Linking up: Rochester College second at USCAA finals

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Four years ago, Rochester College started its men’s golf program.

So much for trying to build the program over a long period of time.

The Warriors put together their third straight top-two finish at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association National Championships Nov. 10-11, earning the national runner-up trophy on the Penn State University Blue Course. The Warriors won the title in 2009 and 2010 after beginning their program in 2008.

Lindenwood-Belleville won the crown with a two-day total of 597.

Belleville trailed Rochester College 302-303 after the first day, but shot a 294 team score on Day 2 to win by 21 strokes. Rochester College shot 316 the second day to finish at 618.

Apprentice School was third (632), followed by New Hampshire Technical Institute (649), Pen State-Hazleton (655), Penn State-Mont-Alto (659), Pen College (671), SUNY-ESF (672), Penn St.-New Kensington (684) and SUNY-Canton (696) in the top 10 of the 18-school field.

“Sure, it would have been nice to win again, but we’ll take second,” admitted Rochester College head coach Clayton Bissett. “The way the Belleville played the second day, no one was going to catch them. They were 21 strokes better than us on the second day.

“I’m still very pleased. We only started this program a few years ago and to have two national championships and a national runner-up is very impressive,” continued Bissett. “We have fortunate enough to have some great kids come up through our program.”

Tommy Stirling of Southern Maine Community College shot a four-under, two-day round of 140 to win the individual crown. Stirling carded a 72 on the first day and followed that up with a 68 on the second day.

National champion Lindenwood-Belleville had five finishers in the top 15, led by runner-up Bo Cook (75-69—144), Brett Lindenwood (fourth, 77-72—149), Justin Robinson (fifth, 73-77—150) and Tim Litltejohn (13^th, 80-76—156).

Rochester College six golfers in the top 25 in a field of 86 competitors. Kristopher Bartling tied for fifth with a total of 150 (72-78). Ryan Kapanowski also finished in the top 10 at 155 (76-79).

Other competitors for the Warriors were Brandon Rottiers (tied-18^th, 76-84—160).

Gary Turner carded 160 (79-81) to also finish tied for 18^th, while Kevin Geisler was tied for 23^rd at 162 (78-84) and Steven Turner tied for 25^th (85-78—163).

The top seven finishers, plus ties, garner Al-America status, with Bartling earning the high honor. Kapanowski was only a few strokes shy of All-America.

“It was nice to have two guys in the top 10, including one All-American,” beamed Bissett. “Those guys were both really consistent this year and they played well at (the national tournament).

“I thought the whole team well. All of our golfers were in the top one-third of the tournament,” added Bissett. “That’s a nice accomplishment and that really helped us finish second. Belleville was really good.”

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Tags: College Men's Golf, golf, Men's Golf, Rochester College Men's Golf

Category: Campus Clips, Colleges / Other, Rochester College