HENNIKER, N.H. - The New England College men's golf team departs Henniker in the coming days as the Pilgrims attend their second consecutive NCAA Championship after repeating as Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) champions last Fall.
This year, the 'Grims are traveling to the Rochester, New York area, competing at courses in the surrounding towns of Penfield and Victor, a trip that is much closer to home than a year ago when the D-III Championships were held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The team earned six first place finishes during their Fall season capped off by their 26-stroke victory over the rest of the field at the GNAC Championships this past October. Most recently, the team played a pair of tune-up meets this Spring, placing first at both the NEC Spring Invitational and the Keene State Spring Invitational.
The team features two returners from last year's NCAA squad, senior Timothy Carlson (Albany, N.Y.) and junior Graham Hassan (Pinckney, Mich.). Carlson, who was named the NEC Male Athlete of the Year, placed 2nd at the GNAC Championships and a spot on the All-Conference First Team. He was the medalist twice this season and finished in the top 3 five times. Last year at the NCAA's, Carlson shot a 73 on Day 1 and a 77 on Day 2 to lead the team. Hassan medaled once for the 'Grims this year and posted the team's best one-day score with a –2 (70) at the Keene State Invitational in September. Hassan was the team's second lowest scorer a year ago and will look to build on that experience this year.
Three newcomers enter the lineup for NEC this time around, with senior Ryan Waring (Gilmanton, N.H.), freshman Bryce Sturm (Lake in the Hills, Ill.), and freshman Vesse-Wincent Lampen (Espoo, Finland) rounding out the 'Grims fivesome. Waring, in his first season in Henniker, took first place at the GNAC Championships while earning both GNAC Golfer of the Year and Rookie of the Year and a spot atop the GNAC First Team All-Conference. Sturm and Lampen both made it onto the GNAC Second Team All-Conference. All three will be making their NCAA Championships debut.
The team is led by head coach Travis Banga who was named the GNAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season. On returning to the NCAAs, Banga said "we are so excited for the opportunity to go back to the National Championship after getting to experience the tournament last year. It is a huge honor to represent NEC and the GNAC and we are looking to improve on last year's results and compete with the best in the country."
After a pair of practice rounds on Sunday and Monday, NEC officially starts play at noon on Tuesday at Midvale Country Club in Penfield, New York. The 'Grims then have an early 7:45 AM tee time on Wednesday at Cobblestone Creek Country Club in Victor, New York. From there, teams (and some individuals) who make the cut will continue on Thursday and Friday.
After another strong season, the team is not lacking confidence. With NCAA Championships experience and eight first place finishes this season, the Pilgrims are primed to build off their performance from a year ago. Timmy Carlson said that "the New England College golf team is ready to make a name for ourselves and prove we are a force to be reckoned with," and the team will attempt to do exactly that as action kicks off tomorrow.
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