Massachusetts Junior Golfers Commit To College Programs
College golf commitments got underway on November 9 with the start of the NCAA Signing Period, as high school golfer signed their National Letter of Intent. Within the first week, several Mass Golf junior players signed commitments to college programs.
The signing period for fall 2022 enrollees at Division I & II programs lasts until August 1, 2023. This story will be updated as more Massachusetts golfers sign their commitments to college programs.
If there is a student-athlete that you do not see listed, please email Steve Derderian, Mass Golf’s Manager of Communications, at sderderian@massgolf.org .
EMMA ABRAMSON – WILLIAMS COLLEGE
Abramson, a senior at Sandwich High School, had a stellar summer that included her first-ever victory in the Mass Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship. She also qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, coming up just shy of making match play. Abramson also finished T2 in the MIAA girls’ golf state championship at Eastward Ho!
VICTORIA WELCH ADAMS – BATES COLLEGE
Adams, a senior at Concord Academy, is a Winchester resident. On the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, Adams won the 2022 Hartford Summer Junior Open. She won the NEPGA Jr. Spring Series at Cape Neddick CC and finished 3rd in the ELITE Tour at Maynard GC & Chelmsford CC.
QUINN AHERN – ROANOKE COLLEGE
Ahern, a Weston native who attends IMG Academy in Florida, has had several victories on the NEPGA circuit, including a two-stroke win in the Elite Tour event at Maynard Golf Course and Chelmsford Country Club. He also won seven NEPGA events in 2021, and competed in this year’s Mass Junior Amateur.
Evan Buddenhagen – kennesaw state university
Buddenhagen, a senior at Pingree School, was the Essex County Player of the Year and a two-time club champion at Essex County Club. Buddenhagen, who qualified for the Mass Junior Amateur last year, previously attended IMG Academy in Florida, the largest and most advanced multi-sport training and educational institution, founded in 1987. On the Junior Hurricane Tour, Buddenhagen won the Disney Junior Open, the Massachusetts Summer Junior Open at Green Hill, and tied for first at the Hartford Summer Junior Open.
Nora Charnley – BRYANT UNIVERSITY
Charnley, a senior captain at Bishop Feehan High School, is leading the school’s girls golf team in its inaugural season. She was also in the lineup in the fall for the boys golf team. Charnley qualified for the 2022 MIAA Girls High School State Championship, placing T35 in the competition.
KATIE CULLEN – ST ANSELM COLLEGE
Cullen, a senior captain for the Uxbridge High School golf team, has played on the high school squad since 7th grade, earning multiple all-star nods during that span. Last year, Cullen won the NEGPA Elite Tour event at Four Oaks CC, besting the field by 10 strokes over two days of competition.
PIPER JORDAN – MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE
Jordan, a senior at Hingham High School, is captain of the girls golf team and finished 8th overall in the MIAA Girls Golf state championship in 2022. Jordan made the quarterfinals of the 2022 Mass Women’s Amateur Championship. In 2020, Jordan won the girls’ division of the Golfweek New England Junior Open.
KEIRA JOSHI – HAMILTON COLLEGE
Joshi, a senior at Ashland High School, was co-captain of the boys golf team and helped the squad qualify for the state sectional tournament each of the past three years. Joshi earned the Osgood Memorial Trophy with the low net score at the 2021 Mass Women’s Amateur. She also played in the New England Junior Amateur Invitational. Joshi, and her twin brother Kyzar also earned First Tee ACE Level certification, the highest level a participant can reach in the program.
KYZAR JOSHI – HAMILTON COLLEGE
Joshi, a senior at Ashland High School, was co-captain of the boys golf team. In 2022, he finished T9 in the MIAA Division 2 boys state golf championship as an individual. He also finished T9 in the New England PGA Junior Amateur. Joshi, and his twin sister Keira also earned First Tee ACE Level certification, the highest level a participant can reach in the program. He also intended the 2022 First Tee National Leadership Summit in Montana.
AIDAN LEBLANC – INDIANA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Aidan LeBlanc, a senior at Beverly High School, led his team to an unbeaten regular season record and a Northeastern Conference title for the third straight season. After winning medalist in the Division 2 North sectionals, he placed third overall in the Division 2 state championship match, finishing tied for third place overall. In the summer he also qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes (OR).
JP NOONE – tufts university
Noone, a senior at Weston High School, helped his team win the MIAA Division 3 state championship team title this year, shooting a 79 at The Ledges Golf Club. Noone was also a Dual Country League All-Star and All-Scholastic selection.
MATT QUINN – lehigh university
Quinn, a senior captain at St. John’s High School (Shrewsbury), led the Pioneers to a second-place finish at the 2022 MIAA Division 1 state championship. Quinn shot 3-over 75 good enough for T8 overall. Quinn is cousins with Owen Quinn, who also attended Lehigh and whose father Fran played in the U.S. Open this year.
carol pignato – stonehill college
Pignato, a senior captain at Bishop Feehan High School, finished tied for third place in the 2022 New England Interscholastic Golf Championships. She also finished in the top 20 in the 2022 MIAA Girls High School State Championship. This spring, she is competing for the school’s girls golf team in its inaugural season. Pignato was also a Boston Globe Golf All-Scholastics selection for the 2022-23 season.
RYAN SCOLLINS – HOLY CROSS
Scollins, a senior at Xaverian Brothers High School, represented Team Mass Golf at this year’s New England Junior Amateur Championship, leading all Round 1 scorers from Massachusetts with a 1-under 71. At the Computer Merchant Cup, a U.S. Challenge Cup event in Connecticut, Scollins shot a career-best 65 in the second round en route to a third-place finish. He also qualified for match play at the Mass Junior Amateur.
MOLLY SMITH – UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Smith, a senior at Westford Academy, finished second place individually in the 2022 MIAA Division 1 state championship. The 2021 Mass Golf Girls’ Junior Player of the Year also played in the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur and won medalist at the 2022 New England Interscholastic Golf Champion by five shots. She also shot 72 to finish second individually in the MIAA Division 1 state championship.
Morgan smith – georgetown university
Smith, who currently attends Phillips Exeter Academy, had a stellar 2022 season and earned the Mass Golf Girls’ Junior Player of the Year Award. This summer, Smith won both the New England Women’s Amateur (by 12 strokes) and won the Mass Women’s Amateur with a comeback victory in the final match. Smith also qualified for match play in the 2022 U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship.
victoria veator – FLAGLER COLLEGE
Veator, a senior at Ursuline Academy, led her team to the MIAA girls golf state championship at Eastward Ho! this past June. Veator also partnered with Grace Farland to finish 5th in the Mass Women’s Four-Ball Championship for the Townshend Cup. Last year, Veator made a run to the quarterfinals of the Mass Women’s Amateur.
BRADY WARREN – ST. ANSELM COLLEGE
Warren, a senior at Lynn Classical, went undefeated in league play this past fall, including three rounds of under par. The senior co-captain captured his second Greater Boston League Player of the Year award, and led the Rams to the 2022 GBL championship.
BReNDAN ZINCK – merrimack college
Zinck, a senior at Malden Catholic, finished runner-up in this year’s New England Junior PGA Championship, shooting 72-75–147 at Shaker Hills Country Club. He also placed 5th in the Avidia Jr. Cup at the Bay Club at Mattapoisett.
