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

DARIEN — Jason Caron may not be the most famous state golfer in his family, but he certainly looked like the best golfer in the state on Wednesday.

A steady 1-under-par 71 was all the Greenwich resident needed to win his first Connecticut Open championship by one shot over four-time champ Kyle Gallo at Wee Burn Country Club.

“I really thought at best it would be a playoff. I didn’t realize I was the winner until I sat down here (to sign his scorecard) so it was really kind of surprising,” said Caron, who won $10,000. “I don’t care to know (where he stood during the round). I play my game. That is all I can do.”

Caron, 40, is the husband of Liz Janangelo, the West Hartford native and former Duke University standout who won four Connecticut Women’s Open titles and twice played on the LPGA Tour. They are expecting their first child in January.

READ MORE ON THE OPEN AND HOW EVERYONE FINISHED. 

Jenn Whaley of Farmington and Eric Dietrich of Cheshire were the winners in the Cas Coscina Memorial Junior at Stanley Golf Course.

It's been over three years since former PGA Tour player Ken Green had the lower portion of his right leg amputated following an RV accident that claimed the lives of his brother, girlfriend and dog.
But Green, a former Danbury resident, still is playing golf. He made the cut at the Connecticut Open Tuesday, posting a two-round total of 9-over 153 at Wee Burn CC.
His thoughts following Tuesday's round were as follows:

"I'm still hoping I can pull off that miracle and shoot the par round. Par around here would be 62 in the old days. That's hard for me to pull off. ... The difference between me now and me in the old days, I look forward to each day. I try to accomplish something new every day. There's so much I can still accomplish.
If I had this attitude in my heyday, I probably would have been a lot better off."

Jeff Hatten, who recently graduated from Yale University, shot the low round of the second round, a 3-under 69, to share the lead with Dan Balin at 2-under 142 heading into the final round of the 78th Connecticut Open at Wee Burn Country Club in Darien.
Hatten and Balin, an assistant pro at Burning Tree CC in Greenwich, will tee off at 11:10 a.m. They lead Jason Caron (Liz Janangelo's husband) by 1 shot and Bobby Gage of Torrington by 2.
Four-time champion Kyle Gallo, defending champion Frank Bensel and first-round leader Mike Ballo Jr. are all 4 shots back at 146.
The low 40 players and ties qualified for the final round. The first tee time is at 7:30 a.m.
Check out the CSGA website for scores and starting times.

Mike Ballo Jr. posted a 3-under-par 69 to lead after the opening round of the 78th Connecticut Open at Wee Burn Country Club in Darien.
Mike's father won the Connecticut Open twice, including at New Haven CC in 1969.
In second is Dan Balin with 70. He tied for second last year behind Frank Bensel, who is currently third after posting 71.
Those are the only three players under par.
Blake Morris and Dustin Toner shot even-par 72.
The low 40 players and ties from Tuesday's action will advance to the final round on Wednesday.
Check out the complete list of first-round scores here.

The first round of the Connecticut Open will be held Monday at Wee Burn Country Club in Darien.

Check out the pairings for Monday's play. The 54-hole tournament concludes Wednesday,

Check back here for updates throughout the tournament. But if you want up-to-the-minute updates, follow me on twitter @nhrjoemorelli.