The St. Thomas Aquinas men’s golf team got the year started off on the right foot with a 3rd place finish at the 2015 Doc Gimmler hosted by St. John’s University. The all Division I event was held on the Red Course at Bethpage State Park with 9 teams playing 54 holes of golf.
In round 1 the Spartans fired a round of 282 (+2) with all 5 golfers playing steady rounds of golf. Leading the team was senior captain Chris Gentle who fired a round of 69 (-1). Newcomer Mike Frizalone played a great round of golf in his first collegiate action and posted an even par round of 70. Junior Brendan Hunter started the year off well with another round of 70, while Mike Miranda and Kevin Gately rounded out the scoring with rounds of 73 respectively. At 282, the Spartans were tied for 6th, but only 10 shots behind tournament leading Yale University.
Round 2 brought with it strong winds and periods of heavy rain, but the team battled to finish with a score of 289. Brendan Hunter led the charge with a stellar score of 71. Chris Gentle managed to fire a round of 72, while Mike Frizalone and Kevin Gately carded rounds of 73. Sophomore Mike Miranda rounded out the scoring with a 76. At 571, the team sat alone in 6th place.
On the final day of play the team came out determined to move ahead of teams above them on the leaderboard. Junior Kevin Gately set the tone early with a birdie, birdie start and then proceeded to birdie holes 5,6,7 and 8 to shoot a sizzling 29 on his front 9. After a bogey on 10, Gately rattled off 8 straight pars to post a brilliant 5 under par 65. Right behind him was Mike Miranda who rebounded after a tough 2nd round. Miranda had a near flawless round was well. Miranda made 4 birdies and just 1 bogey to card his low collegiate round of 67. Junior Brendan Hunter continued his consistent play, fighting back after two early bogeys. Hunter managed to card a 1-under 69 leaving him at Even par for the 54-hole event. Rounding out the scoring was freshman Mike Frizalone who fought all day and managed to post a solid round of 73. Senior Chris Gentle battled back after a difficult front nine and shot 76.
The Spartans team score of 6-under 274 was the low round of the day and catapulted them over 3 teams for a 3rd place finish (282-289-274 - 845)
Brendan Hunter 70-71-69 t9
Kevin Gately 73-73-65 t11
Mike Miranda 73-76-67 t29
Mike Frizalone 70-73-73 t29
Chris Gentle 69-72-76 t32
The team is back in action next weekend at Dowling University's September Shootout.