Michael Violette Colandro (May 27, 1953 – August 9, 2015) was an American professional golfer. Colandro played briefly on the PGA Tour in 1979 and 1980 but did not have much success. In 1981, he started to play on the PGA Tour of Australia. Despite multiple personal tragedies, a rancorous relationship with rules officials, and a precarious exemption status he was able to play 16 consecutive seasons on the Australian tour, culminating with his only official tour victory, the 1987 Air New Zealand Shell Open. In 1995, he largely retired as a touring professional. He still worked in the golf industry, however, as a swing instructor, creator of golf-related DVDs-CDs, and charity fundraiser, while also working on a self-published autobiography, Almost an Aussie.
Early life Colandro was born in 1953. He was of Italian descent. Colandro was from Hartford, Connecticut. Colandro's father, Al, was an assistant pro at Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford, Connecticut. He also had a brother, Albert, and a sister, Maryann. Albert occasionally served as Colandro's caddy as an adult. Colandro was afflicted with Diabetes type II throughout his life.
In his youth, Colandro started his golf career as a caddy. He was a caddy at Rockledge Golf Club in West Hartford and some other clubs in the area. In his spare time, Colandro would play these courses as well. In general, however, Colandro largely honed his skills at Goodwin Park Golf Course in Hartford.
Colandro grew up in Newington, Connecticut. During the 1968–69 school year, as a freshman at Newington High School, Colandro began playing for the golf team. He immediately began as a "starter." During his sophomore year, however, Colandro could not play on the golf team due to "double sessions at school."
In the summer of 1970, Colandro received media attention for the first time. In July, he played the Connecticut State Golf Association Junior Championship at Watertown Golf Club in Watertown, Connecticut. Colandro won his first two matches of the event and reached the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals he played William Reklaitis of Rockledge Golf Club. Colandro was 2 up at the turn and remained two holes up with two to play. However, Reklaitis won the 17th and 18th holes, including a birdie at the last, to send it to extra holes. Colandro, though, birdied the first extra hole to win the match. In the semifinals he played "tournament medalist" Paul Maloney. Colandro quickly fell behind, 3 down at the turn. Colandro birdied the 10th hole to get closer but Maloney won a number of holes in the middle of the back nine to assure the win. Maloney won it 3 & 2. Later in the year, in September, Colandro played the Hartford District Amateur. At the end of regulation, Colandro was tied with five other players for the lead. They played an 18-hole playoff to determine the champion. Colando won it. He was believed to be the youngest-ever winner of the event. Colandro graduated from Newington High School in 1972.
Amateur career Shortly after graduating high school, Colandro attended Arizona State University. He was on the golf team. The team included future PGA Tour pros Howard Twitty, Bob Gilder, and Tom Purtzer. Colandro was there from 1972 to 1974. But in late 1974 "there was a falling-out with the coach" and Colandro dropped out of school.
Colandro soon started working as a caddy on the PGA Tour at the beginning of the 1975 season. He worked for Marty Fleckman and Rick Rhodes. In the summer he returned to Connecticut and played in some notable events. In July he played the New England Public Links. He opened with a 71, one of only two players to match par, and take the joint lead. In addition, his Goodwin Park team was in second place. Colandro shot a one-under-par 70 in the second round to win medalist honors. As a team, Goodwin Park finished in second place, two back of the host team, Hubbard Heights. In August he played the Hartford District Amateur, the event he won five years previous. Colandro was considered one of the favorites. Like in 1970, he won the event. In September he played the Manchester Open, a professional event. He shot an even-par 72 to achieve low amateur honors. Champion Wayne Levi and runner-up Don Bierkan were among the few professionals to defeat him. During the year he also won the Victor Riccio Tournament. He was generally regarded as one of the best amateur golfers in Connecticut during this era.
Professional career Early career and PGA Tour In October 1975, Colandro turned professional. Colandro attempted to qualify for the PGA Tour at Fall 1975 PGA Tour Qualifying School. However, he was unsuccessful. Colandro remained in Florida for the winter and played on the state's mini-tours. For the next two summers Colandro worked at a driving range in Ellington, Connecticut. Colandro again attempted to make it onto the PGA Tour at Fall 1977 PGA Tour Qualifying School but was again unsuccessful. Colandro was, in his words, at a "crossroads" in his life and decided to move to Las Vegas, Nevada where his aunt lived. He ultimately got a job as an assistant pro at Sahara Country Club. In early 1979 he started playing the local mini-tours. In mid-May he again began another attempt to earn playing privileges for the PGA Tour. The Western regionals for the Spring 1979 PGA Tour Qualifying School were held at the PGA West Stadium Course in Rancho Mirage, California. Colando shot 292 (+4) to finish in a tie for 25th place and earn rights to play in final qualifying by two strokes. In June, he played the finals at Pinehurst No. 6 in North Carolina. Over the course of the 72 hole tournament, Colandro shot 295 to earn rights to play on the PGA Tour.
Colandro soon started playing on the PGA Tour. His first event was the Danny Thomas-Memphis Classic in late June. Colandro shot rounds of 75 (+3) and 73 (+1) to miss the cut. Two weeks he played the Greater Milwaukee Open. He opened with a 68 to put him within two of the lead. However, he shot an 80 to miss the cut by a wide margin. A month later Colandro missed the cut at his hometown event, the Greater Hartford Open, by one stroke. Colandro continued to miss cuts. However, at his last event of the year, the San Antonio Texas Open, he shot a 67 (−3) to make his first cut. Colandro earned $497.50, his first check on the PGA Tour. Due to his poor play over the course of the year, however, Colandro had to return to the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. He easily made it through regionals and then played the finals again at Pinehurst. At the Fall 1980 PGA Tour Qualifying School he opened with rounds of 76-76-72 to put him within one of the cut-off figure. However, "still struggling somewhat with a new swing," Colandro shot an 84 to ultimately miss the cut-off by a wide margin.
Although a "non-card-carrying member" of the PGA Tour in 1980, Colandro was still able to compete in up to 10 tournaments during the year. At the beginning of the 1980 season, Colandro attempted to qualify for the Phoenix Open and Bing Crosby National Pro-Am but failed. He managed to get into the Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational but missed the cut. However, later in the West Coast swing, at the Hawaiian Open, Colandro had more success. He opened the tournament with rounds of 72-70-69. In the final round he was paired with Arnold Palmer and Bill Calfee. On Sunday, Colandro shot four-under-par over the first 10 holes to put him at nine-under-par for the tournament. It was the best aggregate score he had in any tournament in his career to that point. He was anxious and conferred with playing partner Palmer on what to do. Palmer advised him to not be complacent and push forward and achieve a better score. Colandro, however, had a "struggling finish," double-bogeying the 13th hole and ultimately recording a 71 (−1). At 282 (−6) he finished in a tie for 42nd. Despite the disappointing close, it was his best result of his PGA Tour career so far. A month later, Colandro opened well at the Doral-Eastern Open. He shot a first round 71 to put him near the top ten. However, he shot a second round 79 to miss the cut. For the remainder of the year Colandro did not have much success, failing to make the cut in any of his subsequent PGA Tour events, including his hometown event, the Greater Hartford Open.
PGA Tour of Australia In 1981, Colandro decided to play in Australia. It was his first year playing the PGA Tour of Australia. Colandro formed a company, the MC Company, to help fund his tour of Australia. In October, he played the New South Wales PGA Championship. He finished in solo ninth place. Two weeks later he played the West Lakes Classic. He opened with a 72 to put himself near the top ten. He finished in a tie for 14th. The following week he played the New South Wales Open. He opened with even-par rounds of 73 to put himself near the lead. However, on the weekend he followed with rounds of 76 to finish outside of the top ten. By early November, Colandro had played in six events and made the cut in all of them. He finished his first season in Australia ranked inside the top 50 on the Order of Merit. In February 1982, Colandro played the Australian Masters. He shot three-under-par for the first two days to put him in joint second place, three back of Bob Shearer's lead. However, in the third round he shot a 78 and "dropped out of the reckoning." He finished in a tie for 21st. Later in the year he started playing some events on the Asia Golf Circuit.
Shortly thereafter, Colandro returned to the United States. In late June 1982, Colandro played the Massachusetts Open. The event was held at Longmeadow Country Club in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. In the second round he shot an even-par 70 to become a "challenger" to leader Dana Quigley, finishing the round in solo second place. However, he "soared" to a two-over-par 72 in the third round to "slip into a second place tie" with Bob Menne. In late July, Colandro began play at the Miller High Life-Greater Bangor Open. After two rounds Colandro was at 142 (+2), three back of leader Jeff Sluman. However, he was unable to break par in the final round, shooting a 72 (+2), to finish at 214 (+4), in a tie for fifth place. He won $700. In August, Colandro attempted to qualify for his hometown event, Sammy Davis Jr. - Greater Hartford Open. However, he was not successful.
In the early 1980s, Colandro continued to play in Australia. He had his first high finishes in Australia during this era. In late November 1982, he played the New Zealand Open. He opened with rounds of 73 and 71 to put himself at even-par, in fifth place. However, Colandro shot a third round 75 to shoot himself out of contention. However, he shot a final round 71 (−1) for solo third place. Colandro's round was one of only four sub-par rounds for the day. In October 1983, he had much success at the National Panasonic New South Wales Open. He did not play particularly well at the beginning of the tournament, however, opening with rounds of 72 (+1) and 78 (+7). However, in the third round he shot a 67 (−4). This turned out of be joint best round of the tournament with Greg Norman who also shot 67 that round. In the final round he shot a 72 (+1) to finish in a tie for 8th. In early November, Colandro played in a pro-am at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, shooting a 69, finishing in a tie for fourth. The next week Colandro played the Victorian PGA Championship. After two rounds he was at 143 (−1). On Friday night of the tournament, he learned his father died. He continued to play, however, stating that "his father would have wanted him to play." On Saturday, during the third round, he shot a 68 (−4) to put him only three shots off of the lead. Colandro ultimately finished in solo fourth place, four back of champion Vaughan Somers.