WINTHROP, Mass. – Albertus Magnus will host the eight Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's golf teams in the two-day, 36-hole Championship at New Haven Country Club in Hamden, Conn. on Monday and Tuesday Oct. 9 and 10. The winner of the event will earn the league's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship in the spring. Tee off on Monday is set for 11:30 a.m.
Albertus Magnus was chosen as the favorite in this year's poll, which was voted on by the league's eight head coaches last week.
The Falcons, which finished second at last year's championship, received 62 points and six first place votes. Norwich and New England College tied for second in this year's voting with 48 points apiece. The Cadets also received one of the remaining first place votes. Meanwhile, the Pilgrims are competing in their first-ever GNAC Championship event after being added to the conference this year. Back-to-back reigning champions, Saint Joseph's (Maine), was selected to finish fourth with 46 points and the final first place vote.
Dean (29 points), Emmanuel (22), Elms (17), and Mitchell (16) rounded out the final four spots in this year's voting.
2023 GNAC Men's Golf Pre-Championship Poll
| 1. | Albertus Magnus | 62 (6 First Place Votes) |
| T-2. | Norwich | 48 (1) |
| T-2. | New England College | 48 |
| 4. | Saint Joseph's (Maine) | 46 (1) |
| 5. | Dean | 29 |
| 6. | Emmanuel | 22 |
| 7. | Elms | 17 |
| 8. | Mitchell | 16 |
Team Previews (In order of poll results)
Albertus Magnus
Albertus Magnus has competed at five events this year, finishing first at all five matches thanks in part to three-time GNAC Golfer of the Week, sophomore Shamar Wilson who has personally finished first at four of the five matches and finished second at the other. Wilson has also posted one even score and one score under par.
Junior Charles Kristofak has also been helpful in the Falcon's success tying Wilson's score at the Albertus Magnus Invitational and being the second-best Falcon golfer at three of the five matches. Sophomores Kyle Sikorski and Sam Witt round out the Falcons' top-four, as Sikorski tied Wilson's score at the Albertus Magnus Invitational.
Norwich
The Norwich Cadets have completed nine matches this season, earning top-prize at three of them. They also have three second place finishes.
Two-time GNAC Rookie of the Week Harrison Giambattista finished out the season with two overall second place finishes as the top scorer for the Cadets. Giambattista scored a 75-73--148 (+8) at the Castleton Invitational and a 78 (+6) at the Keene State Invitational. GNAC Golfer and Rookie of the Week Cooper Bertrand finished as the top scorer for the Cadets four times, one of which tied him for first at the Tony Mariano Invitational with a 71 (E).
Dylan Hartanto also collected two top scoring honors for the Cadets, one at the Lou Jarvis Invitational where the Cadets placed first overall, and one at the Norwich Invitational where they placed second.
New England College
New England College finished in the top-three in all of their traditional matches this season, including victories at the Norwich Invitational and the New England College Invitational.
Junior Timothy Carlson finished as the top scorer for the Pilgrims four times followed by sophomores Graham Hassan and Kaleb O'Connor who have each finished as the top scorer once. Hassan also finished first overall at the New England College Invitational with a 70 (-2), the lone score below par for NEC this season.
Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Saint Joseph's (Maine) competed in nine matches this fall, collecting one first place finish and two second place finishes.
The Monks will once again look to back-to-back GNAC Championship medalist Drew Mathieu, to help carry the team to victory.
This year Mathieu finished first overall at the USM Tri-Match with a 73 (+1) and was also the top scoring Monk at four other matches.
First-year Braden Camire was also the top-scoring Monk at two matches, tying for third and fifth overall respectively. Sophomore Nick DeLeo was also the second top scorer for the Monks twice, putting up an 86 (+16) and a 78 (+9).
Dean
Dean competed at Albertus Magnus and the Rhode Island College Invitationals with scores of 358 (+78) and 335 (+47) to open its season. The Bulldogs finished fourth in their final match at the Westfield State Brett Williamson Invitational with a score of 327 (+43).
Sophomore Matt Brangiforte and senior Gian Abbonizio competed in all three matches. Brangiforte led Dean with a score of 82 (+12) against Albertus Magnus whereas Abbonizio rounded out the third best score for Dean with a 91 (+21).
Sophomore Michael Keefe was the leading golfer the Bulldogs at both the RIC and Westfield State Brett Williamson Invitationals. Keefe placed second overall in the latter and shot a 74 (+3) to lead the Bulldogs.
Emmanuel
Emmanuel has competed in four events this season. The Saints are led by junior Ian Reynolds who finished second at the Saints Invitational with a 78 (+6) and fourth at the Mitchell Invitational with a 75 (+4), both being the leading Saints score.
Senior Connor Maguire has also had a solid season, posting the best score for the Saints at the Tony Mariano Invitational with a 78 (+7), while junior Gianni Ridolfi has consistently been in the Saints top-three.
The Saints have one more tune-up before next week's GNAC Championship at the Mitchell Invitational III on Thursday (Oct. 5).
Elms
The Elms Blazers competed at three events so far.
Senior Liam Fitzgibbons and sophomore Miguel Pearce have sat at the top of the Blazers lineup as their top golfer in all three matches. Fitzgibbons collected the medalist honor at the Albertus Magnus Invitational with a 79 (+9).
Mitchell
Mitchell has completed four matches this season.
Senior Shamus McLean has been the top scorer for the Mariners in all four matches, placing second overall at three of them. Senior Jack Hayes has also been consistent, being Mitchell's second scorer.
Mitchell will complete its pre-championship slate on Thursday as it hosts the Mitchell Invitational III on Thursday.
COURTESY OF GNAC SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE
