2007 Season Preview

Clarion University’s Spring 2007 Golf team is looking forward to its eighth season under head coach Al Lefevre. The Eagles open the 2007 season at the "North-South" Invitational in Weston, Florida on March 13-14 and "The Cat" Invitational on March 15-16.

Lefevre, who is in his eighth season directing the golf team, has led the Eagles to five straight NCAA East Regional appearances and looks poised to make it six straight in 2007.

The Golden Eagles won three invitationals in the Fall and enter the Spring ranked high in the East Region. The 2007 NCAA East Regionals are at Oglebay Resort (WV) May 7-9.

Lefevre is obviously a proven winner. He led Clarion to a second place finish at the East Regional last Spring, was named PSAC "Coach of the Year" in 2006 and led the Eagles to a PSAC Championship in the Fall of 2005. He also earned "Coach of the Year" honors 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.

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 five trips to the NCAA Regionals in 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002.

Last year Clarion had its best NCAA East Regional finish with a second place ending in the eight team field with a 54-hole total of 920 at the tough Speidel Golf Club in W.V. Clarion was also third at Regionals in 2005 with a 915, 5^th in 2004 with a 948 total, plus 8^th at Regional in 2003 (922) and 2002 (924).

Clarion has plenty of scoring punch in its lineup. Clarion won the Hal Hansen, Wheeling Jesuit and Bearcat Invitationals in the Fall. At the Hal Hansen, Clarion set a new one day scoring record of 5-under par 283 showing its potential to go very low. Clarion placed 4^th at the PSAC’s shooting a 612.

"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. Consistency is our key to success."

Junior Justin Moose (North Huntingdon - Norwin) and senior Justin Scott (Monroeville - Gateway) expect to lead the Golden Eagle golfers his Spring.

Moose, Clarion’s #1 man, was the PSAC "Player of the Year" in 2006. Moose averaged 73.2 in the Fall and had a low round of 67 at Wheeling and 69 at th Hal Hansen. He was the PSAC medalist in the Fall 2005 championship with a 74-76, 150 at Wrendale Country Club, and finished third at the NCAA East Regional last Spring with a total of 225 (77, 72, 76).

Scott, a senior and tri-captain, is right behind Moose with a Fall 2006 scoring average of 75.1. Scott was second in the Fall at PSAC’s with a 147, and tied the school record with a 5-under 67 at the Hal Hansen Invitational, a tournament he was also medalist with a 142. He placed 21^st at Regionals last Spring (236), and was 5^th at the 2005 PSAC’s with a 152 (79, 73). Tournament tested, he placed 4^th at the NCAA East Regionals in 2005 with a 222 (77, 72, 73), and was 6^th at PSAC’s (152). In the Spring 2004 campaign he was 11^th at PSAC’s (155) and a strong 11^th 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.

Tom Will (Sr. Erie - McDowell) and Zach Szwast (Sr. Johnstown - Conemaugh Valley) expect to anchor the Golden Eagle lineup this Spring.

Will, a senior and tri-captain, averaged 76.9 in the Fall. Last Spring he established himself as one of the top regional players when he finished 9^th with a 230 (76, 75, 79). He also had a 67 at the Slippery Rock Invitational last Spring. In the Fall of 2005 he earned All-PSAC honors third at PSAC’s with a 151 (76, 75) and had a low round of 71 at W&J. In the Spring of 2005 he played well including a 16^th 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 10^th place finish (157). He also placed 16^th at the Spring 2004 PSAC Championships.

Szwast, a senior and tri-captain, only played in two events in the Fall, but expects to comeback strong this Spring. Last Spring he placed 30^th at the D-II Regionals with a 241 (82, 74, 85). He placed 24^th at 2005 PSAC’s (161) and fired a low round of 70 at Ohio Valley. In the Spring of 2005 he was a quality 11^th 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 finished 39^th at the NCAA D-II East Regional Championship with a 248.

Preston Mullens (Jr. Emporium - Cameron County), Nick Brucker (So. Apollo - Kiski) and Justin Cameron )So. Punxsutawney) appear to be battling for fourth and fifth spots in the lineup.

Mullens, a junior, averaged 77.8 in the Fall season. He was 16^th at PSAC’s (155) and had a low round of 74 at the Hal Hansen. Last Spring he was 37^th at Regionals with a 245, but after a first round 90, came back with two quality rounds of 77 and 78. He averaged 76.0 in the Fall of 2005, and had a low round of 70 at Ohio Valley.

Brucker, also a sophomore, had a 78.8 scoring average in the Fall. He had a low score of 73 at Wheeling. Last Spring he played 4 rounds, while in the Fall of 2005 he had a 77.4 scoring average.

Cameron, a sophomore, had a solid Fall campaign with a 77.8 scoring average and finished 19^th at PSAC’s (156). His low score was 73 at the PSAC’s. He averaged 78.7 in the Fall of 2005 and 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.

Senior Mike Bancroft (Warren), junior Mark Oisarcik (Brockway - DuBois Central Catholic) and freshman Mike DeAngelo (New Castle - Shenango) are battling for time.

Bancroft, an experienced golfer, had a Fall average of 78 including a low round of 75 at the Hal Hansen. Last Spring he had a 73 at St. Vincent and in the Fall of 2005 he had a 78.0 average.

Pisarcik, a junior, averaged 84 in the Fall campaign. He did not play in the 2005-06 season, but in the year before he averaged 84.5 including a low score of 80 at the Hal Hansen.

DeAngelo, a promising freshman from Shenango High School, averaged 80.0 in the Fall. His low score was 78 at Ohio Valley. At Shenango he averaged 35.3 his senior year and shot two 9-hole rounds of 32.

"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 always tough Camp LeJeune Inv. is on March 30 - April 1. ... The NCAA D-II East Regional will be at the Oglebay Resort, Wheeling, W.V. May 7-9.