In 2012, the CSGA Team won the New England Junior by a record of 29 strokes.
The CSGA has announced its team of seven junior golfers that will square off against the rest of New England at Connecticut National Golf Club in Putnam on August 15 and 16. The New England Junior Championship, conducted by the New England Golf Association, pits all 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.
The New England Junior has been played since 1967. In last year’s championship at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown, Massachusetts, the CSGA team won by a record setting margin of 29 strokes. Brian Carlson, of Madison and Clinton Country Club won the individual title, and six of Connecticut’s seven players finished in the top-10. For its historic accomplishment, the team was recognized by Governor Dannel Malloy and the Connecticut State Legislature in a special ceremony at the state capital in Hartford.
Carlson returns from last year’s squad, along with Evan Grenus of Glastonbury and TPC River Highlands. Both have continued to play exceptionally well in 2013. Carlson finished sixth in the New England (Men’s) Amateur, and reached the round of 16 in the USGA Junior. Grenus, runner-up in the CSGA Junior Championship, recently won the Stan Trojanowski Northern Junior in a three-hole playoff over Carlson.
According to Carlson, “The New England Junior is really a special event. To play for the CSGA team and to represent your state is a great honor. I’ve been looking forward to this championship all year.”
Joining Carlson and Grenus are 2012 CSGA Junior Champion, John VanDerLaan of Southbury and Heritage Village Country Club, 2012 Golfweek New England Junior Champion, Patrick Albanesi of Avon and Hartford Golf Club, 2012 Don Miklus Memorial Champion, Nathaniel Dong of Glastonbury and Tallwood Country Club, 2013 CSGA Junior Champion, Connor O’Brien of Norwalk and Oak Hills Park Golf Course, and 2013 Metropolitan Public Links Champion, Jacob Henny also of Norwalk and Oak Hills Park Golf Course.
“We have a group of talented young men who are outstanding representatives of Connecticut and the CSGA,” said CSGA Executive Director, Mike Moraghan. “They each have an impressive demeanor and are mature beyond their years. As golfers, their resumes are quite strong. They have all won at least one significant tournament, and a number of them have played exceptionally well in men’s events. I know they are looking forward to taking on the other New England states at a great venue in Connecticut National.”
2013 CSGA Junior Team – Player Biographies
Patrick Albanesi, 17, Avon, Hartford Golf Club – One of only two junior golfers (along with teammate Jacob Henny) to qualify for the 2013 CSGA State Amateur…first alternate in 2013 USGA Junior Amateur qualifier…10th in the 2013 Challenge Cup Computer Merchant Cup…won the 2012 Golfweek New England Junior…semi-finalist in the 2012 CSGA Junior Amateur…5th in the 2012 AJGA Killington Junior…8th in the 2012 IJGT Hank Haney Junior.
Brian Carlson, 17, Madison, Clinton Country Club – Tied 6th in the 2013 New England Amateur…reached the Round of 16 in the 2013 USGA Junior Amateur…won the 2013 Challenge Cup Computer Merchant Cup…tied 3rd in the 2013 Challenge Cup World Series of Junior Golf…runner-up (to teammate Evan Grenus) in the 2013 Stan Trojanowski Northern Junior…runner-up (to teammate Connor O’Brien) in the 2013 AJGA Killington Junior…4th in the AJGA Coca-Cola Junior at Sugarloaf…14th in the 2013 AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions…won the individual title at the 2012 New England Junior Championship…won the 2012 AJGA Killington Junior by 11 shots with rounds of 68-69-68 205.
Nathaniel Dong, 15, Glastonbury, Tallwood Country Club – Semi-finalist in the 2013 CSGA Junior Amateur…runner-up in the 2013 Cas Coscina Memorial Junior…tied 4th in the 2013 CSGA Junior Amateur stroke play qualifier…tied 8th in the AJGA Coca-Cola Junior at Sugarloaf…11th in the 2013 Challenge Cup Spinal Technology Junior…tied 11th in the 14-15 age division of the 2013 Challenge Cup World Series of Junior Golf…tied 12th in the 2013 Challenge Cup Long Island Junior…won the 2012 Don Miklus Memorial Junior.
Evan Grenus, 16, Glastonbury, TPC River Highlands – Won the 2013 Stan Trojanowski Northern Junior (in a playoff with teammate Brian Carlson)…won the 2013 Challenge Cup Tournament Players Championship…won the 2013 CIAC Division I Championship…runner-up in the 2013 CSGA Junior Amateur …medalist in the 2013 CSGA Junior Amateur stroke play qualifier…tied 2nd in the 2013 FCWT at Red Tail…tied 3rd in the 2013 Cas Coscina Memorial Junior…tied 7th in the 2013 Challenge Cup Computer Merchant Cup…10th in the AJGA Coca-Cola Junior at Sugarloaf…10th in the AJGA Coca-Cola Junior at Sugarloaf…6th in the 2012 New England Junior.
Jacob Henny, 17, Norwalk, Oak Hills Park Golf Course – Won the 2013 Metropolitan Golf Association Public Links Championship…won the CT PGA Section Championship (in a playoff with teammate John VanderLaan)…qualified for USGA Junior Amateur…semi-finalist in the MGA Junior Amateur…7th in the 2013 Stan Trojanowski Northern Junior…one of only two junior golfers (along with teammate Patrick Albanesi) to qualify for 2013 CSGA State Amateur…runner-up in the 2012 Don Miklus Memorial Junior.
Connor O’Brien, 16, Norwalk, Oak Hills Park Golf Course – Won the 2013 CSGA Junior Amateur…won the 2013 AJGA Killington Junior…tied 2nd in the 2013 Don Miklus Memorial Junior…3rd at the 2013 MET PGA Future Series Bethpage Red…tied 4th at the 2013 Metropolitan Golf Association Carter Cup…8th in the 2013 Stan Trojanowski Northern Junior…tied 8th in the 14-15 age division of the 2013 Challenge Cup World Series of Junior Golf.
John VanDerLaan, 17, Southbury, Heritage Village Country Club – Finished tied 14th and 2nd low amateur in the 2013 CSGA State Open Championship after shooting 66 in the final round…semi-finalist in the 2013 CSGA Junior Amateur…4th in the 2013 AJGA Junior at Penn State…tied 6th in the 2013 Challenge Cup World Series of Junior Golf…tied 7th in the 2013 Challenge Cup Computer Merchant Cup…tied 13th in the 2013 AJGA Tedesco…won the 2012 CSGA Junior Amateur.
