2005 Season Preview
GOLFERS SEEK 4TH STRAIGHT NCAA BID
ALL-AMERICAN GUYTON LEADS EAGLES
Clarion University’s Spring 2005 Golf
team is looking forward to the season under sixth year head coach Al Lefevre. The
Eagles open the 2005 season at the Treasure Coast Classic March 8-9 in Port St.
Lucie, Florida.
LEFEVRE BEGINS SIXTH SEASON
Lefevre, who is in his sixth season
directing the golf team, has led the Eagles to three straight NCAA East Regional
appearances and is looking to make it four straight in 2005.
Lefevre was named PSAC “Coach of the
Year” in 2002 while leading the Golden Eagles to the PSAC team title and a berth
in the NCAA Regional Tournament. In his five plus seasons the Golden Eagles have
continued to improve each season. The Eagles were PSAC runners-up in 2001, 2003,
Spring 2004 and the Fall of 2004.
Coach Lefevre has extensive coaching
experience and it has all been successful. The head or assistant golf coach at
nearby Brookville High School from 1965-99, Al led the team to Keystone Shortway
Athletic Conference titles in 1986, 87 and 97. Also Brookville’s football coach
from 1968-82, Al was named “Little 10" “Coach of the Year” in 1969 and 1970 and
led his teams to conference titles in 1970 and 71.
GOLDEN EAGLES SEEK FOURTH NCAA REGIONAL APPEARANCE
The Golden Eagles have had tremendous
success in the last four years. A PSAC title in 2002, three runner-up finishes
in the Fall of 2004, Spring of 2004, 2003 and 2001, and three trips to the NCAA
Regionals in 2004, 2003 and 2002.
Last year Clarion had its best NCAA
East Regional finish when the Eagles placed 5th in the eight team field with a
54-hole score of 948. In 2003 Clarion was 8th at the Regionals with a team score
of 922, while the 2002 squad shot a 924 at Regionals and also finished 8th. The
Eagles are looking to get to the Regionals and place even higher in 2005.
Clarion has plenty of scoring punch
in its lineup. The Eagles won the Fall 2004 Hal Hansen Tournament with a 36-hole
score of 591, and second at the Powerade, Westminster and PSAC Championship.
Clarion actually tied Millersville for the Fall 2004 PSAC title, but lost the
championship on a scorecard playoff.
Nothing showed Clarion’s scoring
power more than its first place finish at the WVIAC Regionals in the Fall of
2002 at Canaan Valley C.C where the Golden Eagles likely posted a school record
four under par two day total of 286. Harnessing that scoring power consistently
will be the Clarion call for 2005.
“We return some quality players that
are tournament tested, plus have added some strong newcomers that could help put
us over the top,” said Lefevre. “We have excellent team leadership and chemistry
and I am hopeful that we can accomplish our goals this season.”
MATT GUYTON LEADS GOLDEN EAGLES
Senior Matt Guyton (DuBois)
has already put together a storied career in three and a half years at Clarion.
The three-time PSAC “Player of the Year” (2002-2004) and 2004 Clarion “Male
Athlete of the Year”, continues to put up some outstanding numbers. Matt
finished third at the Fall 2004 PSAC Championship with a 150, and was second at
the Hal Hansen with a 146.
Voted a third team All-American in
2003 by the national golf coaches, Guyton tied for 7th at the 2003 NCAA Division
II Nationals. He shot an amazing even par 72, 73, 71, 72 - 288 at the D-II’s in
Sunriver, Oregon. He also was medalist at the PSAC’s, and then went on to win
the NCAA East Regional shooting a 72, 69, 73 - 214, and winning a playoff to
qualify for the D-II Nationals. He also qualified for and competed in the U. S.
Amateur hosted at Oakmont Country Club in August of 2003. In his career Guyton
also was 5th at the NCAA East Regionals in 2002, named the PSAC “Player of the
Year in 2003 and 2002 and the “Rookie of the Year” in 2002. His top round was an
amazing 10-under par (67-67) in the Fall of 2003 at Canaan Valley C.C., which is
believed to be a Clarion record. “Matt is an outstanding golfer who is always
pressing to play better,” said Lefevre. “We just enjoy watching him go out each
day and attack each course.”
VETERANS JESIOLKIEWIC & SCOTT READY TO LEAD
Senior Lou Jesiolkiewic (Pgh
- Chartiers Valley) and sophomore Justin Scott (Monroeville - Gateway)
return to provide veteran leadership in the Spring 2005 season.
Jesiolkiewic, a talented
senior, will play #2 behind Guyton. An excellent putter, Lou 13th at PSAC’s in
the Fall, 3rd at PSC’s last Spring (150) and 21st at the NCAA East Regional
(238). In 2003 he was 40th at the NCAA Regionals with a 240 total, and 12th at
PSAC’s (161). In 2002 as a freshman he was 10th at the PSAC’s (154) and 33rd at
the NCAA Regionals (237). He has a low round of 72 in the Fall of 2004 at the
Powerade and in 2001, while also shoot a 73, 73 -146 at the 2002 WVIAC. Lou had
a 77.8 avg. in the Fall of 2004 and is looking forward to s strong Spring.
Scott, a sophomore from
Monroeville, is capable of some very low numbers. In the Fall 2004 season he had
the second lowest average on the team (75.3), shot a 71 at Glenville, was 6th at
PSAC’s (152) and second at the Hal Hansen with a strong 146. In the Spring 2004
campaign he was 11th at PSAC’s (155) and a strong 11th at the NCAA East
Regionals with a 232. During the Summer of 2004 Scott qualified for and played
in the US Amateur, PA. Open and the West Penn Amateur.
WILL, SZWAST, KALBFLEISCH & MOOSE EXPECTED TO ROUND OUT LINEUP
Tom Will (So. Erie -
McDowell), Zach Szwast (So. Johnstown - Conemaugh Valley), Eric
Kalbfleisch (So. Erie - Cathedral Prep) and Justin Moose (Fr. N.
Huntingdon - Norwin) are battling to give the Eagles a lift in the 4, 5 and 6
spots in the lineup.
Will, a sophomore, was 10th at
the Fall 2004 PSAC Championship earning All-Conference honors. He averaged 77.9
in the Fall and has a low round of 72 at the Hal Hansen. He also placed 16th at
the Spring 2004 PSAC Championships.
Szwast, also a sophomore, had a 77.5 average in only four rounds during the Fall
campaign. Last Spring he had a personal low of 71 at the Camp LeJeune
Invitational and finished 39th at the NCAA D-II East Regional Championship with
a 248.
Kalbfleisch, also a sophomore,
played 6 rounds in the 2004 Fall season with a 77.0 average and a low round of
73 at Ohio Valley. He is a consistent golfer who can make a strong contribution.
Moose, a very talented
freshman, made a strong impact in the Fall season. In 12 rounds he averaged 77.8
and had low rounds of 73 at Ohio Valley and Powerade Championships. He was 23rd
at the PSAC’s with a 164.
BANCROFT, PISARCIK & MULLENS SEEKING TIME
Sophomore Mike Bancroft
(Warren), sophomore Mark Pisarcik (Brockway - DuBois C.C.) and freshman
Preston Mullens will provide quality depth for the Golden Eagles.
Bancroft had an 82.0 average
in the Fall while playing two rounds and had an 80.4 average in the Fall of
2003. He fired a 78 at the Treasure Coast Classic in the Spring of 2004.
Pisarcik has also played the
last two fall seasons with the Eagles. He had an 85 average in 2004 and an 84.5
average in 2003.
Mullens, a freshman, produced
two 81 totals at the Hal Hansen tournament in the Fall. He played his high
school golf at Cameron County where he was a District Champion.
“We believe we have a very solid golf
team with plenty of quality depth,” stated Lefevre. “The competition up and down
the lineup should bring the best out of everyone and that will only increase our
chances of having an excellent Spring. We are dedicated toward fielding a
championship caliber team and will be working hard toward that goal.”
CLARION NOTES: The Spring 2005 season started March 8-9 at the Treasure
Coast Classic, but play was marred with two days of driving rain and wind... The
Eagles pick up the Spring at Camp LeJeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina April
1-3... The NCAA D-II East Regional will be at the Pine Barren Golf Club in
Jackson, New Jersey.