2011 SEASON IN REVIEW
October 23, 2011
BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College men's golf team finished its third season of varsity competition in 2011 playing nine rounds at seven matches all over New England including the Great Northeast Athletic Championship tournament at Gorham Country Club in Gorham, Maine.
The Saints returned six players from the 2010 roster including sophomores Jeff Alsip (Quincy, Mass.), Melanie Dead (Pittsfield, Mass.), Michael McGrath (Walpole, Mass.) and Ben Taylor (Newbury, Mass.). Also returning was junior Rob Cavaliere (Stonington, Conn.) and senior Michael DelSignore (Narragansett, R.I.). Cavaliere and McGrath were appointed co-captains by third-year head coach Julio Avila.
The squad welcomed four newcomers to this year's roster including two freshmen in Michael Burgess (Milton, Mass.) and Gregory Zervos (Narragansett, R.I.). Also joining the team for the first time was junior Tim Clark (Chicopee, Mass.) and senior Edouard Maupile (Los Altos Hills, Calif.).
For the second straight season the Saints hosted two matched at their home course, the William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park. On September 20, EC shot a342 to finish second in a tri-match to both Newbury College (336) and Suffolk University (326). Leading the way for the Saints in their home opener was Taylor who fired away an 81 while Burgess was right behind him with an 82.
Over the weekend of September 25-26, Emmanuel made the trip up to South Portland, Maine for the University of Southern Maine Fall Classic. The Saints posted a ninth place finish in the event as Burgess posted the best two-day total among the squad with rounds of 88 and 87 for a 175 score while McGrath carded the team's low round, shooting an 83 on day one of the USM Fall Classic.
DelSignore posted the Saints low round at the Elms College Blazers Invitational on September 28, recording an 88 with a 47 on the front nine before holing out with a 41 on the back.
The Saints played much better on their return trip to Maine for the GNAC Championships, finishing in seventh place with a two-day total of 674, 47 strokes better than their total at the USM Fall Classic played on the same course. Taylor paced the effort with rounds of 78 & 84 for the team-low of 163 while Cavaliere was not far behind with a 168 (84/84). Rounding out the top for in the GNAC tournament were McGrath's 171 (89/82) and Burgess with a 172 (89/83).
In their final home meet of the season, Taylor carded an 86 to help the Saints post a third place finish in a quad meet on October 12 before EC wrapped up the fall with another third place showing at the Rhode Island College Fall Invitational on October 21. Alsip netted the low round on the day, posting a 45 & 46 for a 91 to lead the Saints.
Emmanuel will lose Maupile and DelSignore to graduation but will look to return several key members from the 2011 squad with another year of experience under their belt in 2012.