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ESF Golf Team Marks Tournament with Two Medals
The ESF golf team played in its third tournament of the season, the Onondaga Community College Fall Invitational, at The Links at Sunset Ridge Sept. 26. The Mighty Oaks placed second out of three teams, with ESF golfers winning both low score medals in the tournament.
The Mighty Oaks were just three strokes short of beating Onondaga Community College. The golfers faced difficult greens throughout the course.
"The greens are incredibly challenging," said Coach Jon Turbeville. "For us, that meant there were some holes that really got some of our players."
The tournament included men's and women's events, allowing ESF's lone woman golfer, sophomore Colleen Groneman, to compete. Groneman's strong play resulted in a tally of 93, qualifying her as the low score medalist of the day.
Junior Matt Dennis was awarded the low score medal for men, finishing with a 76. Dennis' round was highlighted by the eagles he scored on two par fives.
Because several upperclassmen were unable to compete in the event, two freshmen were able to play. The two newcomers, Dominick Ferrante and Stephen Johansson, tied for the second lowest score with 85 strokes.
With Onondaga and Mohawk Valley Community College as competitors, the tournament proved to be a unique event for the ESF team, which had never played in a tournament in which all the other teams came from community colleges. The Mighty Oaks didn't know what to expect from their competitors, especially considering the diversity of community college student populations.
"It's not necessarily young people as students," Turbeville said. "(Onondaga) had at least one player who was older and at one time played professionally."
The Mighty Oaks will compete in their last match of the season, the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association Men's National Championship, at the Pennsylvania State University Blue Course Oct. 10-12.
In preparation for the championship, the Mighty Oaks will practice at Timber Banks in Baldwinsville. Turbeville said the team will focus on preparing for the length of the Blue Course, which measures more than 7,200 yards compared to the 6,700-yard courses where the team usually plays.