By Brian Jennings
The Central Connecticut State University men’s golf team shot a final-round score of 289 on Sunday to claim the New England Division I Men’s Golf Championships at Newport National Country Club in Middletown, R.I.
The 289 was six strokes better than the second-best round of the tournament, 295 posted by Sacred Heart University on day-one, and tied the second lowest score the Blue Devils shot for a round so far this season.
With three golfers in the top six and four golfers shooting 73 or better on Sunday, it’s no wonder that the Blue Devils are looking forward to the Northeast Conference championships.
The Blue Devils finished in a third place tie after day one, shooting a score of 301, six shots behind the Sacred Heart Pioneers. However, SHU’s efforts of pioneering a win would come up two strokes short, finishing eight shots behind the Blue Devils Sunday.
The Pioneers shot a tournament total of 592 while the Blue Devils shot 590. The Blue Devils shot minus two on the eighteenth hole, while the Pioneers shot even.
After day one, head coach Kevin Giancola told the team to just play golf and that all they can do is take care of their own business.
“One of the things we as a team try to do is keep it in single digits…when you’re in single digits, you have a good chance and that’s the main thing,” said Giancola.
He thought his team had an unbelievable Adams Cup at Newport National Country Club, playing national competition with a third-place finish. Giancola credits Sunday’s win to the team’s ability to play Newport Country Club wise and also play it well, having played the course already in the Adams Cup.
“The course was very challenging, but it suits our games and it suits them, and they like it…kudos to Sacred Heart, they played well enough to win it, but 289 was a great score at a tough golf course, on not an easy day,” said Giancola.
Kevin Josephson led the Blue Devils with a score of 71 Sunday, finishing in a tie for second overall in the tournament. The junior shot a total of 145 (plus one) for the two-day tournament.
However, the senior from Orangeville, Ontario, wasn’t too far behind Josephson. Eric Hawerchuk shot a day-two score of 73, tying for fourth place in the tournament with a total of 147 (plus three).
“I tried to stay positive, consistent and hit solid shots,” said Hawerchuk.
Hawerchuk’s game off the tee clicked for him. Driving the ball in the middle of the fairway was imperative for Hawerchuk, which helped him to stay in contention throughout the tournament.
Hitting in the short grass wasn’t the only thing that brought out the best in Hawerchuk.
“Great course,” said Hawerchuk. “The wind makes it tough out there, but it suits my game…I did good there in the fall and have good memories of it.”
Hawerchuk recorded his top finish of the season at Newport National County Club where he tied for ninth in the Adams Cup back in September.
Senior David Renski’s pair of 71’s for SHU and sophomore Jason Del Rosso’s 74 and 71 for Fordham wasn’t enough to take down CCSU’s starting five on the par 72 course.
Giancola is proud of his team after coming off a 13-of-20 finish at the Villanova Wildcat Invitational earlier this month. He believes that CCSU played to their potential, which is what made it possible to win the New England Championships.
“They’ve been working hard…very hard…their preparation paid off,” said Giancola. “They’ve been knocking on the door all year though really, to be honest with you…they’ve been playing against better competition, better courses…I believe in them [and] they have to believe in themselves.”
Giancola thinks his team is playing solid, even though it took them a while to find their stride in the spring, as opposed to the fall.
“The fall you come off the summer, they had a lot of confidence, a lot more playing golf…most college players tend to play better at that time, especially in New England,” said Giancola. “I amped up the schedule, got us going in March…heck, we played four tournaments by April 10…I just think it’s tough to get acclimated in the spring and find your game and find your feel, after being down so long.”
The next stop for the Blue Devils features the ChampionsGate Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, which will be played from April 29 to May 1. The Blue Devils have been looking forward to the NEC championships all season and will head into the tournament with the same strategy they’ve been following all season.
“Anyone on my team can win it,” said Giancola. “Not too much of golf scores, stay in the present tense, we believe in ourselves…preparation, execution, and confidence…and that’s how you win. Present tense…one day at a time, one hole at a time, one shot at a time…we can only control what’s in front of us.”
As for the NEC championships, Hawerchuk isn’t stressing.
“I feel great,” said Hawerchuk. “I wouldn’t want anyone one else than the guys I play with on my team. I think we’re ready…we just need to play well…we’ll add ‘em up at the end and see who comes out on top.”
The competition is nothing new to Hawerchuk, as he is set to play in his fourth NEC tournament. Hawerchuk led the Blue Devils in the NEC championships his sophomore year, tying for thirty-eight with a total of 229.
“My view point is the golf course,” said Giancola. “We can’t control what other teams do…golf is the kind of game where what your opponent does really doesn’t do too much to you. You gotta’ stick with your game plan and go from there…the golf course is the enemy, not the other team…I think the golf course gives us the most competition, because that’s what we’re really competing with out there.”
