Setting the Project Owner when initially creating a Project with CSOM

Can someone explain how to set a project owner when when I initially create a project using the CSOM way?

I have tried the code below and it creates the project, but it does not set the project owner that was found via the query below.

When I checked the queue, it says that the project is not checked out as if it is trying to do an update after the fact.

I need the project owner to be set initially so that all tasks under the project template in the EPT get the status manager set as the project owner. If I change it after the fact, the status manager does not change for the tasks. I have to believe that we can set this project owner (and other things like custom fields) upon initial creation.

Please help.

                User owner = null;
                var resourcesQuery = projContext.LoadQuery(projContext.EnterpriseResources.Where(p => p.Name == "Some User"));
                projContext.ExecuteQuery();

                var resources = resourcesQuery.SingleOrDefault();

                if (resources != null && resources.User != null)
                {
                    owner = resources.User;
                }


                ProjectCreationInformation newProj = new ProjectCreationInformation();

                newProj.Id = Guid.NewGuid();
                newProj.Name = ProjName;
                newProj.Description = projectDescription;
                newProj.Start = projectStart.Date;


                PublishedProject newPublishedProj = projContext.Projects.Add(newProj);

                newPublishedProj.Owner = owner; // trying to set owner before "Update" and "ExecuteQuery"
// I have also tried setting newProblishedProj.Draft.Owner with NO success.

                QueueJob qJob = projContext.Projects.Update();
                projContext.ExecuteQuery();