SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Day one of the CCC Men's Golf Championship is in the books and Endicott (302) is sitting in third place and seven strokes off the lead behind host Western New England (295) and Nichols (301) after round of mixed weather on the par-71, 6,213-yard Franconia Golf Course.
Gulls senior Zach Golojuch (Saco, Maine) finished tied for second with Golden Bears golfer Eric Hedberg (Guilford, Conn.) as both players turned in a scorecard of 72 (+1), two off day one leader Joe DaSilva (Watertown, Conn.) from Western New England. Hedberg benefited from an eagle two on the par-4, 340-yard 11th hole for the shot of the day.
Day two continues tomorrow at 11:30 am with tournament winner earning the CCC's first-ever automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament. The national tournament will take place next month in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Endicott sophomores Austin Teal (Loudonville, N.Y.) and Alex Viola (Brunswick, Maine) finished tied for eighth place with one other golfer on day one with a 76, junior Jake Rand (Winthrop, Mass.) turned in a 78, and senior Nick Erlichman (Shrewsbury, Mass.) wrapped up the Blue and Green's five-man team with an 82.
Endicott is coming off four top-five finishes this spring including a team win at the Johnson & Wales Invitational just last weekend, but the Gulls will need to make up ground in order to keep their season going.
