LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – The Monmouth University men's golf team shot 305 for the second-straight round to close out the 2016 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships with 928, Sunday afternoon at Disney's Magnolia Golf Course. Freshmen Noah Firestone (Annvile, PA/Mt. Calvary Christian School) and Drake Ferriter (Ramsey, NJ/Bergen Catholic) both finish in the top-20 to pace the Blue and White.
Firestone recorded the low card for the second-consecutive round for the Hawks, posting an even 72 on Sunday to finish the 54-holes with 228 (81-75-72), good for a piece of 16th overall. Ferriter finished his first MAAC Championships tied for 19th after notching 76 in the final round to end the event one shot behind Firestone. Senior Kyle Deisher (Montgomery, PA/Montgomery Area) finished third for the Blue and White with 232 (78-76-78), nine shots in front of junior Tommy Whelan (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West) who shot 83-79-79 over the three days. Sophomore Kyle Burke (West Sayville, NY/Sayville [Sacred Heart]) closed out the Hawks' card with 243 (86-77-80).
“We had a good season and played well in both the fall and the spring,” commented head coach Dennis Shea. “We are disappointed that the worst tournament we had was the conference championships so it is tough to digest. We will learn from this and be back stronger next season.”
Siena climbed to two spots and defeated Manhattan in a playoff to claim the team title. The Saints and Jaspers both shot 890, 12 strokes ahead of Rider which finished three shots in front of Fairfield and Saint Peter's. Niagara claimed seventh with 910, a stroke ahead of Canisius.
Deisher was the lone Hawk on the MAAC All-Academic Team, released by the league Sunday night.
Monmouth returns eight of nine letter winners to next year's squad.
-@MU_mgolf-
