Humberto Fabian
Staff Writer
The men’s golf team completed its season in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship tournament hosted by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.
Although the Leopards did not take home the title, as they wrapped up their season in the SCIAC, they placed second overall in the final conference standing.
Senior business administration major Alec Spencer led that Leopards into the game bouncing back from a 4-over 76 in the second round to shoot an even 72 score.
Spencer aimed to score the low medalist honors until the final hole however felt short settling for a fourth place tie earning a total score of 218.
Senior business administration major Austin Matzaganian played his best round of the tournament shooting a 1-over 73 finishing with a total score of 224, tying for 13.
After leading the Leopards with a 1-over 73 in the previous game, Freshman Jason Brown came in with a 2-over 74 in this game finishing with a tie for 16th with a total score of 226.
Although the leopards could not keep the moment going for the second round after the Stags took a four stroke lead with an impressive 291 stroke performance in the SCIAC championship.
The Stags improved by 10 strokes in the final day taking home the crown. Four Claremont-Mudd-Scripps golfers completed the game below par during the final round while juniors Jonathan Shaw and Johnny Brandt finished with a 72 and 75 score.
The Stags finished the conference season with a total of 2063 strokes while the Leos struggled to improve from their second day performance, shooting 295 on the final day and finished the season at 2073.
Seniors Austin Matzaganain and Alec Spencer and junior Aaron DiGiamarino were named to the 2017 First Team All-SCIAC as voted by the conference’s head coaches.
DiGiamarino said he felt the season went well overall despite their downfall in the last game.
“It was a great stepping stone in the right direction for ULV golf,” DiGiamarino said. “We progressed nicely from a very inconsistent team last year to being in competition for a SCIAC championship.”
He hopes the team next year win at least three tournaments and a SCIAC conference championship.
“I really think we have the talent and the drive to do both,” DiGiamarino said. “Personally I would like to be first team All-SCIAC again like I did this year and I would like to potentially contend for a national title.”
Sophomore Conner Davis said his team needs to keep their head up and move on from the losses.
“You always control your own destiny in this game,” Davis said.
Spencer said despite the championship’s outcomes his team made some really great accomplishments.
“We played some good golf and got production throughout our lineup,” Spencer said. “Our biggest highlight of the season was our first round of SCIAC No. 2 and our back to back wins at West Cup.”
Although Spencer will be graduating this year, he said he expects great things from this team for the upcoming year and puts all his trust in coach Eric Riehle.
Humberto Fabian can be reached at humberto.fabian@laverne.edu.
