Hawerchuk Wins 2009 Northeast Conference Men's Golf Championships, Blue Devils Finish Second
Central Connecticut sophomore Eric Hawerchuk finished off his wire-to-wire victory at the Northeast Conference Championships, shooting a final round 75 to win by two strokes at the par 72 ChampionsGate Golf Club's International Course. The Orangeville, Ontario native shot 68-69 to share the top spot following first and second round play. Hawerchuk, who joins Bobby Myles as the only Blue Devils to earn medalist honors at the NEC Championships, led CCSU to a second place finish in the team standings. He also earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. Central Connecticut posted a three-day 909 (306-293-310) total.
Central Connecticut sophomore Eric Hawerchuk finished off his wire-to-wire victory at the Northeast Conference Championships, shooting a final round 75 to win by two strokes at the par 72 ChampionsGate Golf Club's International Course. The Orangeville, Ontario native shot 68-69 to share the top spot following first and second round play. Hawerchuk, who joins Bobby Myles as the only Blue Devils to earn medalist honors at the NEC Championships, led CCSU to a second place finish in the team standings. He also earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. Central Connecticut posted a three-day 909 (306-293-310) total.
in addition to Hawerchuk's effort, the Blue Devils received top-20 performances from senior Tim Buczak and freshman Tucker Dooley. Both totaled 230 to tie for 18th. Buczak, who entered Sunday with a 79 and 73 posted, shot 78. Dooley, meanwhile, closed with a 79 after shooting 76-75 to open the weekend. Sophomores Sam Pelletier and Tom Ursa completed the CCSU field. Pelletier tied for 36th with a three-day 239. He shot 83-78-78. Ursa posted 86-76-81=243 to tie for 47th.
Sacred Heart collected its second straight championship. The Pioneers cracked the 300-mark every day, shooting 295-297-291=883, to win by 26 strokes. Long Island, Robert Morris and St. Francis (PA) rounded out the top-five. LIU shot 292-303-315 to finish one stroke behind Central Connecticut. The Blackbirds topped Robert Morris (306-304-305) by five shots and SFPA (299-309-308) by six. Fairleigh Dickinson posted 313-300-305=918 to place sixth. Monmouth (302-304-314) and Mount St. Mary's (305-307-308) tied for seventh at 920. Quinnipiac, Wagner and St. Francis (NY) completed the team standings. Quinnipiac shot 323-312-310=945, while Wagner posted 337-341-323=1,001. St. Francis (NY) had rounds of 341-344-347 for a 1,032 total.
Hawerchuk, who entered the final round tied with Long Island senior Greg Nicolson, held off Bryant junior Jason Thresher to win the title. Thresher led Bryant, which participated in the tournament despite not being officially eligible due to a five-year reclassification period from Division II to Division I, with a two under 70 after shooting 72 in each of the first two rounds. Nicolson shot a Sunday 78 to finish in a four-way tie for third.
CCSU has finished in the top-five in every Northeast Conference Men's Golf Championship. The Blue Devils won in 1997, 2002, 2003 and 2005.
Central Connecticut's team season is now complete. Hawerchuk will compete as an individual in NCAA Regional play.
2009 Northeast Conference Men's Golf Championships Runners-Up
