WILTON, CT. (July 30, 2014) — Frank Bensel of Fairfield, Conn. entered the final day trailing by one stroke and shot a round of four under-par 66 to capture the 80th Connecticut Open Championship at Rolling Hills Country Club. The state’s most prestigious open championship was held July 28th – 30th at the 6,754 yard par-70 course in Wilton, Conn.

Conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association, the Connecticut Open is the only CSGA Championship that is open to both amateurs and professionals. The tournament tests the state’s top golfers over three rounds of stroke play at the renowned Rolling Hills Country Club in Wilton, Connecticut. The total purse for the tournament is $50,000, with the professional champion capturing a winner’s check of $12,500.

Bensel began the day just one stroke back of amateur David Pastore (Greenwich, CT) and tied for second with a pair of professionals in Jason Caron of Stamford, Conn. and Adam Rainaud of Black Hall Club. Playing in the penultimate group with Caron, Bensel wasted no time making his move up the leaderboard. He birdied the first two holes to jump into a tie for the lead at five under-par with Pastore.

As the day progressed, Bensel continued to hold a share of the lead with Pastore, Caron and Mike Ballo, Jr., the round one leader from Woodway Country Club. After a pair of bogies on #5 and #11, offset with a birdie on the par-4 8th hole, Bensel stood on the 15th tee just one stroke back of the lead held by Pastore at four under-par.

“Jason and I were going back and forth all day, and there are so many great players out here who at one point were in the lead or close to the lead that it wasn’t until really late in the day that I thought I might have it,” said Bensel.

However, in the final round of any tournament, experience is priceless. A two-time Open Champion in 2009 and 2011, Bensel had plenty of memories to call upon. He would go on to make three straight birdies on #15, 16 and 17, jumping from one behind to two ahead.

For more, please continue reading at the Connecticut State Golf Association.

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