CSGA Team Set for New England Junior Championship

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The CSGA has announced its team of seven junior golfers that will square off against the rest of New England at The Purpoodock Club in Cape Elizabeth, Maine on August 17 and 18. The New England Junior Championship, conducted by the New England Golf Association, pits the six New England states against each other in a team competition. The best five of seven individual scores each round produces each state’s team total. The championship is 54 holes with 36 holes played the first day. To be eligible, players must not have reached their 18^th birthday by the start of the Championship.

The New England Junior Championship has been played since 1967. Connecticut has won the title fifteen times, most recently in 2012. Massachusetts was victorious in 2013 and 2014 with Connecticut finishing second both years.  

Connecticut has three players returning from the 2014 squad, Max Theodorakis from Danbury and Ridgewood Country Club, Jason Liu from Windsor and Wintonbury Hills Golf Course, and Michael VanDerLaan from Southbury and the Country Club of Waterbury. 

Joining Theodorakis, Liu and VanDerLaan are Justin Clark from New Canaan and Rolling Hills Country Club, Adam Friedman from Westport and Birchwood Country Club, Connor Looney from Ridgefield and TPC River Highlands, and Tim Rotermund from Madison and Madison Country Club.

“We have a group of talented young men who are outstanding representatives of Connecticut and the CSGA,” said CSGA Executive Director, Mike Moraghan. “As golfers, their resumes are quite strong. All of them have competed at a very high level both in Connecticut and throughout the northeast, and several have won significant tournaments. I know they are looking forward to taking on the other New England states, and I expect they will be very competitive in the Championship.”

2015 CSGA Junior Team – Player Bios

Justin Clark, 17, New Canaan, Rolling Hills Country Club – 2015 FCIAC individual champion…led New Canaan to FCIAC Championship…3^rd in the 2015 CIAC Division II State Championship…tied 9^th in the 2015 Northern Junior…tied 12th in the 2015 CSGA Junior Amateur stroke play qualifier…tied 15^th in the 2015 FCWT at Red Tail…currently ranked as the #8 overall junior in Connecticut by Junior Golf Scoreboard…tied 6th in the 2014 CSGA Junior Amateur stroke play qualifier…tied 7th in the 2014 CIAC Division II State Championship.

Adam Friedman, 17, Westport, Birchwood Country Club – Runner up in the 2015 Long Island Junior…3^rd in the Core Academy Optimist…tied 5^th in the HJGT Bonaventure…tied 8th in the 2015 FCWT at Metro West…tied 14^th in the 2015 FCWT at Harmony Preserve…currently ranked as the #4 overall junior in Connecticut by Golfweek Magazine and #5 in Connecticut by Junior Golf Scoreboard…tied 6^th in the 2014 FCWT at Eagle Creek…tied 22^nd in the 2014 FCWT Tour Championship.

Jason Liu, 16, Windsor, Wintonbury Hills Golf Club – Won the 2014 and 2015 CT PGA Section Junior Championship…medalist in the 2015 CSGA Junior Amateur stroke play qualifier… qualified for 2015 Connecticut Amateur…tied 9^th in USGA Junior Amateur qualifying…tied 12^th in the 2015 AJGA New Era… currently ranked as the #2 overall junior in Connecticut by Golfweek and #4 in Connecticut by Junior Golf Scoreboard…tied 3^rd in the 2014 AJGA Killington Junior…qualified for 2014 Connecticut Amateur and reached round of 32 in Match Play.

Connor Looney, 16, Ridgefield, TPC River Highlands – Won the 2015 AJGA Killington Vermont Junior…tied 5^th in the 2015 FCWT at Red Tail…Tied 5th in the 2015 CIAC Division I State Championship…tied 16th in the 2015 CSGA Junior Amateur stroke play qualifier…tied 17^th in the 2015 Long Island Junior…currently ranked as the #8 overall junior in Connecticut by Golfweek Magazine.

Tim Rotermund, 16, Madison, Madison Country Club – Runner up in the 2015 CT PGA Section Junior Championship (to teammate Jason Liu)…1^st alternate (4^th overall) in USGA Junior Amateur qualifier…tied 3^rd in the 2015 CSGA Junior Amateur stroke play qualifier…quarterfinalist in the CSGA Junior…4^th in the 2015 IMG Junior Tour Rio Pinar…tied 11^th in the 2015 AJGA Killington Junior…qualified for 2015 Connecticut Amateur…currently ranked as the #7 overall junior in Connecticut by Golfweek Magazine and Junior Golf Scoreboard…qualifying medalist in 2014 AJGA Killington Junior…tied 6th in the 2014 IMG Junior Tour Grand Cypress…tied 9^th in the 2014 AJGA Junior All-Star at Fox Meadow…tied 12^th in the 2014 Northern Junior.

Max Theodorakis, 17, Danbury, Ridgewood Country Club – Currently the #1 ranked junior player from Connecticut by Junior Golf Scoreboard…tied 2^nd in the 2015 CIAC Division I State Championship…2^nd in the 2015 CSGA Junior Amateur stroke play qualifier…quarterfinalist in the 2015 CSGA Junior…tied 8^th in USGA Junior Amateur qualifying…qualified for 2015 Connecticut Open…tied 9^th the 2015 JoS. A Bank / David Leadbetter AJGA…runner up the 2014 CSGA Junior Amateur…5^th in 2014 USGA Junior Amateur qualifying…qualified for 2014 Connecticut Open and finished tied 34th.

Michael VanDerLaan, 17, Southbury, Country Club of Waterbury – Medalist and finalist in the 2015 US Challenge Cup Junior Match Play Championship… runner up in the 2014 US Challenge Cup Junior Match Play…runner up (playoff) in the 2015 New England Junior Ryder Cup… tied 3^rd in the 2015 CSGA Junior Amateur stroke play qualifier…semifinalist in the 2015 CSGA Junior…tied 5^th in the US Challenge Cup World Series of Junior Golf…7^th in the 2015 Long Island Junior…tied 9th in the 2015 CIAC Division I State Championship…tied 10^th in USGA Junior Amateur qualifying…won the 2014 AJGA New Era…tied 8^th in the 2014 Spinal Technology Junior Golf Classic.