11 teams ready to battle for NAC Men’s Golf Championship
WATERVILLE, Maine – A record field of 11 teams will converge on the Waterville Country Club in Waterville, Maine, this weekend to challenge for the 2022 North Atlantic Conference Men’s Golf Championship.
Play opens on Saturday, Oct. 8, and concludes on Sunday, Oct. 9, in the 36-hole championship. Competition starts at 9:30 a.m. each day, with the final pairings scheduled to tee off at 12:03 p.m.
Husson University will be in pursuit of its 14th conference championship since the NAC held its first men’s golf championship in 2006-07. SUNY Delhi won two of the last three NAC championships, held in Fall 2019 and Spring 2021, however Husson captured the Fall 2021 championship, played on SUNY Delhi’s home course, and are the defending champions coming into this weekend’s conference tournament.
Two newcomers will join the field as Cazenovia College and SUNY Poly both make their inaugural appearances in the NAC Men’s Golf Championship.
Husson led the 11-team field in pre-championship voting among the conference’s head coaches. The Eagles garnered 94 points in the voting, including five first-place votes. SUNY Delhi was second in the poll with 85 points including one first-place vote, while Thomas College was third with 71 points and two first-place votes.
The complete poll results and capsule previews for the North Atlantic Conference’s 11 teams are below:
1. Husson University – 94 pts. (5 first-place votes)
Head Coach: Mike Dugas
The Eagles return all five golfers from their 2021 NAC championship squad, including co-medalists Max Woodman and Will Kavanaugh… Husson’s Fall season was highlighted by a win at the Thomas College Invitational and a second-place finish at the UMF Invitational, both held at the Waterville Country Club… Jack King finished tied for sixth with a 215 (-1) at the Transylvania Invitational, held at the University Club of Kentucky – home course of the University of Kentucky… King was tied for first at the UMF Invitational with a 75… Woodman and King finished 1-2 at the Thomas Invite with scores of 71 and 73 respectively.
2. SUNY Delhi – 85 pts. (1 first-place vote)
Head Coach: Dave Arehart
SUNY Delhi returns three golfers who played for the Broncos at the 2021 NAC Championship, led by individual runner-up Tom Christoffersen… SUNY Delhi won its home tournament with a 312, with four individuals finishing among the top five… the Broncos’ “A” squad took third-place at the Elmira Invitational, firing a 329 (+41)… Christoffersen has been SUNY Delhi’s top finisher in three of the Broncos’ five tournaments this fall.
3. Thomas College – 71 pts. (2 first-place votes)
Head Coach: Marc Gosselin
Four Terrier golfers who competed in the 2021 NAC tourney returned to the roster in 2022… Thomas won the UMF Invitational held at Waterville Country Club, and took second-place honors a the Thomas College Invite and the St. Joseph’s College of Maine John Queenan Memorial Tournament.
4. SUNY Canton – 65 pts.
Head Coach: Mark Bickelhaupt
The Roos return three players who competed in the 2021 NAC championship, headlined by captain Adam Szlamczynski (9th, 155, +13) and Jake Hess (T-10th, 158, +16)… this fall, Szlamczynski tied for first at the SUNY Poly Invite and led the Roos to a first-place finish (320)… SUNY Canton’s Fall 2022 season was also highlighted by a win at the Elmira College Fall Invitational, where the Roos shot 325 to edge out Oswego State (328) and 10 other teams for the title… Szlamczynski finished third at the SUNY Canton Invitational with a 76 (+4).
5. Northern Vermont-Johnson – 61 pts.
Head Coach: Bill Boldwin
NVU-Johnson had a strong showing during its Fall 2022 slate of tournaments, including a first-place finish at the SUNY Cobleskill Fall Invitational…. First year Adiance Cheromiah was the top finisher in his opening collegiate tournament at Stowe Country Club… the Badgers return two golfers from their 2021 NAC Tournament five, including Joey Giroux who was 15th overall.
6. UMaine-Farmington – 47 pts.
Head Coach: Bob Timmins
Four UMaine-Farmington golfers from the 2021 NAC tourney are back for the Maroon and White in this year’s conference tournament, led by Neil LaRochelle III who finished tied for third… LaRochelle placed second, one stroke behind the medalist, at the UMaine-Farmington Invitational, and claimed medalist honors at the Southern Maine Community College Invitational.
7. Maine Maritime – 42 pts.
Head Coach: Noah Tapley
Four members of Maine Maritime’s starting five at the 2021 NAC tourney are back for the Mariners in 2022… the group is led by Will Ducey, who was 13th overall with a 164… MMA finished third (356) out of six teams at its own tournament, held at the Augusta Country Club, with Ducey placing tied for third (81, +11) on the individual leaderboard.
8. Cazenovia College – 41 pts. (1 first-place vote)
Head Coach: Casey Murphy
Cazenovia makes its first appearance in the NAC Championship in 2022… Head Coach Casey Murphy: “As a new program we are growing and learning as the season goes on. We have a young group but look forward to competing in the NAC Championship.”
9. SUNY Cobleskill – 38 pts.
Head Coach: Megan Bowman
The Fighting Tigers have three golfers back in the lineup from its 2021 NAC Tournament team, led by Brock Richetts (T-24th)… First-year team member Joshua House won the 2022 Sage College Gator Fall Invitational with a score of two-over-par 74… House also tied for fourth place at the SUNY Cobleskill Fall Invitational with a score of seven-over-par 77.
10. SUNY Poly – 27 pts.
Head Coach: Brian Noggle
SUNY Poly makes its first appearance in the NAC Championship in 2022… this year marks SUNY Poly’s first season of golf since 2011-12… Isaac Falk took third place with a 78 (+7) at the SUNY Delhi Invitational, turning in the best individual finish this season for the Wildcats.
11. UMaine-Presque Isle – 23 pts.
Head Coach: Gavin Kane
Four Owl golfers who took part in the 2021 NAC tourney are back in the lineup this season, led by Matt Randall (T-33rd)… Randall fired a season-best round of 84 on his home course at Presque Isle in the Owls Invitational… Payton Jones carded an 86 at the Thomas College Invite, his low-round of the 2022 season… Timothy Burns and newcomer Branden Oliver have also been consistent scorers for the Owls this season.