It has been a season full of drama, turmoil and emotion, but on Saturday, the AU Men's Golf team made a resounding statement with a commanding victory.
Playing in its fifth tournament in six weeks, the team dominated the Lafayette Invitational, earning its first win of the season by six strokes with a team score of 595.
The Eagles were the only squad in the 21-team field to shoot a team score under 600 and placed three golfers in the top 15 in the individual standings.
Freshman Kevin Horan led the way for the team, firing a 3-over 144 (72-72) en route to a second-place overall individual finish. Horan, who had not competed for the Eagles this spring due to academic ineligibility, was granted temporary eligibility for this and the next tournament while the school weighs its decision concerning his overall eligibility.
After the tournament, Horan said that it was his ability to practice with the team that allowed him to maintain his competitiveness during inactivity.
"I was able to play as an individual at the Diablo Grande tournament, which helped me get the rust off," Horan said. "I know I'm playing well, and I know I'm peaking at the right time, so I used that inner confidence to play well this week."
Horan paced an Eagle team that carded team rounds of 297 and 298 over the two-day tournament, both the low rounds for any team in competition. In addition to Horan, freshman Alex Wenzel also played well as he held the lead at the end of the first day.
Wenzel finished with a 146 (71-75, +5), good for fourth place in the overall standings. Sophomore Adam Kolloff, who has played well for the team all season, carded rounds of 77 and 73 to record a 150 (+9) and a 15th-place individual finish.
Sophomore Todd Shagin, who carded a 156 (77-79, +15) and finished in a tie for 37th place, said afterward that the win was definitely a confidence builder.
"We knew going in that we were the most talented team there," Shagin said. "All the freshmen are playing well. Kevin and Alex played well at Lafayette, and myself and Adam are trying to keep everybody focused and keep the intensity we have left."
Freshman Billy Lacey rounded out the scoring for the team, carding a 165 (87-78, +24) to finish tied for 81st place.
After the win, head coach Josh Cupp discussed what the win means to a team that has been through more than its fair share of social upheaval.
"I think it's a confidence thing," Cupp said. "We were out there in the practice round and the kids played great. ... A big thing is that they know they can win now. That's huge, probably bigger in golf than any other sport. To win a tournament with 21 teams means a lot for your confidence."
Cupp added that the win was especially meaningful because the team played well in what it saw as a Patriot League tournament preview.
The tournament's individual winner was Siena College's Bryan Bigley, who shot a 142 (72-70, +1) to pick up the victory.
Next for the Eagles is the Bethany Beach Invitational on Monday. With such a short layover from one tournament to another, Cupp said the team should be able to carry its strong play to another strong showing.
"The fact that our confidence is high right now is a huge thing," Cupp said. "We just beat a Bucknell team that was picked to win the PL in the preseason, and we beat them by 21 strokes, so right now we've got good stuff."
The Bethany Beach tournament is a warm-up for the Patriot League tournament, which begins April 23 at the Bucknell University golf course. Last year the men finished in fifth place at the tournament, losing to Army by 22 strokes. However, with different players and a new incentive, Cupp said this year's team is ready to win that crown.
"If we win the PL tournament we have a good chance of being put in the West regional of the NCAA tournament, which is at Stanford this year, and the guys would love to go there," Cupp said. "Running the table is possible, and the other PL teams aren't that great. We make birdies and we have some pretty good players, so I think we're in good shape"
