By Nate Beutel Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Mon Sep 12, 2011, 10:51 PM EDT
— — The pot was stirred recently when it was announced that the winner of today’s Little Three Championships at Niagara Falls Country Club would earn a spot in the 2012 Porter Cup.
“All of the student-athletes from Niagara, Canisius and St. Bonaventure are excited about having another opportunity to qualify for the Porter Cup, a prestigious local event that has national exposure,” Niagara University coach Kevin Miller said.
In yet another effort to get more locals involved in the Porter Cup, tournament director Steve Denn and Miller worked out an agreement, which included lengthening the one-day event to 36 holes — 18 in the morning and 18 in the afternoon.
“Their committee didn’t feel that an 18-hole event would justify a spot in the Porter Cup, so by making it 36 holes it was easier for them to swallow,” said Miller, now in his seventh season at the helm of the Purple Eagles.
A few of the top contenders for the invitation, according to Miller, are NU junior Anthony DiBacco (Lewiston-Porter) and sophomore Zach Clark (Niagara Catholic). Both have not only collegiate experience, but also vast familiarity with NFCC. Miller also expects big things this fall from senior Casey Thorp.
The only other tournament on the schedule this fall is a trip to Olean for the Leo Keenan Invitational.
“I really like to be able to use the fall for course playing and looking at the newcomers, so we kind of know who our top five is and who might be challenging for a spot at six and seven,” Miller said. “I want to create that environment of competition and excitement for the spring.”
n Meanwhile, the Niagara women’s golf team is fresh off its first-ever dual match victory this past weekend. The Purple Eagles’ 346 stroke total in the win over Albany was the lowest in school history.
Second-year coach Steve Latimer is very high on his freshman trio of April Nimjareansuk, Sierra Billhimer and Jen Ringler (Fredonia) along with junior transfer Natalie Wisniewski, a Williamsville native who played at Bradley University the past two seasons.
“We have a lot of new talent this year,” he said. “They’re true golfers. They’ve grown up around the game, played high school of course but also junior tour events and AJGA events. They work at the game, they’re fundamentally sound and they want to get better. They’re our immediate and long-term future.”
Junior Brittany Siechen is the top returning golfer for Latimer, who is the Director of Instruction at NFCC, Niagara’s home course. The Purple Eagles are scheduled to compete in tournaments at Dartmouth, Cleveland State and Robert Morris this fall.
“We really want to get all of our matches in and improve this fall,” Latimer said. “It becomes difficult to play for five weeks and take four months off before spring season, but ultimately out goal is to win our conference (in the spring.) We couldn’t have done that last year, but with the competition within our team making everybody better it’s really going to help us down the line when we get to those MAAC Championships. I’m very excited.”
Copyright 2011 Niagara Gazette. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment