SPRINGFIELD, Mass.- The Endicott men's golf team showed that they are posed and ready for a playoff run as they took home first place at the Western New England Invitational by beating the hosts by one stroke. The one day event was held at the Veterans Memorial course in Springfield, Massachusetts. It is the first victory of the 2012-13 season for the Gulls and provides a great deal of confidence and momentum before heading into the final two tournaments of the year before playing host to the CCC Championships.
Freshman Austin Teal (Loudonville, N.Y.), who has proven to be one of the team's most consitent golfers, took home his first individual title of his young career as he shot the lowest round total by three shots and defeated 44 other golfers. His 2-under 70 was comprised of three birdies and just one bogey and led the Gulls to a first place finish out of 11 entrants. Teal was able to birdie the third and 12th before dropping a stroke on the 16th with his lone bogey. Austin was able to show great resolve as he rebounded perfectly and notched his third bogey of the day on the 17th to secure his first round total of 70 and lock up his victory. Nick Smith (Enfield, Conn.) finished second with a 1-over round of 73.
Following the younger Teal was Jackson Wyman (South Freeport, Maine) as the senior finished in a tie for eighth by shooting a round of 78. Wyman, a senior, notched his team-leading fifth top-ten finish of the season. Juniors Dan Sullivan (South Hadley, Mass.) and Zach Golojuch (Saco, Maine) shot rounds of 80 and 81 respectively which helped them finish in ties for 18th and 23rd. Fellow junior Ian Teal (Loudonville, N.Y.) was close on their heels as he was able to cap the Endicott scoring with an 86 overall.
The Gulls will look to carry the momentum of the win into the weekend as they travel to Cranston, R.I. on Saturday to take part in the Johnson & Wales Invitational. The two day event will be hosted by the Cranston Country Club. Following the JWU Invitational, Endicott will head to the Worcester State Invitational on Tuesday before returning home to host the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championships on the 27th and 28th.
