Kensington, Connecticut (June 9, 2025) – On a damp and dreary first day of stroke play qualifying at the 123rd Connecticut Amateur presented by Middlesex Health, Jackson Roman and Connor Goode jumped out to the early lead.
Playing in the same group, Jackson and Goode both fired 6-under 65s and they will lead three-time champion Rick Dowling (Golf Performance Center) by one heading into the final round of stroke play qualifying.
Roman, playing on his home course one day after falling in the Maryland Amateur final, was even-par through six holes before catching fire beginning with a birdie on the par-5 seventh hole. His birdie on No. 7 began a run of four straight birdies that moved the Loyola University Maryland standout to 4-under.
After pars on Nos. 11 and 12, Roman converted two more birdies on the 13th and 14th holes. An impressive two-putt from 30 feet on the long and challenging par-3 15th kept Roman’s momentum going.
“Especially after birdieing Nos. 13 and 14, I wanted to keep the momentum going on No. 15,” Jackson Roman said. “Making par was definitely a big moment in the round, especially because then I was able to keep the momentum going on 16 with a birdie.”
The birdie on the par-4 16th was the final birdie of an impressive eight birdie, two bogey round.
“Shuttle Meadow is like my second home,” Roman said. “I love everything here. I love the course, the people, all the members. I just love playing golf here, so to be able to play in a tournament, especially the Connecticut Amateur, is awesome.”
Joining Roman at the top of the leaderboard is Connor Goode (Glastonbury Hills CC). The UConn standout jump-started his round with the first of his eight birdies against just two bogeys on the par-4 second.
Once in the red, Goode never looked back. The UConn rising senior moved to 2-under with a birdie on the par-5 fourth. A bogey did follow on No. 4, but Goode rebounded quickly with birdies on Nos. 6 and 8 to turn in 3-under 34.
On the back nine, Goode continued to step on the accelerator, converting four additional birdies while dropping just one shot. His birdie on the par-4 17th was the result of an approach shot stuffed to six feet.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better start,” said Connor Goode. “If you told me that’s what I shot this morning, I would have taken it and not even played. Tomorrow, I am going to keep pushing and try to give myself a good seed heading into match play.”
Rounding out the top five are Dowling (-5) in second place, followed by Vanderbilt’s Ben Loomis (CC of New Canaan) in third place at 4-under, while UConn’s Bradley Sawka (Ellington Ridge CC), Ashton Lewis (H. Smith Richardson), and Luke Kowalchik (Race Brook CC) are tied for fifth at 3-under.
On Tuesday, the field will be cut to 32 players, with match play set to begin on Wednesday. Beginning with the Round of 32 in the morning, play will continue with Round of 16 action on Wednesday afternoon. The quarterfinals will be contested on Thursday morning, with the semifinals to follow in the afternoon. Everything will set the stage for the 36-hole final on Friday.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Amateur presented by Middlesex Health is one of 20 championships conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association. The CSGA 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.
