Men's Golf Seeks CAA Three-Peat In 2015-16
8/19/2015 9:02:00 PM | Men's Golf
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The College of Charleston men's golf team will seek to repeat as Colonial Athletic Association champions with a loaded fall and spring schedule against the nation's very best.
Not only will the Cougars seek a third-straight conference title, but also a return trip to postseason play. In May, they placed 12th at the NCAA Yale Regional as the league's automatic qualifier.
“We cannot wait to get our season started,” said CofC Head Coach Mark McEntire, who is assisted by assistant coach Henry Smart. “We are playing a very tough, quality schedule and will be seeing the best teams in the country every week. The goal with playing such a tough schedule is to try and get inside the number to qualify for the postseason automatically. With good play in the schedule – this will allow that to happen.”
Senior John Jonas (Jacksonville, Fla.) is CofC's top returner after shooting a 1-under par 215 to earn CAA individual medalist and CAA Most Outstanding Performer honors in 2015. Jonas, the 2014 CAA Men's Golfer of the Year, became just the fourth all-time player in school history to win a conference individual title next to senior teammate Josh Lorenzetti (2013), Daniel Brunson (2002) and Bruce McDonald (2003).
Lorenzetti (Blythewood, S.C.), who recently competed in his first career U.S. Amateur Championship, also finished as CAA individual runner-up as the Cougars won the postseason tournament by 20 strokes. Other returning letterwinners include redshirt senior Shane Rogan (Blythewood, S.C.), senior Jackson Moore (Isle of Palms, S.C.), junior William Rainey (Charlotte, N.C.), junior Matthew Mahle (Lexington, Ky.), junior Philip Oweida (Charlotte, N.C.), sophomore Anthony Gabriele (West Palm Beach, Fla.) and freshman Zach Bishop (Travelers Rest, S.C.). Rainey also qualified for this year's U.S. Amateur.
CofC will be tested early playing host to The Invitational at The Ocean Course on Sept. 11-12 at the Kiawah Island Resort on Kiawah Island, S.C. Fall tournaments also include the Shoal Creek Intercollegiate hosted by UAB on Sept. 28-29 in Birmingham, Ala., the AutoTrader.com Collegiate Classic hosted by Georgia State on Oct. 11-12 in Duluth, Ga., The Grove Intercollegiate hosted by Middle Tennessee State on Oct. 25-27 in Nashville, Tenn., and the CSU Wendy's Classic hosted by Charleston Southern on Nov. 1-3 at Turtle Point at the Kiawah Island Resort on Kiawah Island, S.C.
The spring will prove just as difficult as the Cougars open up the New Year at the SunTrust Gator hosted by Florida on Feb. 20-21, 2016 in Gainesville, Fla. The Colleton River Collegiate hosted by Michigan State follows on March 7-8 in Bluffton, S.C., The Schenkel hosted by Georgia Southern on March 18-20 in Statesboro, Ga., The Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate on April 1-3 in Awendaw, S.C., and the CAA Men's Golf Championship at St. James Plantation on April 22-24 in Southport, N.C.
One junior college and three NCAA Division I transfers to the squad will add depth to the lineup including senior Nick Tremps (Charlottesville, Va.) from the University of Virginia, junior Parker Derby (Columbus, Ga.) from the University of Georgia, junior Jordan Ayre (Canberra, Australia) from New Mexico Junior College and sophomore Richard Broadhurst (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) from the University of North Texas.
“We have some new faces and some quality depth which we have not had in the past,” McEntire said. “Qualifying will be very intense this year, but will make everyone better.”
Players Mentioned
