Massachusetts Junior Golfers commit to College Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 20, 2020
Editor’s Note: The signing period for fall 2021 enrollees at Division I & II programs began November 11 and lasts until August 1, 2021. This story will be updated as more Massachusetts golfers sign their commitments to college programs.
If there is a student-athlete we did not include, please email Steve Derderian, Mass Golf’s Manager of Communications.
NORTON, Massachusetts – College golf commitments got underway last week with the start of the NCAA Early Signing Period, as high school golfers began signed their National Letters of Intent. Within the first week, at a dozen Mass Golf junior players signed commitments to Division I programs.
Winchester natives Christine Mandile and Trevor Lopez signed with Richmond University and The University of Connecticut, respectively, while Weston’s Jacob Finard and Wellesley’s Conner Willet signed with Georgetown University. Walpole’s Eric Boulger and Newton’s Vikram Konanki will be joining Lopez at UConn.
In addition, Sudbury’s Weston Jones has signed with Rutgers University; Westminster’s Ethan Whitney signed with Temple University; Dudley’s Dan Brooks signed with Siena College; Sturbridge’s Grace Farland signed with The University of Hartford; Sandwich’s Sam Hood signed with Bryant University; Wayland’s Liam Gill signed with Seattle University; Newton’s Madaline Small has signed with Butler University; and Winchester’s Owen Egan and Cohassett’s Ellie DeAndrade signed with Holy Cross.
Sutton’s Jack Moy committed to Division II Assumption College.
ERIC BOULGER – UCONN
Boulger, a senior at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, has been a three-year captain for Xaverian’s golf team, earning multiple All-Scholastic honors and leading the team to an MIAA Division 1 state championship. This year, Boulger fired a 1-over-par 70 at Worcester Country Club to lead the Hawks to the Catholic Conference Shootout title. A member of Walpole Country Club, Boulger also was the Pre-Junior Division winner at the 2018 Mass Junior Amateur Championship, making it to the Round of 16 before falling to Ethan Whitney in a 21-hole match.
DAN BROOKS – SIENA COLLEGE
Brooks, a senior at Shepherd Hill High School in Dudley, won the Massachusetts High School Golf Championship earlier this month. A member at Dudley Hill Golf Club, Brooks won the 2019 New England Jr PGA Championship and the 2018 Gately Cup. Brooks also made it to the Round of 16 during the last two Mass Junior Amateur Championships.
ellie deandrade – HOLY CROSS
DeAndrade has played on the Notre Dame Academy (Hingham) golf team since 7th grade and captained for two years. DeAndrade, a three-time All-Scholastic selection by the Boston Globe & Boston Herald, led NDA to a state championship title in 2018, in addition to several league titles. A member at Boston Golf Club, DeAndrade helped the Boston GC team finish runner-up at the 2019 Dolly Sullivan Best-Ball Tournament. She also played at the 2018 Junior Inter-City Cup.
OWEN EGAN – HOLY CROSS
Egan helped lead Winchester High School to its first-ever MIAA Division 2 state title in 2019, and he capped his high school career in style as his final shot of the season resulted in a hole-in-one on the 123-yard, par-3 ninth hole at Winchester Country Club. This summer, Egan became the youngest winner of the Winchester CC Club Championship. Last season, he was also named to the Boston Globe All-Scholastic Team. He also made it to the quarterfinals of the 2020 Mass Junior Amateur.
GRACE FARLAND – UNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD
Farland, a senior at Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge, only started playing golf at age 14 but was one of the top players on the Tantasqua golf squad. A member at Marlborough Country Club, where her parents are golf professionals, Farland was most improved at the 2019 Mass Girls’ Junior Amateur and placed in the Top 20 individually at the 2019 MIAA Girls State Championship.
JACOB FINARD – GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Finard, a senior captain on the Weston High School golf team, helped lead the squad to the MIAA Division 3 State Championship as the team’s leading scorer. A member of Pine Brook Country Club, he was the US Challenge Cup Spinal Technology Match Play champion and finished third at the AJGA Junior Golf Hub Championship at Chicopee Country Club. Finard was also a 2019 Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic selection.
LIAM GILL – SEATTLE UNIVERSITY
Liam Gill, a senior at Wayland High School, got his start in golf as a caddie at Wayland Country Club before picking up the clubs himself. Gill averaged around 20 points (Stableford) per match in high school and this past summer finished fourth at the AJGA Junior Golf Hub Championship at Chicopee Country Club. He also finished T3 at the Massachusetts High School Golf Championship earlier this month.
SAM HOOD – bryant university
Hood, a senior on the Sandwich High School golf team, finished T3 at the 2020 Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship, where he made an ace on the par-3 9th hole at Gannon Golf Course. Hood, a member of The Ridge Club, has also played in the last three Mass Junior Amateur Championships. In Fall 2020, he was the Cape & Islands League MVP (37.1 scoring average) was the medalist in eight of 10 matches for the Blue Knights (10-0).
WESTON JONES – rutgers university
Jones, one of the state’s top-ranked junior golfers, won an individual and team title with Lincoln-Sudbury High School at the 2019 MIAA Division 1 State Championship. A member at Charter Oak Country Club, Jones made the quarterfinals at the 2020 Mass Amateur. He also made it to match play at the Mass Amateur the year prior. In Fall 2020, Jones was team medalist five times for Lincoln-Sudbury. He lowered his scoring average each season, finishing with a 35.5 this season.
VIKRAM KONANKI – UCONN
Konanki, who is in his final year at Nobles School in Dedham, was an All-ISL (Independent School League) selection during the 2019 season. He finished T5 at this year’s AJGA Junior Golf Hub Championship, firing a 1-under 70 in the final round at Chicopee Country Club. Konanki is a member of Woodland Golf Club and has spent years training at KOHR Academy in Natick.
TREVOR LOPEZ – UConn
Lopez, a senior at Winchester High School, won the individual and team titles at the MIAA Division 2 State Championship. A member of Winchester Country Club, Lopez finished runner-up at the 2019 Mass Junior Amateur Championship. He also played in the Mass Amateur Championship for the past two years.
CHRISTINE MANDILE – university of richmond
Mandile a senior at Winchester High School, helped lead the squad to the 2019 MIAA Division 2 State Championship as the only girl on the team. Mandile, who won the 2020 Winchester Country Club Ladies Club Championship, has been named an All-Scholastic selection by both the Boston Herald and Boston Globe. She also qualified for match play at the 2020 Mass Women’s Amateur Championship.
JACK MOY – assumption college
Jack Moy, a senior at Sutton High School, is a three-time Worcester Telegram All-Star. A member of Pleasant Valley Country Club, Moy finished T3 at the Massachusetts High School Golf Championship earlier this month. He also qualified for the 2020 Mass Amateur Championship.
MADALIN SMALL – BUTLER UNIVERSITY
Small, a senior captain for her Newton South High School golf squad, has been among the top 300 female golfers in the class of 2021. A member of Brookline Golf Club, Small qualified for match play at the 2020 Mass Women’s Amateur. As a freshman, she finished T7 at the MIAA Girls State Championship. She also has strong performances in elite junior events, such as the AJGA Junior Hub Championship.
ETHAN WHITNEY – temple university
Whitney, a senior at St. John’s High School (Shrewsbury), set a school record for low season average as a junior while earning MVP honors at the Catholic Conference Championship, pacing the field with a 69. Whitney, a member of Oak Hill Country Club, advanced to the semifinals of the Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship and the round of 32 at the Massachusetts Amateur Championship. He also won the 2020 Dale Smith Memorial Classic, one of the US Challenge Cup’s top events.
CONNER WILLETT – GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Willett, a senior at Belmont Hill School, became a stalwart junior golfer in his early years. He played in the Drive, Chip & Putt National Championship and was interviewed by Golf Channel after sinking a long putt. A member at Charles River Country Club, Willett also won the 2016 Mass Young Golfers’ Amateur and qualified for the 2017 Mass Amateur at age 14. Willett also qualified for match play at the Mass Junior Am in 2018 (quarterfinals) and 2019 (semifinals).
