Teeing off

Fairfield’s golf team is one of the only teams that competes in the fall and in the spring. While the men and women compete separately, they practice together under Head Coach Len Roberto, the director of men’s and women’s Golf. “What my hopes are for the team is that we improve in all aspects of our games both individually and as a team. I would hope for us to win a couple of tournaments and complete the season with a Conference Championship,” says Roberto. Roberto said that the team showed signs of improvement in the fall, including a win at the second annual Quinnipiac Bobcat Invitational on Sept. 30. Only two out of the 12 players are graduating this May, giving the men’s team a chance to grow with one another throughout the next few years. “My approach to both the women’s team and the men’s team is the same. I find no difference – they are all student athletes,” he says. Golf is a very individual game [and] a very hard game, and it all comes down to numbers… post a low number and you are a winner.” Dan Quatrocelli ’07 has placed at the MAAC Championships for the past two years despite a wrist injury that has required two separate surgeries. He continues to prepare for the upcoming season and hopes to improve being cleared to play, which he expected to happen by Feb 28. “I was not pleased with last season at all. I felt as though we could have played a lot better, and I hold my personal expectations a lot higher for the upcoming season,” he says. “Although we are not afforded any scholarships, we still recruit great players who are competitive and can make Fairfield the best golf program in the Northeast. Unfortunately having wrist surgery last November set me back, but I have been working hard to stay in shape until the doctors clear me to play once again.” Quatrocelli hopes to help the team win a MAAC title as well as having a successful individual season. He expresses pride in the team and has set high goals for himself and his teammates. “I haven’t lived up to any of the expectations that either coach or I have set for myself. But now that I am healthy, I fully intend on showing everyone the type of player I know I truly am, and expect nothing less than a conference championship for the men’s golf team,” he says. “My personal highlight will come at the end of April.” In April, the team will be competing at the New England Division I Championships in Providence, R.I. and at the MAAC Championships in Orlando, Fla. Both teams begin their competitive season with the Fairfield University Spring Invitational held in Myrtle Beach, S.C. over spring break. The women’s team started off strong this past fall, placing sixth in their first competition at the Mount Holyoke Invitational. They continued to show strong placings by moving up to fifth place the following weekend at the CCSU Invitational. Liz McCabe ’08 and Krista Duval ’09 tied for fourth on the team individually at that event.