GOLF TEAM PLACES 7TH AT GNAC CHAMPIONSHIP

SUTTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College Men's Golf Team wrapped up the 2012 season with a 7th place finish in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship.  The two-day tournament was hosted by Anna Maria College and held at Blackstone National Golf Club on Saturday and Sunday.  The Saints combined for a 352 on Saturday and a 350 on Sunday for a two-day total of 702.

The Rhode Island College men's golf team captured the championship with a score of 639 (316, 323; +63).  The Anchormen won the title for the second consecutive season and secured a berth in the 2013 NCAA Div. III Men's Golf Championships, which will be held in May.  RIC held a seven-stroke lead over Southern Maine after the first round and increased their advantage to eight strokes, 647 (323, 324; +71) in the final standings. UMass Dartmouth placed third with a score of 655 (323, 332; +79).

USM senior captain Josh Hogan (Falmouth, Maine) earned the individual medalist honors with a two-day 154 (78-76).  The senior finished 10-over par after two rounds on the par-72, 6655 Blackstone National Course.  Hogan was in sixth place following the opening round of the championship, shooting a 78 (39-39), before firing a tournament low 76 on the second day to secure the win.

RIC freshman Jonathan Cooper (Berkley, MA) placed second among a field of 45 golfers with a two-day score of 156 (77, 79; +12). He was named the 2012 GNAC Rookie of the Year and earned All-GNAC honors. RIC sophomore Ryan Butler (Windham, NH), who was the 2011 GNAC Player and Rookie of the Year, earned All-GNAC honors once again this season by placing third with a score of 158 (76, 82; +14). Senior Kyle Harper (Rehoboth, MA), who came into today's action tied for 13th, finished fifth overall and attained All-GNAC status with a score of 161 (83, 78; +17).

Johnson & Wales University finished fourth in the team standings with a 658 led by junior Sam Parella's  (Douglas, Mass.) 159 (77-83) fourth place finish while Suffolk University was just one stroke behind in fifth with a 659.

Saint Joseph's College (ME) placed sixth in the event with a 680, while Emmanuel carded a 702 for seventh. Rounding out the teams that placed was Worcester State University with a 725 while Anna Maria was unable to submit a final score after only three competitors finished their day-one rounds.

The Saints were led by freshman Matteo Pocobene (Melden, Mass.), who carded an 84 on the opening day and a 86 on Sunday for a two-day total of 170.  Sophomore Brett Burman (Bridgewater, Conn.) finished second for Emmanuel with a 173 (89, 84).  Classmate Michael Burgess (Milton, Mass.) was Emmanuel's third scorer with a 178 (90, 88) and junior Ben Taylor (Newbury, Mass.) rounded out the scoring for the Saints with a 184 (92, 92).