Two-time Connecticut Open champion Frank Bensel was one of six golfers to make it through U.S. Open local qualifying Tuesday at Country Club of Darien.
Bensel, who plays out of Jupiter, Fla., and won the Connecticut Open in 2009 and 2011, was the medalist with a 1-under-par 70. Cory Muller (Darien), Joe Christianson (Manhasset, N.Y.), Greg Bisconti (South Salem, N.Y.) and Rob Labritz (Pound Ridge, N.Y.) all shot even-par 71 to qualify. Matt Doyle (Jupiter, Fla.) shot a 72, then birdied the fifth sudden-death playoff hole to grab the last spot.
Jason Caron (Greenwich) and Matt Noel (Norwalk) are the two alternates who fell short in the sudden-death playoff. Notables who failed to qualify were: Evan Beirne from North Haven (73), four-time Connecticut Open champion Kyle Gallo (74), Ed Kingston of Hamden (78), Ryan Leahey of Orange (78) and Bill Lee from New Haven (84).
Players advancing from today’s local will compete at one of 11 sectional qualifying sites on June 4.  Qualifiers at the 36-hole sectionals, along with previously exempt players will make up the field for the 112th U.S. Open to be played at The Olympic Club in San Francisco June 14-17.

By Joe Morelli, Register staff
jmorelli@nhregister.com / Twitter: @nhrJoeMorelli

Suzy Whaley played for a brief time on the LPGA Tour, but the current teaching pro is best known for having become the second woman ever to qualify for a PGA Tour event, the 2003 Greater Hartford Open.

Whaley’s two daughters have gone on to successful junior careers. Kelly won the Connecticut Women’s Open last August at 14 while Jenn will play at Quinnipiac University next season.

Suzy Whaley would love to see many more young women have successful junior golf careers and eventually earn college golf scholarships. It’s her hope that girls from around Connecticut will show up at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell Saturday for the first Cobra Puma Golf Girls Golf Fair, an event Whaley is hosting.



Read more about the fair.