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FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- All eyes were on four-time champion Kyle Gallo as the first round of the 77th Connecticut Open kicked off Monday. By the time the day was over, though, an amateur from Greenwich had stormed to the front of the pack at Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield.
David Pastore, a Greenwich High School graduate and sophomore at the University of Virginia, shot a five-under 66 in the first round, taking a two-stroke lead. Pastore sank an eagle on the par five 8th hole, putting him at three-under after the front nine. He nailed three birdies on the back nine and just one bogey all day.
Pastore was paired with Burning Tree club pro and Main Street Connect "Golf Tip of the Week" instructor Danny Balin. Balin was tied with Pastore for first after the front nine, but finished the first round tied for sixth place at one-under (70).
Other notable local finishers on day one included Wilton's Brian Murphy, currently tied for third at two-under. Murphy came out strong in the 2010 Connecticut Open as well, finishing behind eventual winner Gallo in second place.
Gerard Courville of Shorehaven Golf Club in Norwalk and Reed Howard, who plays out of Greenwich and is the son of Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard, are tied for eighth at even (71). Mike Ballo Jr. of Stamford, Bernie D'Amato of Weston and defending champion Gallo all finished the first round at a plus-three 74, for a share of 34th place.
The top 40 finishers on day two advance to Wednesday's final round. The Connecticut State Golf Association has up-to-the-minute results of the day's action.
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