LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – Monmouth University Men's Golf concluded the 2021 spring campaign with a fifth-place finish at the MAAC Championships in Florida. Erik Stevens (Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon) and Ron Robinson (Hatfield, PA/North Penn) both placed in the top-five, part of a seven-way tie for fifth. The championship was shortened to 45 holes, with the teams playing just nine holes Sunday.
 
MU opened the tournament with a round of 290, and capped the first day in third place overall. MU shot 300 in the second round, and 150 in the abbreviated final round to tie for fifth with Canisius.
 
In the opening round, Stevens fired a one-under par 71 behind a two-under 34 on the front nine. Robinson and Brendan Smith (Sayville, NY/Sayville) were both even par after one round, with Smith posting a one-under 35 on the front while Robinson shot 36 on both nines. Travis Dix (Howell, NJ/Howell) shot an even par front on Friday as well, carding a 75.
 
In Saturday's second round, Stevens and Robinson both posted one-over par 73's. Stevens made par on every hole on the front, while Robinson shot one-under on the front nine. Rob McHugh (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) scored for MU on the day with a 78, while Smith posted 76.
 
In the final nine-hole round Sunday, Smith was even par while Dix, McHugh, and Robinson all posted two-over par 38's. The Hawks played the back nine in the final round. Overall, MU tied for fifth with a score of 740, matching Canisius. The Hawks were a shot clear of Siena, and five shots behind Niagara in fourth.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"Our players persevered all year. No competition in the fall, stayed COVID free all year, and practiced and competed in miserable weather all spring. The MAAC was a great learning experience for all of us. We were in good shape halfway through the tournament but were not able to keep up. We've improved significantly since last year but our players have only scratched the surface of their ability. Erik, Ron and Brendan played very well and we are proud to see Erik and Ron receive All-MAAC awards. We are very grateful to the University and Athletic Department for the great support throughout the year. Looking forward to getting back together in September and getting better." – Head Coach Bill Britton
 

-Robinson and Stevens earned top-10 honors, and as a result were named All-MAAC.
-Robinson and Stevens are Monmouth's sixth and seventh players to be named All-MAAC in program history.
-This marks the third time the Hawks have had two players in the top-10 of the MAAC in the same tournament. It also happened in 2014, with Brady Goodling in second and Corey Carrick tied for eighth. In 2017, Kyle Burke was T5 and Andy Stock marked in at T8.
-MU has now finished fifth or higher four times in MAAC Championship action.
-Brendan Smith finished T12, and played 36 of the 45 holes in even par or better.
-The Hawks made the most pars in the field (147).
-Stevens was fourth in the tournament in par-3 scoring average (2.90 – one-under par).
-Robinson placed fifth in the field in par-5 scoring (4.60 – four-under par).
-Stevens led MU on the week with seven birdies, while Smith made six.
-Robinson was second in the tournament in pars, making 32 in 45 holes.
 
TEAM LEADERBOARD
1 – Iona - +5
2 – Rider - +8
3 – Fairfield - +9
4 – Niagara - +15
T5 – Monmouth - +20
T5 – Canisius - +20
7 – Siena - +21
8 – Manhattan - +67
9 – Saint Peter's – N/A
 
HAWK LEADERBOARD
T5 – Erik Stevens - +3
T5 – Ron Robinson - +3
T12 – Brendan Smith - +4
T34 – Travis Dix - +14
38 – Rob McHugh - +19