New Haven, Conn. – It was a successful first season on the links for the Albertus Magnus College men's golf team in the fall of 2015, as the team competed in four tournaments and earned their first-ever dual match victory back in late September at home against Eastern Nazarene.
During their inaugural varsity season, the Falcons played their home matches at Alling Memorial Golf Course. The 6,248-yard track is a par-72 and played host to a trio of dual matches this year.
Junior Aaron Macchia (Utica, N.Y.) paced the team each time out, entering the clubhouse with the lowest score for Albertus Magnus in every round this autumn. Sophomore Zach Schatz (East Haven, Conn.) and junior Tyler Donnan (Meriden, Conn.) emerged as threats to go low during the season for the team as well.
Senior captain Anthony Pellegrino (Branford, Conn.) represented the squad on the annual Great Northeast Athletic (GNAC) All-Sportsmanship Team. Throughout their first competitive season on the links, freshman Elijah Thomas (New Haven, Conn.) and junior Tom Moore (East Haven, Conn.) each showed progress and significant improvement.
"I have really enjoyed my first year as coach," Head Coach Ryan Quinn said. "I have seen the student-athletes grow as players as well as people. I have learned a lot about NCAA Division III golf and I look forward to the program growing and becoming more involved in the conference tournaments."
In their first-ever varsity dual match, the Albertus Magnus College men's golf team fell to visiting Mitchell in mid-September. Two weeks later, Macchia fired a three-over par 75 to earn low medalist honors and lead the Albertus Magnus men's golf team past Eastern Nazarene in a dual match at home. The Falcons carded a team total of 356 to earn the first varsity dual-match victory in program history.
In the triumph, Albertus shaved nearly 100 strokes off their score from the season opener. Every player in the lineup improved their score, including Pellegrino knocking a team-best 20 strokes off his last round. On the opening nine, Macchia carded an even-par 36, highlighted by a chip in from 90 yards for eagle on the par-four eighth hole. On the day, the 5-10 righty recorded a match-high 10 pars.
In their first big tournament action, the Falcons finished 19th at the Blazer Invitational hosted by Elms. Over 36 holes of action at the par-70 Elmcrest Country Club, AMC recorded an aggregate score of 770. Macchia followed up an opening round 76 with a 78 to enter the clubhouse tied for 15th, while tying for a tournament-best 22 pars over the course of the event. He was also tied for sixth in the field in par-3 scoring ending the event at two-over par.
Later in the season, Macchia finished in solo second with a two-over par 73 to lead the Albertus Magnus College men's golf team to a ninth–place finish at the Westfield State Invitational. Following 18 holes of action, Macchia entered the clubhouse tied for the lead with Tom Sheran of Rhode Island College. On the first playoff hole, which happened to be the par-4 17th, Sheran rolled in a par putt to earn low individual medalist honors. The second-place finish was a personal best for Macchia and a program-record for highest individual result.
Schatz had his best round of the fall for the Falcons at the Mitchell Invitational in mid-October, finishing in sixth with an 89. Schatz carded a team-best two birdies and two pars on the day. The two birdies were a career-high for the southpaw and were the second-highest total in the field. Also at the event, Pellegrino entered the clubhouse in solo possession of 10th-place with a 94. The 6-0 righty registered four pars throughout the round and tied for fifth in the field in par-5 scoring (two-over par).
The Albertus Magnus College men's golf team ended their first-ever trip to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship in ninth-place, courtesy of carding a final round aggregate score of 388 on October 18. In windy and cold conditions at the par-72 Allendale Country Club, the Falcons shot a tournament total of 773. Macchia was the low scorer for Albertus Magnus, carding a closing round 85 to finish in a tie for 12th with a two-day score of 163. Macchia registered two pars on the opening nine holes and four pars on the back. On the day, he recorded two birdies, one on par-4 tenth and one on the 18th.
For the latest information on the men's golf team and Albertus Magnus athletics, follow AMCAthletics on Twitter and visit AlbertusFalcons.com.
