October 21, 2008
MEN'S GOLF CAPTURES NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE TUESDAY
BREWSTER, MASS. - The Bryant University men's golf team roared back from down 11 strokes after opening round action to win the 72nd annual New England Golf Championship. Alex Daley (Hudson, MA) finished tied for first overall individually and took home second place honors following a playoff. Jason Thresher (West Suffield, CT) came back strong after shooting an opening round 80 Monday to card a 68 during Tuesday's round to finish fifth overall individually with a four-over par 148. Scott Congdon (Foxboro, MA) took eighth with a 150 while Mike Pyne (Foxboro, MA) and Erik Tankanow (Worcester, MA) each came in at 72nd and 80th overall respectively.
Teams from 44 colleges and universities across New England gathered Sunday through Tuesday, for the New England Intercollegiate Golf Championship. The event attracted 215 golfers to The Captains Golf Course and its 36-hole layout on Cape Cod.
The New England Intercollegiate Golf Association (NEIGA) has been in existence since 1934 and includes 46 member colleges and universities in New England and is considered to be the oldest and largest college golf tournament. It is unique in that Divisions I, II and III compete together.
Four individuals tied for the overall lead with a two-day total of 147. A birdie by Sacred Heart
University senior Matt Belizze on the first playoff hole garnered him the medalist title. The others who tied at 147 were Sacred Heart teammate Patrick Fillian who was tied for the lead after Day 1, senior Anthony Gallardo from UMass Lowell and Daley of Bryant University.
Bryant University, under the leadership of Coach Archie Boulet, won the tournament with a two-day score of 604. Sacred Heart University was second with a total of 605 and Nichols College led the Division III teams with a total of 617.
At banquet held on Sunday evening at The Irish Village Restaurant in West Yarmouth, MA, the following awards were presented. The 2007 Guy Tedesco (player) Award went to Harrison Bane of the Middlebury College and The Gordon McCullough (coach) Award was presented to Bruce MacGregor, coach at Husson University for the past 18 years.
Coach Bob Sheldon of Tufts University was presented with a past president's plaque and Joel Shaw of Captains Golf Course and the Brewster Golf Commission was presented a special award for his recruitment of volunteers to assist the NEIGA Championship.
Special events, all sponsored by Cleveland Golf, were held on Monday afternoon at the finish of the first round. Alex Podell of Brandeis University won the long-drive contest with a distance of 363 yards.
Ralph Harary of Brandeis won the putting contest and the bunker contest winner was Mark Mitchell of St. Michael's College.
Bryant Finishers
T2nd - Alex Daley 76-71-147
5th Jason Thresher, 80-68-148
T8th Scott Congdon, 76-74-150
72nd Mike Pyne, 81-80-161
80th Eric Tankanow, 84-78-162
The championship will conclude Tuesday.
