(March 12, 2025) – We recently had a chance to catch up with 2024 Connecticut Open presented by GSB champion and current Loyola University Maryland senior Jackson Roman. We talked to Jackson while he was on spring break in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
The conversation covers everything from his win at the 90th Connecticut Open, his senior year at Loyola University Maryland, what his 2025 summer plans are, plus more.
Without further delay, here is our conversation with Jackson Roman.
CSGA: It’s your senior year at Loyola University Maryland. So far, you’ve had a strong season with four top 10 finishes. How do you think your season is going so far?
Jackson Roman (JR): So far I think it’s been pretty good. Our team’s in a good spot this year, which is cool. We feel like every guy can have a great week and win, which is really cool. Being able to show up with the whole team and knowing that any of us could win the event is a confidence boost for the whole team, myself included.
For me personally, I’ve struggled with my swing a bit this year. However, one of the things that I’ve done very well is getting the most out of what I’m bringing to the course that day. There are definitely a lot of events this year where I could have kicked in the bucket and I just grinded through it and got the best results out of what I brought to the course.
CSGA: You had a start and stop start to your college career because of some health issues. Do you feel like you have finally been able to settle in and focus on your game?
JR: Yeah, definitely. Honestly, I’m still figuring little things out here and there with my diabetes, it’s not a math equation where this plus this equals this. It’s different every day, but just knowing how to deal with certain situations, health-wise, especially makes it way easier out there and it allows me to focus more on golf and not have to worry about other factors.
CSGA: You’re roughly midway through your spring season. What are your goals, both for you as an individual and your team?
JR: As a team our goal is always to win the Patriot League. We’ve been successful at that in the past. Our next goal, if we win the Patriot League, would be to play well in the NCAA tournament. Recently, the place where we struggle the most is being able to make it through the Patriot League and then play well in the NCAA Regionals. So I think it’s definitely a goal for the entire team to get back to the NCAA Regionals and then actually compete to make the cut.
And then personally, my goals are always the same. Every event I play in, I am trying to win. I feel like every event I tee it up in, I can play with the best amateurs out there.
CSGA: Let’s rewind to last July and the Connecticut Open. What did that victory do for your confidence?
JR: Winning is so hard in golf and there’s know telling if you’ll win this week or if you won’t win again till the summer or longer.
But definitely being able to win the Connecticut Open gave me a lot of confidence. Especially with how deep the field was. Even after not having the lowest round in the first round, I was still able to keep firing all the way through to the end, that definitely gave me a lot of confidence to know that I can win from any point during the event.
CSGA: When you look back at the Connecticut Open, is there a moment from the final round that stands out and you can look back on and think to yourself, yes I can pull that shot off?
JR: Definitely. Honestly, the final hole because that was such a nerve-racking moment.
Even though I had a two shot lead at that point, that hole was not easy. There was a lot of wind, landing areas are kind of small. The pin was in a tough spot. It was probably the most nervous I had been during the entire event. At that point, it hit me that I can definitely win this thing if I can just get this in the hole. And then to be able to stripe a drive, hit an eight iron to 10 feet and make the putt for birdie under those circumstances definitely boosted my confidence.
CSGA: Your sister Kenna was on the bag at the Connecticut Open. Your parents and a number of people from your home club, Shuttle Meadow CC, were following you during the final round. What does it mean to have that kind of support system?
JR: I say it all the time to my family, friends, and other golfers that I talk to, but having a bunch of people support you makes all the difference on the golf course. Being alone on the golf course is one of the toughest things out there and making sure that you have friends, family, coaches, and other people supporting you and that you’re supporting them speaks to a great community and it just helps a ton out there.
Being able to look around and see everyone there to support me and also when they aren’t at events knowing they are watching and following along is a huge boost to my confidence.
CSGA: Let’s talk about your summer plans. What will the summer of 2025 look like?
JR: This summer, I’ll probably play a bunch of state opens in the area. Not the Massachusetts Open though because that is the same week as the Connecticut Amateur at Shuttle Meadow CC so I’ll definitely be playing that.
Then I’ll play the Metropolitan Open, the Maryland Open, which is local to Loyola so I’ll be able to stay at my apartment. Then I’ll play in the Connecticut Open and I have an exemption to the final stage of U.S. Amateur Qualifying. My schedule will also include some more regional and national events.
CSGA: I wanted to ask you about Shuttle Meadow CC. Of course Shuttle Meadow CC is your home course and you got to play when the club hosted the 2023 Connecticut Open and now you get to play when it hosts the Connecticut Amateur. How excited are you for the opportunity?
JR: I’m really excited. I love Shuttle Meadow CC. It might be my favorite place on earth. Honestly, I just love everyone there. I love the course. I love the practice facilities. Everyone’s so awesome there and supportive. So being able to go compete in the Connecticut Amateur, which is a little bit different than the Connecticut Open because it is match play, is pretty cool.
I think Shuttle Meadow CC will be a pretty interesting layout for match play. There are a lot of places you can do some damage. It’ll be a lot of fun to be able to play some one on one matches and do my best to try and survive to the end.
CSGA: Alright Jackson. Let’s get you out on this one. You mentioned a little earlier you have been working on your swing. Regardless of how much success you have had in the game, golfers are always working on something. What are you currently working on?
JR: I’m always working on everything, but to be specific, currently I’m working on my swing mechanics. In February, I actually went back up to Connecticut and spent a lot of time with my coach Tom Rosati and we sat down and broke down my swing and I figured out what I had to do to get back on track.
But I’m always working on navigating tournaments. Tournaments are just so unique, you just don’t know how they’re going to start and end and you don’t know what’s going to be thrown your way. There are different situations, different courses, different types of grass, all types of stuff.
One example is we just played two events that had Bermuda grass and I definitely struggled chipping. So that’s something I’ve been working on while I’ve been in Pinehurst with my family. I’ve just been working on my short game shots on Bermuda and learning how to balance the club and hit better shots around the green.
CSGA: That sounds awesome Jackson! Keep grinding and thanks for taking some time to talk and of course continued success!
JR: Thanks!
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut State Golf Association functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
