WARWICK, R.I. – Saint Joseph's College finished in a tie for third with a 621 (316-305) team card in the 2017 GNAC Men's Golf Championship at Valley Country Club in Warwick, R.I. over the weekend. The Monks shaved 11 strokes off their first-day score but it would not be enough to defend the team's 2016 conference crown.
Johnson & Wales University followed up its impressive Saturday Day One showing by shooting a team score of 304 on Sunday to lay claim to the 2017 GNAC Men's Golf Championship. The Wildcats' final total of 601 was 19 strokes ahead of runner-up Rhode Island College (620), which hosted this year's two-day event and had won five of the last six league championships.
For the Monks, senior Brandon Labrecque (Gorham, Maine) turned in a 36-hole career-low 151 (77-74) card and finished in a tie for sixth, junior Cam Letourneau (Hebron, Maine) tied for 11th (155, 78-77), junior Adam Hachey (Winthrop, Maine) cut seven strokes off his opening round and tied for 16th (157, 82-75), sophomore Brendan Donovan (Auburn, Maine) tied for 19th (158, 79-79), and junior Adam Batchelder (Portland, Maine/Cheverus) finished 30th (166, 83-83).
JWU sophomore Christian Maselli led the field with a 143 to earn medalist honors and as a result was named the GNAC Player of the Year. Freshman teammate Ryan Malloy finished 10th overall with a 154, and as the highest first-year finisher, was named the GNAC Rookie of the Year for his performance at Valley.
Joining Maselli on the 2017 All-Conference Team were University of Massachusetts Dartmouth junior Jackson Mitchell (72-76--148), RIC senior Austin Cilley (77-72--149), Worcester State University senior Mike Jezierski (74-76--150) and University of Southern Maine sophomore Tristan Dundas (76-74--150).
Maselli's performance marked the first time a student-athlete had finished under par in GNAC Championship history. The conference record helps JWU earn an automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Tournament next spring. The Wildcats' five-man lineup over the weekend boasted three freshmen and two sophomores. JWU sophomore Alex Parente finished tied for eighth with a 153, while freshmen Claudio Soukamneuth and Adam Ely shot a 156 and 158, respectively.
GNAC golfers will now prepare for next week's NEIGA Championships in Brewster, Mass. on October 22-23.
Medalist/Golfer of the Year – Christian Maselli, Johnson & Wales
Rookie of the Year – Ryan Malloy, Johnson & Wales
GNAC All-Conference Team (lowest five scores)
Christian Maselli, Johnson & Wales
Jackson Mitchell, UMass Dartmouth
Austin Cilley, Rhode Island College
Tristan Dundas, Southern Maine
Mike Jezierski, Worcester State
Final Team Standings
1. Johnson & Wales - RI 297 304 601 +25
2. Rhode Island College 308 312 620 +44
T3. UMass.-Dartmouth 311 310 621 +45
T3. Saint Joseph's - 316 305 621 +45
5. University of Southern Maine 319 307 626 +50
6. Suffolk University 312 328 640 +64
7. Worcester State Univ. 343 319 662 +86
8. Emmanuel College 354 330 684 +108
9. Albertus Magnus College 376 373 749 +173
THANKS IN LARGE PART TO GNAC SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE
#GOMONKS
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
