A Legacy Rooted in PGA Jr. League: Team Connecticut

Like many PGA of America Golf Professionals, Team Connecticut Coach Alex Cavaliere, PGA enjoys his time spent guiding PGA Jr. League players of all ages through programming at Lyman Orchards Golf Club in Middlefield. Unlike most, he was a PGA Jr. League player himself not too long ago.

Even more unique to his experience, it was PGA of America Past President and former PGA Jr. League Coach Suzy Whaley, PGA Master Professional, who encouraged him to join the team. When he graduated from Penn State University’s Professional Golf Management Program and began working under Director of Golf John Dipollina, PGA, in 2022, it made sense that he dove right into PGA Jr. League coaching.

In fact, there’s such a crossover that a few of the 7-year-olds he remembers from participating in Whaley’s programming have played on Lyman Orchards’ 17u teams.

“Being younger, I lean on a lot of my own experiences,” Cavaliere said. “Being a participant in PGA Jr. League and other programs has been a big advantage to me and to the kids, as well. A lot of them are looking for guidance in several areas; some want to be PGA Professionals. There’s plenty of life advice and questions to go around.”

Under Dipollina’s leadership, Lyman Orchards grew to the third-largest PGA Jr. League program in the country last year, with over 400 kids participating year-round across multiple seasons. 

Their player demographics run the gamut but are split fairly evenly –– from total beginners to the best junior players in the state. 

“We have every level of player,” said Cavaliere. “I paired on of our best players in the state with a kid who just started and could barely get the ball in the air. It was a great experience for them both. That’s more what our league represents now, too.”

Dipollina recalls watching Cavaliere make the connection between an incoming freshman and senior who both participated in PGA Jr. League and were attending the same school. 

“Alex made sure they were connected and talked to each other,” he said. “Now, they say hi to each other in school. What a thrill for this freshman to know one of the best golfers in the state and be taken under his wing. Alex is making connections with players. You can’t see that on a scoreboard, but it’s so impactful.”

Like Cavaliere, other junior golfers are taking note of the possibilities of careers in golf through their participation in PGA Jr. League and other Lyman Orchards programs.

“It’s been so refreshing to watch our PGA Jr. League students become coaches and employees,” said Dipollina. “We don’t necessarily recruit for jobs, either. They know golf, love PGA Jr. League and ask for a job. That’s such a compliment for me –– they want to know ‘how we make the sausage,’ so to speak, and it all starts at that young level.”

Cavaliere has served as the lead coach for the 17u All-Star team since 2023, in addition to coaching recreational seasons throughout the year. He’s watched his players grow and move on to the next stage of their lives and careers, celebrating wins and working through losses.

“I have so many runner-up plaques at my house,” Caveliere jokes. “The last couple of years have been really special, watching all of the kids that have grown up from 13u, then 17u and starting college. It was an extra special experience after we came in second place at Regionals a few too many times.”

Cavaliere and Dipollina took their All-Star team to the 2025 17u Championship and finished in 8th place. With them to assist last year was fellow coach Chris Fosdick –– another former PGA Jr. League teammate of Cavaliere's who competed with Whaley and Team Connecticut in the 2014 PGA Jr. League Championship. Fosdick is busy with PGA Tour Q-School this go-around, with aspirations to go pro like his Virginia teammate Ben James, who competed with Team Connecticut in the 2016 PGA Jr. League Championship.

Six of eight Team Connecticut members are set to return this year, including 17-year-old Ryan Glen. A freshman at Assumption University in Worcester, Massachusetts, Glen’s passion for his team meant he dove right into NCAA eligibility rules and lobbied his coach to participate in the All-Star Season.

“My coach was very excited for me to have this opportunity,” said Glen, referring to his coach’s support. “It felt awesome to one-up our Regional win last year and do it with some new friends and teammates.”

A member of the Lyman Orchards PGA Jr. League program for six years, Glen recounted his team’s Regional win under rainsoaked conditions at Cranberry Valley Golf Course last month in perfect detail. It all came down to the final hole and a must-make putt from teammate Braydon Hutwagner, 16.

“To make it to the national level is an accomplishment of its own, but to be able to live it again is such a cool thing to say I’ve done,” Glen said. “I can’t wait to live out these next five days and have such a cool experience.”

Team Connecticut’s Joshua Kim, 15, is new to the team –– and to PGA Jr. League. A longtime individual competitor, it was teammate Justin Paek, 15, who encouraged him to give the team format a try.

“It’s my first year ever playing PGA Jr. League, and I’m pretty happy with the results,” said Kim. “I was nervous going into it, because I only had one friend on the team. “I’ve made amazing friends through PGA Jr. League, and I think it’s a special program for juniors like me.”

For Glen and Kim, Cavaliere has been a solid mentor as they move into the next stages of their lives and careers.

“Alex is a great coach,” said Kim. “It feels like I’ve known him for a long time, even though it’s only been a couple of months.”

“Alex has definitely been a mentor to me,” Glen added. “He’s more than just a coach; he’s a reliable friend. He’ll always make time for me, even when I’m away at college. He’s so experienced at a young age and a great person to have in our lives.”

Cavaliere’s mentorship stretches to the youngest of his PGA Jr. League players, too. Someone recently asked a 7-year-old player if he wanted to play on the PGA Tour when he grew up.

“He said, ‘No, I’m going to come work here,’” Cavaliere said.

Lyman Orchards has set a legacy in motion through its PGA Jr. League programming, and it’s clear that Cavaliere, Dipollina and fellow coaches are shepherding the next generation into the game.