The St. Thomas Aquinas men's golf team started their 2009-2010 season at the St. John's University "McLaughlin" held at Bethpage's Red Course. Among the field were some top Division I programs including Coastal Carolina, UNC Wilmington, Boston College, Villanova, Princeton, Harvard and St. John's University. Freshman Nick Delango led STAC in shooting a team low 218 (75-72-71) good for 38th place.
On day one, the Spartans played 36 holes in 20mph winds and firm course conditions. Leading the charge during the opening round were junior Chris Fitzpatrick and senior Sean Campbell who posted scores of 71 and 73 respectively. Delango started his collegiate career with a solid round of 75 and junior Rob Rivera grinded out a respectable 78 for an overall team score of 297.
With no break, the Spartans continued play for their second round. Battling fatigue, the team struggled to score but managed at team score of 301. Delango was spectacular in his second career round carding a team low 72. Fitzpatrick managed to post another solid round shooting 75 while sophomore John Casey bounced back from a tough first round to shoot 76. Campbell rounded out the team scoring with a 78.
With day two came more wind and rock hard greens, but the Spartans managed to shoot their low round of the tournament posting a team score of 294. Delango once again led the charge posting a stellar round of 71. After a double bogey on his first hole, the rookie showed his determination and played his final 17 holes at 1 under par to shoot a team low 218 (75-72-71) good for 38th place. Fitzpatrick struggled but managed to birdie his final hole to card a 76 for a three day total of 222 (71-75-76) good for 57th place. Campbell battled all day and made a miraculous bogey on his final hole of the day. After an errand tee shot, Campbell faced a long approach shot into the guarded 18th green. He arrived at the green to find his ball completely plugged in the face of the bunker and somehow got it out to secure his bogey. Campbell shot 74 and finished the tournament at 225 (73-78-74) leaving him in 72nd place. Rivera bounced back from a tough second round to card a solid round of 73. Rivera also made double bogey on his first hole, but fought to play 1 over par golf from that point forward. The sophomore finished his weekend at 235 (78-84-73). Casey finished his tournament with a final round 78 for a three day total of 234 (80-76-78).
The Spartans are back in action next week at the University of Indianapolis "National Championship Preview" held at the Sagamore Club in Noblesville, Indiana. The Spartans are one of 30 Division II teams to be invited to the prestigious event where the top Division II teams will be facing off.