Flyer Men Begin National Golf Title Quest in New York
Nick Agapion has the honor of being the first Sandhills Community College golfer to tee off Tuesday morning as the NJCAA Division III National Men's Golf Championship gets underway at Chautauqua Golf Club in Chautauqua NY.
The 72-hole tournament is scheduled to wind up on Friday. Making their 10th appearance in the event, the Flyers were runner-ups to Vincennes (IN) a year ago. Since the golf program's inception in 2008, the accomplishments of Coach Gus Ulrich's teams include a national title in 2014, second place finishes in 2013, 2015 and 2018, and third place in 2010.
In addition to Agapion, the entirely new cast from last year includes Trey Capps, Grant Gilbert, Nevin Bullough and Ted Sluser. Capps leads the team with a stroke average for five spring tournaments of 73.8 followed by Agapion at 76.2.
The best four of the five individual scores on the Donald Ross design will make up the team score for each of the four rounds. The top 18 finishers in the tournament earn All-American recognition.
"Their target for the first day is 305," Ulrich said by phone from Atlanta on Monday. "I'm trying to convince them that they have the talent to win if they play up to their ability.
"They had a good practice today and a banquet tonight where all the teams were introduced. They can't get started soon enough."
Ulrich, who will join the team on Wednesday, is being assisted by Lady Flyers' Coach Herb Pike and Stewart Heilman. The team flew into Buffalo on the way to Chautauqua which is located about 75 miles to the south and about 20 miles from coast of Lake Erie.
C.Bergmann