The golf team won the UR hosted University Athletic Association Championship this past Monday and Tuesday, becoming the seventh team in UR history to possess this title.
On the first day the golfers experienced one of the nicest days so far this year, and some of their toughest competition ? Emory University.
Emory was a top 20 team coming into the UAA tournament and was favored to win the title. But the Yellowjackets had other thoughts on their mind.
One of the youngest teams in recent history, the Yellowjackets took to the links and ended up in a close second behing Emory.
The team-score after the first round was Emory 309, UR 311. The rest of the field, including New York University, Carnegie Mellon University, Brandeis University and Case Western Reserve University, fell behind early and could not keep up with Emory and UR.
Individually, the Yellowjackets were just as impressive, having three golfers in the top six. Freshmen and UAA Rookie of the Year Jason Bronstein was in a battle with Emory?s Allan Phillips for the top spot after the first day. Bronstein lost a close battle, but still remained one shot out of the lead with a 74.
Junior Joe Quijano shot a 77 to tie for fourth-place, and sophomore Mike Quijano shot a 79 to place fifth. Freshman Dave Masters continued his stellar freshman season by shooting a score of 81. Junior Scott Clyde shot a first-round score of 87.
The second day proved to be a whole different story for the Yellowjackets ? including the weather. After a beautiful 80-degree day the temperature dropped and the wind picked up, making it difficult for all the golfers to judge their shots. Despite the weather, UR came out more focused than it did the first day. With the team title only two shots away, the Yellowjackets had victory in their sights.
In the end, the Yellowjackets had the team trophy in their hands and also had three golfers with UAA honors.
Masters and Joe Quijano both earned second-team all UAA honors by shooting an overall score of 161 and placing sixth.
Because of his third-place finish, Bronstein was honored as UAA Rookie of the Year and also named to the first-team all UAA for his two round score of 154.
Mike Quijano earned a first-place victory and was named the 2001 UAA Golfer of the Year.
As a team, UR beat Emory University by a final score of 628 to 6232 to claim the championship.
?I?m really proud of how we played in this tournament, we proved we can play with the top teams in the country such as Emory,? coach Rich Johnson said.
The comeback victory by the Yellowjackets was helped in large part by Mike Quijano, who shot a second-round low score of 74, and Bronstein, who matched Quijano?s score in the first-round.
?I knew [Mike Quijano] was playing well so I wanted him to anchor our team in the second day, and he came through in a big way,? Johnson said. ?[Bronstein] also contributed in a very significant way.?
The team still has chances of making it to the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships May 7 -10 and its hoping that this victory helps in a big way.
?If we are on the bubble at all this win definitely helps,? Johnson said.
The team will close its regular season by hosting the Fred B. Kravetz Invitational at the Irondequoit Country Club this Friday.
This Invitational showcases Rochester area schools including St. John Fisher, Nazareth College, Hobart College, and Monroe Community College.
