GORHAM, ME – Saint Joseph's fell to University of Southern Maine, 322-296, in a head to head golf matchup at the Gorham Country Club on Friday afternoon. Senior Sean Drake (Lebanon, N.H.), a first-year member of the SJC golf team, paced the Monks with a 78 card and finished sixth overall in what was the 2012 opener for both clubs.
For the Monks, Kevin Richardson (Coventry, Conn.) shot a 79, freshman Ryan Berard (Millville, Mass.) posted an 82 card, junior Colin Finn (North Easton, Mass.) added an 83, sophomore David Kapelson (Litchfield, N.H.) recorded a 90 score, and senior Nick Zwald (Campton, N.H.) shot a 97. Berard and Kapelson made their NCAA debut in a losing effort.
Drake's 78 card is the lowest score by an SJC golfer making their collegiate debut since John Whiteman shot a 75 in his first NCAA tournament, which was the UNE Invitational on September 5th, 2006.
For USM, junior Aidan Boyce (South Portland, Maine) highlighted an impressive season-opening performance by the Huskies, earning individual medalist honors after shooting an even-par 71 on the day. With all six USM golfers shooting below 80 on the day, the Huskies scored their lowest round in school history. Boyce was two-over par (35) with a 37 on his opening nine holes, but roared back to finish two-under (36) with a 34 on the back nine.
Junior Caleb Jones (Edgecomb, Maine/Wiscasset) finished with a 73 (38-35), followed by senior captain Josh Hogan (Falmouth, Maine) with a 74 (37-37). Junior A.J. Simokaitis (Falmouth, Maine) turned in a 75 (39-36), while senior Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine) had an impressive collegiate golf debut with a 76 (37-39) to round out the Huskies' scoring. The Huskies' sixth-golfer junior Aaron Bailey (York, Maine) carded a 79 to finish seventh overall.
Southern Maine and Saint Joseph's will both compete at the Bowdoin College Invitational next weekend at the Brunswick Golf Club in Brunswick, Maine. First swing will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, followed by a 9:30 a.m. tee time on Sunday.
THANKS IN PART TO USM SPORTS INFORMATION
COMPLETE RESULTS:
| SOUTHERN MAINE | TEAM | FR 9 | BA 9 | TOT | NAME | TEAM | FR 9 | BA 9 | TOT | |
| Josh Hogan | USM | 37 | 37 | 74 | Aiden Boyce | USM | 37 | 34 | 71 | |
| Aaron Bailey | USM | 39 | 40 | 79 | Caleb Jones | USM | 38 | 35 | 73 | |
| A.J. Simokaitis | USM | 39 | 36 | 75 | Josh Hogan | USM | 37 | 37 | 74 | |
| Aidan Boyce | USM | 37 | 34 | 71 | AJ Simolkaitis | USM | 39 | 36 | 75 | |
| Sean Bergeron | USM | 37 | 39 | 76 | Sean Bergeron | USM | 37 | 39 | 76 | |
| Caleb Jones | USM | 38 | 35 | 73 | Sean Drake | SJC | 39 | 39 | 78 | |
| 296 | Aaron Bailey | USM | 39 | 40 | 79 | |||||
| Kevin Richardson | SJC | 40 | 39 | 79 | ||||||
| SAINT JOSEPH'S | TEAM | FR 9 | BA 9 | TOT | Joe Violette | USM B | 39 | 42 | 81 | |
| Kevin Richardson | SJC | 40 | 39 | 79 | Ryan Berard | SJC | 43 | 39 | 82 | |
| Sean Drake | SJC | 39 | 39 | 78 | Colin Finn | SJC | 42 | 41 | 83 | |
| Ryan Berard | SJC | 43 | 39 | 82 | Austin Brown | USM B | 39 | 47 | 86 | |
| Colin Finn | SJC | 42 | 41 | 83 | David Kapelson | SJC | 45 | 45 | 90 | |
| Dave Kapelson | SJC | 45 | 45 | 90 | Rich Tompkins | USM B | 44 | 48 | 92 | |
| Nick Zwald | SJC | 48 | 49 | 97 | Nick Zwald | SJC | 48 | 49 | 97 | |
| 322 | Justin Valacci | USM B | 55 | 45 | 100 | |||||
| SOUTHERN MAINE B | TEAM | FR 9 | BA 9 | TOT | ||||||
| Joe Violette | USM B | 39 | 42 | 81 | ||||||
| Justin Villacci | USM B | 55 | 45 | 100 | ||||||
| Rich Tompkins | USM B | 44 | 48 | 92 | ||||||
| Austin Brown | USM B | 39 | 47 | 86 |
