THOMPSON, Conn. - Trailing by a stroke after day one of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) championship, the Endicott golf team shaved six strokes off its day one score to come from behind and claim a one-stroke victory over Nichols to secure the CCC title. The win is the eighth in program history and the third in the last five years for the Gulls.
After posting a team score of 308 on day one, Endicott trailed Nichols by one stroke, setting the scene for a dramatic close on championship Sunday. The Gulls were able to rise to the occasion, posting a collective round of 302, edging the Bison of Nichols by two strokes on the day, to claim the one-stroke victory.
Brady Burke (Bedford, N.H.) finished the championship at +6, 150 (76-74), to lead the Gulls, while Frank Mahoney (Braintree, Mass.) was just one stroke back at +7, 151 (78-73). The two finished third and fourth individually, while Tyler Baker (Falmouth, Maine) finished tied for seventh overall with a two-day total of 154 (80-74).
Nicholas Grimbilas (Strafford, N.H.) and Kyle Mahoney (Braintree, Mass.) finished 10th and 12th, respectively. Both Grimbilas and Mahoney factored into the Gulls' scoring on Saturday as Grimbilas tied for the team-low total with a 76, while Kyle tied with his brother Frank with his round of 78.
On Sunday, it was Frank who tied for the round-low score of 73, while Burke & Baker tied with rounds of 74, good for third on the day. Both Grimbilas and K. Mahoney posted rounds of 81, clinching the victory for Endicott.
BEYOND THE SCORECARD
- This is the sixth CCC title for the Gulls under head coach Tom Smith, who is in his 11th year at the helm.
- Endicott has now won the title in four of the eight seasons that the CCC has sponsored the championship with a bid to the NCAA DIII Tournament.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott has now punched its ticket to the NCAA DIII Championship to be held the weekend of May 10-13. The tournament will be held at the Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.
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(Photo Credit - Brian Foley)
