March 19, 2010
In the midst of its sixth year since returning to varsity competition from a seven-year hiatus, the golf program at UMass Lowell has been represented in the NCAA Tournament Super Regional four straight years: two years with an individual (Chris Menne in 2006 and 2007) and the last two years as a team.
Following the fall '09 season, the River Hawks are currently ranked ninth among NCAA East Region teams, meaning if the NCAA Super Regional was tomorrow, they would be in.
Getting to the NCAA Regional is an admirable goal, but the River Hawks are at a stage in which they want more: a regional title and trip to the NCAA Championship.
UMass Lowell opens the spring season Saturday at the Louisburg College Fusillade Challenge in Louisburg, NC.
Admittedly, Head Coach Gary Mucica was looking for a higher finish last fall, but he is encouraged that UMass Lowell's team score of 313.57 is down from its Fall '08 mark of 317.92 and Spring '09 score of 318.75.
Three players - seniors Patrick Bean and Brendan Livingston and junior Thomas Ayala - were virtually interchangeable and consistently scored in the 70s.
Bean led the way with an average of 78.33 as he scored in the 70s or lower in seven rounds, including a sterling 69 in the Southern New Hampshire Invitational.
Ayala and Livingston were right behind with an identical 78.50. Ayala highlighted with a second-round 70 at the Goldey-Beacom Invitational while Livingston, who qualified for the Massachusetts Golf Association Amateur Tournament this summer, scored in the 70s in 11 rounds, highlighting with a first-round 70 at the Northeast Intercollegiate Championship.
Perhaps the surprise of the fall was senior Matt Twomey, who became UMass Lowell's latest Northeast-10 Conference all-star when he placed in a tie for sixth (75-79-154) at the NE-10 Championship.
The River Hawks also have a young contingent show flashes of promise, led by freshman Travis Kellegrew who shot in the 70s in three of his last four rounds and capped the year with a respectable 80.90.
Sophomore Brandon Robinson also figured into the top five, peaking with second round 79 at Goldey Beacom.
"This year's team is the most talented and deep we have had yet, but our performance was very inconsistent," said Mucica. "As described previously we posted three of the top six rounds shot by any player in the Conference, yet the overall team results were well below expectations.
"This spring we look to put together the consistently low-scoring we are capable of as we seek our third consecutive NCAA Super Regional Championship invitation and a bid to the National Championship Tournament."
