Darien Scores and Standings, July 28

UPDATES

• Golf: Playing his third straight round in the 60s, Danbury's Frank Bensel put the finishing touches on a victory Wednesday in the 77th Connecticut Open at the Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield.

Bensel never gave his pursuers a chance to catch him as he carded a 2-under 69 for a 54-hole total of 8-under 205 and a two-shot victory over Greenwich's Daniel Balin and amateur Tom Mccarthy of Twins Hills.

An assistant golf professional at Century Country Club in Purchase, N.Y., Bensel claimed his second Connecticut Open, having won the title in 2009 at Hartford Golf Club. A conflict with a Metropolitan PGA prevented him from trying to defend his championship last year at the Country Club of Fairfield.

McCarthy, who started the final round at 1-under, made the biggest charge of the day, posting a 5-under 66. He ripped off three straight birdies on Nos. 10-12 to get to 7-under for the tournament, but bogied the par-4 18th to finish at 6-under.

After playing bogey-free golf through 15 holes, Bensel gave back a shot with a bogey on the par-3 16th, but finished with two pars to match the margin he enjoyed at the start of the day.

Balin, who plays out of Burning Tree, completed a solid week with a 68 after a 70 on Monday and a 69 on Tuesday.

Woodway Country Club's Mike Ballo Jr. finished in a tie for 17th at 216 after his second straight 71.

In his first year as a professional after a stellar career at St. John's, the former Trinity Catholic golfer is considered one of the top up-and-coming players in the area.

Ballo finished second in the Greater Bangor Open last week, losing in a playoff, and also placed second in the Massachusetts Open last month.

Tunxis Plantation's Dave Szewczul, a 2010 Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame inductee and two time defending CSGA Senior Player of the Year, finished fourth at 208 after posting a 70 on Wednesday.

Wilton's Brian Murphy was thought to have an advantage playing on his home course, but couldn't get much going Wednesday, shooting a 2-over 73 to finish in a tie for ninth at 213.

Kensington's Kyle Gallo was seeking a record fifth Connecticut Open title, but never seriously challenged during the tournament. He finished with a 1-over 72, putting him in a tie for 15th at 215.

Shorehaven's Jerry Courville struggled to a 76 Wednesday, leaving him in a tie for 21st at 216 after playing the first two rounds in 1-under.

Redding's Jim St. Pierre also posted a 76, which dropped him to 25th at 218.

First-round leader David Pastore of Greenwich faltered after an opening-round 66, which matched McCarthy for the low score of the week. He went 76-77 over the final 36 holes, falling to a tie for 26th at 219.

Jack McConachie, the head golf professional at Pine Valley Country Club in Southington, finished fifth at 210 after a final-round 72.

McConachie fell short in a bid for a unique mark in Connecticut golfing annals. With a victory, he would have set a record for the longest period between Connecticut Open victories, having previously won the tournament in 1984 at Tumble Brook Country Club.

Richard Siderowf holds the mark, going 14 years between his second and third victories in 1959 and 1973.

If you see anything in our scores, standings, or schedules that requires updating, please e-mail sports editor Bob Birge at bob.birge@hotmail.com