In its first tournament of the Spring season, the golf team finished in a three-way tie for fourth place at the Kenyon Cup in Gambier, Ohio last weekend.
Fighting the frigid temperatures and strong winds, the Yellowjackets finished the tournament with a two-day total of 641, knotting them with Denison University and Depauw University. UR was just three strokes behind regional foe Allegheny College in the third spot and four back of College of Wooster for second overall. Walsh University, the lone National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school in the field, won the 15-team tournament with a score of 620.
UR was lead by junior Dave Masters, who finished third individually at seven over par with a score of 151. He was just one stroke back of Walsh’s Chris Saltmarsh in second. The field consisted of 75 golfers, five per school.
“Dave has been in a slump, and he certainly busted out of it with a vengeance,” head coach Rich Johnson said. “It looked like his whole game was on. His driving was good, his irons were good, his short game was good and his putting was excellent.”
Concentration on mechanics helped Masters shoot a career-low for a two-day event.
“The conditions forced me to focus on all the aspects of my game,” Masters said. “I knew the scores would be high because of the high winds and cold temperatures so I focused on making every swing count.”
Senior Mike Quijano also had a productive weekend. He tied for seventh place overall, shooting a 155.
Also for UR, senior Scott Clyde shot a 161, sophomore Andy Salvatore shot a 175 and senior John Semeniak shot a 177.
Masters garnered University Athletic Association Golfer of the Week honors for April 8 for his efforts at Apple Valley GC. He is the first Yellowjacket to earn the honor since Quijano last October. Masters was also selected as the Rochester Area Local College Co-Male Athlete of the Week.
The Yellowjackets were without the services of junior Jason Bronstein, who suffered a right hand injury in an intramural basketball game last Tuesday. He is expected to be out three to four weeks and could miss the remainder of the season.
The squad will turn to a rising sophomore to step up in Bronstein’s absence.
“We’re looking for Andy Salvatore to fill Jason’s shoes,” Johnson said. “He’s capable of stepping up to the plate and performing well.”
Next up for UR is a trip to Hershey, Pa. where the team will play in the Mid-Atlantic Region Invitational at Hershey CC East Course on April 13 and 14.
“We’re looking to improve our scoring for next weekend at Hershey where we will be facing Allegheny again, who edged us out by only three shots this week,” Masters said.
Gerton can be reached at mgerton@campustimes.org.
