Cumberland, Maine (August 17, 2021) – The remarkable junior career of Ben James continued this week at the New England Junior Amateur Championship hosted by Val Halla Golf Course. With rounds of 67-66-66 James finished 14-under-par and for a third consecutive time earned New England Junior Boys Individual honors. James became the first player in tournament history to win the event three times in a row.
“That achievement means so much to me,” James said. “This event, it’s my fourth time being here and I love our coach [CSGA Executive Director Mike Moraghan]. We’re really good friends and with all of my friends just being here too it means a lot to win this event.”
James, the sixth ranked player in the AJGA Boys Rankings, recorded 17 birdies, an eagle, and just six bogeys over the course of his 54-holes to finish five shots clear of Massachusetts Colin Spencer.
“It’s been a battle every year with me and the other competitors,” James said. “It’s just been awesome to kind of get it all together three consecutive times. I’ve played pretty well in all of them and I’m just happy to win my last one.”
Beyond the golf James enjoyed the camaraderie of the event and spending time with his teammates on the course and also off the course. “It was awesome,” he said. “We did our best with the COVID restrictions. We just had a lot of fun at the pool and we enjoyed ourselves. It was nice to spend some time with the girls too going out to get some ice cream. It was really fun.”
Final Team Connecticut Standings:
Boys Team: Second Place (+10)
Individuals:
Ben James (1st, -14)
Matt Doyle (T4, -1)
Connor Goode (6th, +1)
Jackson Roman (T13, +14)
Will Lodge (T21, +17)
Kyle St. Pierre (T38; +35)
Girls Team: Fifth Place (+62)
Individuals:
Kate Hong (10th, +32)
Charlotte Wagner (11th, +33)
Leslie Li (15th, +46)
