Inside the Field - Player Storylines
There are a total of 150 players in the field vying for the 80th Connecticut Open title, of which 85
are professionals and 65 are amateurs.
About the Course: Established in 1961, Rolling Hills was founded by a group of members of
Longshore Country Club in Westport after the Town of Westport purchased the club. The present
layout was designed by Alfred Tull in 1960 and renovated by Roger Rulewich in 2002. Tull designed
dozens of courses around the country, most notably Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland,
which annually hosts Sectional Qualifying for the United States Open.
Last Years Championship: The 2013 Connecticut Open was held at Torrington Country Club for the
first time in nearly fifty years, as it last hosted the Open in 1962. Jeff Curl of Cedar Knob GC overcame
a double bogey on the final hole with a fifty-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to defeat Ben
Conroy, Eric Stegar and William Downes. Curl fired rounds of 67-67-75--209 (-7) to capture his second
Connecticut Open title.
Max Theodorakis, 16, of Ridgewood Country Club is the youngest player in this year’s field and is
fresh off a Runner-Up finish in the 73rd Connecticut Junior Amateur Championship just a few weeks
ago. With his Runner-Up finish, Theodorakis also earned a spot on the New England Junior Team.
On the opposite end, Jack McConachie, 66, of North Ridge Country Club is the oldest player in the
field. The 1984 Connecticut Open Champion, McConachie boasts one of the most impressive resumes
in the field, having also won the Connecticut PGA Championship in 1982 and the Connecticut PGA
Senior Player of the Year title four times.
A total of 9 past Connecticut Open champions are in the field. They are: Jason Caron (2012), Frank
Bensel (2009 & 2011), Kyle Gallo (1998, 2004, 2005 & 2010), Jim St. Pierre (2002), Michael
Gilmore (1993 & 1997), Kevin Giancola (1987, 1988 & 1994), Ken Green (1985 & 1992), Jack
McConachie (1984) and Jim Becker (1975 & 1976).
Defending Champion: Jeff Curl, the 2013 Connecticut Open Champion, will not be returning to
Rolling Hills CC to defend his title. Curl qualified for the Web.com Tour this past winter, and has
recorded two Top 10 finishes through his first twelve events this season.
There are 5 players from Rolling Hills Country Club in the field, all of whom are looking to capture
their first Connecticut Open title. They are: Brian Crocker (RHCC Assistant Professional), Asher
Greenberg (a), Geoff Schneider (Club Champion), Dan Tzivanis (RHCC Teaching Professional),
and Ray Ford (Host Professional).
In 2013, only two amateurs (Jeff Hogan & John VanDerLaan) finished inside the Top 15, but both
are returning to Rolling Hills CC with hopes of becoming the first amateur to win the Connecticut Open
since Jeff Hedden accomplished the feat in 2008 at Round Hill Club. VanDerLaan fired a final round
66 last year to temporarily hold a share of the competitive course record at Torrington CC, which was
later bested by Ben Conroy’s 65.
Dave and David Leigh Szewczul of Tunxis Plantation CC are the only Father/Son team competing
in this year’s championship. Dave, who recently won the 2014 Senior Match Play Championship, is a
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Connecticut State Golf Association