Men’s Golf Claims 2015 Skyline Title

Written by Joshua Soto (SJC-LI Sports Information)

Armonk, NY| Three Golden Eagles earned top five finishes as the St. Joseph's College's (L.I.) men's golf team captured its third Skyline Conference Championship—and first since 2007—at Brynwood Golf and Country Club in Armonk, NY on Monday afternoon. The two-day event was played among torrid weather conditions with mixed precipitation and near-freezing temperatures.

After the first round of competition on Sunday, the Golden Eagles held a four-stroke lead over the defending Skyline champion Farmingdale State. St. Joseph's captured the conference title with a 631 (+71), while the Rams—who had won seven-straight titles and defeated the Golden Eagles last season—finished second with a 637(+77).

The victory gives the Golden Eagles an automatic qualification into the 2016 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship.

"The competition was as close as we anticipated it would be," said head coach George Cangero. "It was an extremley difficult golf course being played in extremely difficult weather conditions."

Leading SJC was Christian Bleck, who shot a 77's on both Sunday and Monday for a combined second-place score of 154 (+14).  Following Bleck was John Melandro who finished in fourth (155, +15),  Zac Campanelli (fifth -  158, +18), and Robert Bray (eighth - 164, +24).

Vinny Garofalo did not compete in the first day of the tournament but shot an 88 in day two substituting for Patrick Standard, who shot a 90 in the first round.

"All of the cliches a coach can use for the courageous display of athleticism on the part of our team are certainly appropriate for their performances.  Things could have slipped away very easily, but our team certainly prepared well and executed under the most tenuous of conditions," Cangero said of his team's performance.

Earning First Team, All-Conference honors was Bleck, Melandro, and Campanelli. Bray garnished Second Team All-Conference honors.

Player of the Year: Scott Sessions, Farmingdale State
Rookie of the Year: Andrew Pohalski, Old Westbury
Coach of the Year: Tom Azzara, Farmingdale State

First Team All-Conference

Scott Sessions, Farmingdale State
Christian Bleck, St. Joseph's-Long Island
Rory Mazur, Purchase
John Melandro, St. Joseph's-Long Island
Zac Campanelli, St. Joseph's-Long Island

Second Team All-Conference

Dillon Flynn, Farmingdale State
Owen Heath, Mount Saint Mary
Robbie Bray, St. Joseph's-Long Island
Matt Burnett, Farmingdale State
Alex Harcher, Mount Saint Mary
Andrew Pohalski, Old Westbury