The golf teams have faced rain in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and cold temperatures in Connecticut as they prepare for the New England Division I and MAAC Championships – both of which will be played later this season.
“The weather is definitely affecting us,” said Head Coach Len Roberto. “We won’t get out until after Easter Break, that is why we do the spring break trips down to Myrtle Beach and South Carolina.”
The women have not been able to compete in a tournament since October because the women’s Fairfield Spring Invitational in Myrtle Beach was rained out.
The men were able to fit in enough rounds to complete the tournament, picking up a second-place finish.
“The men played real well in Charleston [at the Charleston Southern Invitational on March 2-4],” said Roberto. “Against some of the top teams in the country, we did very well.”
R.J. Zielinski ’09 led the way for Fairfield with a 14th place finish in that tournament, while the Stags as a team placed seventh. Zielinski shot a +11, while Kevin Fitzpatrick ’10 finished in a tie for 33rd place with a +21.
The Stags then hosted the Fairfield Spring Invitational in Myrtle Beach from March 6-8, with play on the March 7 rained out.
Cullen Onstott ’09 was the Stags’ top finisher, placing fifth with a +6. Zielinski finished tied for ninth with a +7 and Fitzpatrick tied for 14th with a +8.
“We keep improving and moving up in the rankings,” said Roberto. “We are getting prepared for the end of April.”
The women’s side has been limited to what it can do over the past weeks because of the weather, but Roberto said the team will be ready for its big tournaments later this season.
“The women are playing really well. They are a young team, with four freshmen starting,” said Roberto. “We are looking to build on how they are playing.”
The men will tee off next on April 11 at the Division I championships, while the women play on March 30 at the Tina Barrett Longwood Invitational in Virginia.
Leave a Reply