CACC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP READY FOR A MOVE TO THE FALL AS 2017-18 SEASON GETTING SET TO START
New Haven, Conn. (8/30/17) The 2017-18 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) golf season is about to get underway and will feature several exciting tournaments that the league's nine teams will be competing in during the campaign. However, the biggest change for the sport in conference this season is the switching of the CACC Championship from the spring to the fall season. The 2017-18 CACC Golf Championship will be conducted from Oct. 1-2 at Back Creek Golf Club in Middletown, Del. (hosted by Wilmington University).
New Haven, Conn. (8/30/17) The 2017-18 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) golf season is about to get underway and will feature several exciting tournaments that the league's nine teams will be competing in during the campaign. However, the biggest change for the sport in conference this season is the switching of the CACC Championship from the spring to the fall season. The 2017-18 CACC Golf Championship will be conducted from Oct. 1-2 at Back Creek Golf Club in Middletown, Del. (hosted by Wilmington University).
The 2017-18 season officially gets underway on Friday, as Jefferson plays host to a tri-match at the ACE Club in Lafayette Hill, Pa., as the Rams will take on CACC foes Concordia College and University of the Sciences. The six remaining schools that compete in the sport in the CACC will tee off their new campaigns later on in early September.
CHESTNUT HILL COLLEGE
Sophomores, Shawn Mayer and Taylor Mezzatesta will help interim head coach Mike Paukovits usher in a new generation of Chestnut Hill College golf as the Griffins welcome four freshmen to the fold for the 2017-2018 campaign. Mayer finished his freshman season with a 83.8 stroke average and enjoyed his best performance at Ursinus College's Revolutionary Collegiate Classic, where he helped the Griffins to a second straight tournament crown (1st of 8, 309-306, 615, +39) with his two-day score of 164 (81-83, +20, 21st). Mezzatesta tied for six (77-77, 154, +10) overall at the same Revolutionary Collegiate Classic; one of his two top-10 finishes.
CONCORDIA COLLEGE
The Clippers will return a deep team this season, highlighted by returning seniors Mark Kilpatrick coming off an All-CACC season and Mos Bangpetch, who is a two-time All-CACC recipient and an All-CACC tournament team member last season. Head Coach Nicholas Osso brought in three recruits hoping to have an early impact including a player from Canada ranked fourth on the GAO; a player ranked in the top 10 in the Golf Federation of Colombia; and a player from Connecticut, winner of his high school championship in the Naugatuck Valley League.
DOMINICAN COLLEGE
Dominican enters the 2017-18 campaign on the heels of a fantastic finish to last season, including winning the 2017 Atlantic/East NCAA Division II Super Regional Tournament (first NCAA super regional championship in school history), a second-place finish at 2017 CACC Championships and finishing 19th at NCAA Championship. The team will feature a roster of 10 players, including all five that competed at the 2017 NCAA Division II National Championship. Among the returnees is junior Leonard Lee (All-CACC, CACC All-Tournament, Ping East All-Region Team), who had eight top-five finishes this season. Other notable returnees include junior Hunter Wescott, junior Daniel Parker, sophomore Carlos Armas Stenner and sophomore Jayce Robinson.
FELICIAN UNIVERSITY
Felician returns four athletes from a season ago, including All-CACC Tournament performer Jake Storako. The Golden Falcons finished fifth in the conference championship, marking their second-consecutive top-five finish in the event, as they captured second-place honors in 2016. As a true freshman in 2016-17, Storako set the school single-season record for scoring average at 77.16. Chris Bekefi and Andrew Capone look for memorable senior campaigns, and much-improved junior Justin Keiser is also back.
GOLDEY-BEACOM COLLEGE
Andre Primeau, who enters the season fourth in school history with 95 birdies, had a strong junior season in which he broke 80 on 11 occasions. He closed 17th at the CACC Championship and his 37 birdies last season were the third most in a single season in team annals. Shea Murphy made an immediate impact in his freshman campaign, breaking 80 six times. He ended 12th at the Charger Challenge last fall and was tied for 25th at Le Moyne last spring.
JEFFERSON RAMS
Seven Rams return to the Jefferson men's golf team and one incoming freshman joins including Jordan Donmoyer. Four seniors graduated following the 2016-17 season, but Nicholas Nguyen -- the top Rams' golfer last season in terms of scoring average -- returns for his senior campaign. He played in all 12 matches last season and finished second on the team at the 2017 CACC Championship.
POST UNIVERSITY
The Eagles will feature an experienced roster in 2017-18, as Post features four seniors and five juniors. The list of seniors includes Carlos Fernandez-Herzog, John Gibbons, Kyle Hughes and Brendan McCormack. Hughes, along with Mathieu Sicard and Michael Erickson, tied for 19th at the CACC Championship last spring by carding two-round totals of 158 (+16).
UNIVERSITY OF THE SCIENCES
A pair of freshmen join the fold this season, but the Devils will be looking to guidance and steady play from junior Austin Staiano. He is one of three returnees, which also includes Mitchel Storb and Andy Ring.
WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY
The Wildcats return two golfers that competed in the CACC Championship last spring, and gets senior Joey Russo back from injury. WilmU returns six student-athletes from last year's roster, including two All-CACC performers in Zac Moore and Russo. Reigning CACC Coach of the Year Harry Jennings has continued his international search of players, bringing in two more overseas players (Spain and Dominican Republic). The Wildcats are seeking their eighth-consecutive CACC Championship this fall.