Blue Devils Selected Second According to Northeast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll

Central Connecticut received two first place votes en route to a second place slotting in the 2008 Northeast Conference Men's Golf Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Blue Devils, who finished third in last season's championships, are looking for their fifth title. Eighth-year head coach Ed Batogowski will turn to all-conference performers Matt McClure, a senior, and Tim Buczak, a junior, to lead CCSU to its first championship since 2005.

A three-time All-Northeast Conference honoree, McClure shot a three-day 222 to finish tied for third at the 2007 NEC Championships. The Orangeville, Ontario native had two top-10 finishes this fall, including a second place effort at the ECAC Championships. His 75.1 stroke average led the Blue Devils. Buczak, meanwhile, earned all-conference honors as a freshman and finished tied for 23rd as a sophomore. He was less than a stroke off McClure's fall average, posting a 75.8 over 13 rounds. His only top-10 came at Dartmouth, where he finished second with rounds of 71 and 76.

Batogowski will likely use a trio of freshman to complement McClure and Buczak. Eric Hawerchuk and Sam Pelletier played in all but the Dartmouth Invitational during the fall, and Tom Ursa made appearances in everything but the NEIGA Championships. Hawerchuk led the three with a 77.3 stroke average. Also a native of Orangeville, Ontario, he shot a season-low 73 in opening round action at the Rutgers Invitational. Ursa had his best effort in his collegiate debut, finishing eighth at the Colgate Invitational with rounds of 77-72. He averaged a 78.1 over the fall. Pelletier, meanwhile, posted a 78.8 stroke average with a low round of 72 at Rutgers.

Defending champion Monmouth, which garnered three first place votes, was named the favorite. Sacred Heart, despite earning the same amount of first place votes as preseason favorite Monmouth, is slotted third, while Mount St. Mary’s and 2007 runner-up Saint Francis (PA) rank fourth and fifth, respectively. The Mountaineers received two first place votes, and the Red Flash collected the remaining first place vote. Long Island, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris, Fairleigh Dickinson, Wagner and St. Francis (NY) rounded out the 11-team field.

The Blue Devils spring season gets underway at Yale on Saturday, Apr. 5. The two-day Yale Spring Opener will be played at Yale Golf Course.

CCSU Men's Golf Fall Statistics