By Brady Cote
@brady.cote
On Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 4 and 5, the Springfield College golf team competed at a high level, playing through rough conditions during the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Championships hosted at the Berkshire Hills Country Club.
The championship was modified last minute to adapt to the amount of rainfall. Unfortunately, teams were only able to play the back nine holes on the first day of the tournament.
Although the circumstances of the championship were not ideal, that did not stop Springfield College from placing second overall as the team shot a total of 482 strokes combined from both days of the tournament.
Those that competed in the championship were Aidan McBride, Damon Monks, Corey Roya, Nicholas DeMaio, and Jack Shane. Springfield came in third place in the first round of the championship with a total of 166 strokes behind Salem State and Mitchell College.
The team was led by both McBride and Monks through the first round, as they tied through the back nine holes each shooting 40 strokes in the opener.
The conditions of the course were challenging to say the very least due to rainy weather.
“It was horrible,” said Monks. “Some of the greens were so flooded someone could have driven a boat out there.”
Tuesday, the second day of the championship, the teams were left with no other choice but to play the back nine holes twice over regarding the early morning announcement as the front nine were deemed unplayable.
The team was led by Monks on day two of the championship as he shot a stellar 78 strokes respectively on 18 holes, consisting of 10 pars, two birdies, and a hole in one.
“It was the most flush six-iron I have ever hit,” said Monks. “It was my first hole-in-one ever, and to hit it during the championship is just special.”
Hearing that only the back nine holes were in playing condition left the team in frustration, however, it did not break their concentration.
“Although it was three rounds of the same holes, we stayed focused and kept our composure,” said Monks.
The back nine holes were left in shambles after the rainfall that took place the day before, leaving bunkers filled with water.
“It was really bad, there was a lot of casual water on the course,” Monks said. “Especially today, [Tuesday] on one green it was like you could ride a boat out there.”
In the event that one of the athlete’s strokes landed in the water-filled bunkers, they were able to move their ball into the rough instead.
The team was able to succeed through these inconveniences by staying focused and by playing the game the way they do best.
“It is different for each of us,” Monks said. “Some of us like to tee up with our driver, whereas others prefer a three wood instead, it’s kind of an individual thing.”
Reflecting on the championship, the team is proud of placing second and they look forward to competing in the Blazer Fall Invitational meet. The Pride looks to keep the ball rolling this upcoming weekend.
Photo: Springfield College Athletics