - players had the option to finish the hole and the last remaining groups were on 18.

Groups of two will go off both tees beginning at 9 a.m. Paladino and Birch go off No. 1 at 9:30 a.m.

Forty-two players made the cut at 10-over 150. Among those missing the cut are former champions Kyle Gallo (152), Ken Green (154), Steve Sokol (154) and 12-year-old Ben James of Milford (154), the youngest player in the field.

Paladino led by one shot heading into the final round last year and won by two at The Patterson Club.

“You have to enjoy it being in the lead). If you don’t enjoy that, you are not going to close out many golf tournaments,” Paladino said.

Bensel, an assistant pro at Century CC in Harrison, New York, finished his first round of 1-over 72 Tuesday morning due to two weather-related stoppages on Monday. He then went right back out and made five birdies (holes 11, 13, 5, 7 and 8) to shoot 67.

“I hit the ball well and was able to make some putts,” Bensel said. “I’m not a high-ball hitter, so the wind usually comes in my favor. It’s definitely tricky out there, some shots were wind swirling around and it was tough to judge the wind”

Curl, who won the Open in 2007 and 2013, birdied 13, 16 and 17 on the back nine, but bogeyed 18 to fall three behind Paladino.

“I’ve never seen the golf course before,” Curl said. “I knew he (Paladino) wasn’t going to go anywhere. If you are hitting it and playing good, you really aren’t going to go too far (behind).”

Street missed just one fairway and birdied his final hole to shoot even-par 71.

“If I can putt well, I think I can do it (win),” Street said. “I want to know exactly where I am at. I usually just play steady golf, if you want to win, you need to know if you need to make birdies.”

Dan Balin is in sixth place with a two-round total of 2-under 140. The fourway tie for seventh includes first-round leader Anthony Carasito, who didn’t make a single birdie in his round of 75 Tuesday.

“From yesterday, making six birdies, you don’t expect to not make one birdie,” Carasito said. “I was totally off.”

That tie for seventh also includes Greg Reilly, a finalist in the 2015 Connecticut Amateur who turned pro last October, Reilly won the Cape Cod Open in June.