Mike Ballo Sr. and Jim Becker will be inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame on Thursday at Hartford Golf Club.
Ballo was the head pro at Woodway Country Club in Darien from 1971-2003. A number of his assistant professionals went on to become head pros. His two sons, Mike Jr. and Peter, are currently assistant pros at Westchester (N.Y.) CC and Silvermine GC in Norwalk, respectively.
Ballo Sr., a Stamford native, won the Connecticut Open twice (1969 and 1978). When Peter won the championship in July, the Ballos became the first father-son duo to win the event. Ballo Sr. also qualified for three U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships and one U.S. Senior Open.
The Metropolitan Golf Writers Association named the Ballos as its Family of the Year in 2020.
Becker, a Windsor native, has more than 60 victories to his credit, including back-to-back Connecticut Opens as an amateur in 1975 and 1976 before turning professional.
Becker, the head pro at Blue Fox Run GC in Avon, competed on the South African Tour for nine years, the Canadian Tour for one year and a handful of PGA Tour events as well.
