2006 Season Preview
EAGLE GOLFERS READY FOR 5TH NCAA APPEARANCE
JUSTIN MOOSE & JUSTIN SCOTT READY TO LEAD CLARION
Clarion University’s Spring 2006 Golf team is looking forward to its seventh season under head coach Al Lefevre. The Eagles open the 2006 season at the “Bash On The Beach” March 13-15 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
LEFEVRE IN SEVENTH SEASON
Lefevre, who is in his seventh season directing the golf team, has led the Eagles to four straight NCAA East Regional appearances and is already assured of making it five straight in 2006. With the Fall 2005 PSAC title already in its pocket, the Eagles have secured an automatic NCAA Division II East Regional qualifying spot. The 2006 NCAA East Regionals are at Oglebay Resort (WV) May 1-3.
Lefevre is obviously a proven winner. A PSAC Championship in the Fall of 2005, he was named PSAC “Coach of the Year” in 2002 while leading the Golden Eagles to the PSAC team title and its first berth in the NCAA Regional Tournament. The team has continued to improve each season. The Eagles were also 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 READY FOR FIFTH NCAA APPEARANCE
The Golden Eagles have had tremendous success in the last five years. A PSAC title in 2005 & 2002, four runner-up finishes in the Fall of 2004, Spring of 2004, 2003 and 2001, and four trips to the NCAA Regionals in 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002.
Last year Clarion had its best NCAA East Regional finish with a third place ending in the eight team field with a 54-hole total of 915. Clarion was also 5th at Regionals in 2004 with a 948 total, plus 8th at Regional in 2003 (922) and 2002 (924). The Eagles are looking to place even higher in 2006.
Clarion has plenty of scoring punch in its lineup. The Eagles won the Fall PSAC Championship with a team score of 604 including the medalist and a total of four golfers finishing in the top five. The team also won the W&J Invitational with a 290 score, placed second at the Bearcat Invitational and a strong third at its own Hal Hansen Invitational out of 17 teams.
“I really like the chemistry and leadership we have put together on this year’s team,” said coach Lefevre. “We return some quality veteran players that are tournament tested and who have worked hard to get to the next level. We also have a promising crop of newcomers that will keep everyone working hard to make the lineup. Those battles will help us continue to improve this year, while giving the team quality players for years to come.”
MOOSE & SCOTT LEAD GOLDEN EAGLES
Sophomore Justin Moose (North Huntingdon - Norwin) and junior Justin Scott (Monroeville - Gateway) expect to lead the Golden Eagle golfers his Spring.
Moose, who has emerged as Clarion’s #1 man, was the PSAC medalist in the Fall 2005 championship with a 74-76, 150 at Wrendale Country Club. He won a playoff to take medalist honors. He finished the Fall leading the team with a 74.4 scoring average. His low score this Fall was a three-under 69 at W&J, along with a 147 at Ohio Valley (72,75). Tournament tested, he was 23rd at PSAC’s as a freshman.
Scott, a junior who is playing #2, is right behind Moose with a Fall 2005 scoring average of 74.8. He placed 5th at the PSAC’s with a 152 (79, 73) and shot a low round of 71 at Ohio Valley. Tournament tested, he placed 4th at the NCAA East Regionals last year with a 222 (77, 72, 73), and had the second lowest average on the team (75.3) in the Fall 2004 season. He was 6th at PSAC’s (152) and shot a 71 at Glenville. 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.
VETS TOM WILL & ZACH SZWAST STEADY EAGLE LINEUP
Tom Will (Jr. Erie - McDowell) and Zach Szwast (Jr. Johnstown - Conemaugh Valley) expect to anchor the #3 and #4 spots in the Golden Eagle lineup this Spring.
Will, a junior, had the team’s third lowest average in the Fall at 75.3. He earned All-PSAC honors in the Fall placing third at PSAC’s with a 151 (76, 75) and had a low round of 71 at W&J. Last Spring he played well including a 16th place showing at the NCAA East Regionals with a 231 (80, 74, 77). He also earned All-PSAC honors in the Fall of 2004 with a 10th place finish (157). He also placed 16th at the Spring 2004 PSAC Championships.
Szwast, also a junior, had a 77.4 average in the Fall. He placed 24th at PSAC’s (161) and fired a low round of 70 at Ohio Valley. Last Spring he was a quality 11th at the NCAA East Regionals firing a 229 (78, 76, 75) and shot a personal best 67 in earning medalist honors at St. Vincent. In the Spring 2004 season 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.
FITZSIMMONS, MULLENS & BRUCKER BATTLE FOR FIFTH MAN
Freshman Charlie Fitzsimmons (Fr. Toronto, Ont.), Preston Mullens (So. Emporium - Cameron County) and Nick Brucker (Fr. Apollo - Kiski) appear to be battling for the fifth spot on the team this Spring.
Fitzsimmons, a freshman, worked his way into the lineup in the Fall and currently has that spot. He was 6th in scoring average at 77.2 and played in all 10 rounds. He earned All-PSAC honors with a third place finish at PSAC’s shooting a 151 (75, 76) and had a low round of 73 at Ohio Valley.
Mullens, a sophomore, has displayed an ability to score when given the opportunity. He was fifth in scoring average in the Fall with a 76.0, and had a low round of 70 at Ohio Valley. Last Spring he also contributed a 70 at the St. Vincent Tournament.
Brucker, also a true freshman, had a 77.4 scoring average in the Fall. His top rounds included a 76 at Ohio Valley and at the Hal Hansen Invitational. From Kiski Area, he averaged 36.4 his senior year.
BANCROFT, CAMERON, KALBFLEISCH & VARGA SEEKING TIME
Junior Mike Bancroft (Warren), freshman Justin Cameron (Punxsutawney), junior Eric Kalbfleisch (Erie - Cathedral Prep) and freshman Jeff Varga (Monroeville - Gateway) will all provide quality depth for the Golden Eagles.
Bancroft, an experienced golfer, had a 78.0 average in the Fall, including a low round of 76 at the Hal Hansen Invitational. He also had a 74 last Spring at St. Vincent and managed a 78 at the Treasure Coast Classic in the Spring of 2004.
Cameron, a freshman from Punxsutawney, averaged 78.7 in three rounds last Fall. He had a low round of 77 at the Hal Hansen. A D-9 champion and PIAA Qualifier in high school, he had a 72.1 scoring average at Punxsutawney High School.
Kalbfleisch, a junior with plenty of experience, could battle for time this Spring. Also posting a 78.0 average last Fall, he shot a low round of 74 at the Hal Hansen Tournament. He had a 76 at St. Vincent in the Spring 2005 season, plus had a 77.0 average in the Fall 2004 campaign with a low round of 73 at Ohio Valley.
Varga, a promising freshman, averaged 81.7 in 3 rounds last Fall. He hd a low round of 76 at the Hal Hansen. Jeff was a 2-time PIAA qualifier at Gateway High School.
“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 2006 season starts March 13-15 at the Bash on the Beach in Daytona, Florida ... The always tough Camp LeJeune Inv. is on March 31 - April 2. ... The NCAA D-II East Regional will be at the Oglebay Resort, Wheeling, W.V. May 1-3.