NEW HAVEN, CT ? The University of Hartford men's golf team moved up from fifth place at the start of the final round of the Yale Men's Spring Open to capture the team championship on Sunday at Yale University Golf Course.
The Hawks shot 297 in the final round to finish at 597 for the tournament. Johnson and Wales (FL) tied for the top spot at 597 but left before the tournament was completed, so a deciding playoff was impossible and Hartford was declared the winner. The Hawks were the only team in the top 10 to shoot a lower team round on Sunday than Saturday.
“I'm real proud of my guys and the effort they gave today,” said head coach Bill Poutre. “While the cold and wind didn't make for ideal playing conditions, we did what we needed to do to get the job done.”
The win gives Hartford a pair of regular season titles for the first time since winning four during the 2000-01 season. The Hawks also took home the team title at the Purple & Red Invitational earlier this year in Layton, UT.
The win took a total team effort as no Hartford individual placed in the top 10. Senior Dustin Wetherup and freshman Nick MacDonald each tied for 11th overall at 150. MacDonald shot 73 in the final round while Wetherup posted a 76.
Freshmen Maki Kobayashi and Zack Ungvarsky also had their rounds counted in the final team score. Kobayashi bounced back from a tough first round to post Hartford's low round of the tournament (71) while Ungvarsky carded a 77. Junior A.J. Oleksak rounded out the scoring with a 159 to tie for 47th overall.
The Hawks also had three individuals participating at the event. Junior David Arnold tied for 11th overall at 150 while freshman Nick Pokora (156, T-33rd) and sophomore Kyle Parsons (164, T-69th) rounded out the scoring.
Hartford will next compete at the New England Division I Championship on April 14-15 at Triggs Memorial Golf Course in Providence, RI.
“Next week's New England Championship is a big tournament for us,” said Poutre. “I hope that we can carry over some of this momentum and really give a good effort in Providence.”
