Berlin Native Jackson Roman Captures 90th Connecticut Open Golf Title

NORWALK, CT — It would be hard to imagine an amateur golfer, particularly one still in college, experiencing a better 10-day stretch than Jackson Roman of Berlin.

In a U.S. Amateur Championship qualifier on July 22, the rising senior at Loyola University Maryland shot a 5-under-par 65 at Concord Country Club in Massachusetts to forge a three-way tie for medalist honors. That win puts Roman in the field for the 124th national championship for non-professionals, slated for Aug. 12-18 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

From Bob Jones, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus to Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau, some of the greatest players in the game’s history launched their careers with U.S. Amateur victories. Hazeltine has hosted two U.S. Opens, two U.S. Women’s Opens, both the men’s and women’s PGA Championship, a U.S. Senior Open and the 2016 Ryder Cup matches. Notable champions include World Golf Hall of Fame inductees Tony Jacklin, Hollis Stacy, Billy Caspet and Payne Stewart.

Before heading to Minnesota in a quest to add his name to those legendary lists, Roman entered the 90th Connecticut Open, conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association at Shorehaven Golf Club. He hoped to continue his steady progress in the state championship, having tied for 14th last year at his home course, Shuttle Meadow, and tying for 20th at New Haven Country Club in 2022.

After an opening-round 70 Monday, Roman fired a 7-under 64 on Tuesday, leaving him alone in second place at 8-under, two strokes behind Chris Fosdick of Middlefield. The two were paired in the final group of the day Wednesday, along with Anthony Guerrera of Watertown Golf Club, and a drastic change took place just minutes after the threesome teed off.

Fosdick pulled his drive out of bounds on the par-5 opening hole, then missed a 10-foot par putt to wind up with bogey. Meanwhile, Roman knocked his second shot about 15 feet from the pin, and rolled in his eagle putt to turn a two-shot deficit into a one-shot lead.

“I don’t even think it really resonated with me that I had the lead at that point,” Roman said following the round. “I was still a little bit nervous, because I’ve had trouble coming out the gates in final rounds.”

The turn of fortune continued on the par-3 second hole, as a Roman birdie and Fosdick bogey upped the margin to three strokes. Fosdick recovered with three straight birdies, moving back into a share of the lead at 11-under through five holes, then assumed the outright lead when Roman bogeyed No. 10.

On the par-5 12th, Roman hit a wayward tee shot, but managed to reach the green in two with a seemingly-impossible iron shot. His two-putt birdie moved him back into a tie for first, setting up the shot of the week at the par-3 13th.

From 213 yards away, Roman smashed a 6-iron four feet from the cup for an easy birdie. When Fosdick bogeyed the hole, Roman had regained a two-shot advantage and all but secured the title.

He closed with a flourish, making birdie on the par-4 18th to finish 12-under, three shots clear of Fosdick, who was playing his first tournament as a professional. Mike Ballo Jr. of Tamarack Country Club in Greenwich tied for third with Danny Balin of White Plains, N.Y.

Roman became the first amateur to win the event since Jeff Hedden in 2008.

“It means so much to me,” he said. “There are so many good players who have come through Connecticut. I mean, I probably don’t even know half of them. This is such a tough golf course and the field is amazing. I couldn’t be happier right now.”

Complete results may be found here.