Golf blows away field for 10th MAAC Championship and NCAA Birth
Tim Curran
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: Sports
Say hello to the 2008 MAAC Champions. The Loyola Men's Golf Team displayed an impressive team effort at the MAAC tournament at the Magnolia Golf Club in Orlando, Florida this weekend, finishing eight strokes ahead of second place Rider. Junior Michael Mulieri also wrapped the McLeod Medal for the MAAC individual championship, finishing the three day tournament at five under par with a total score of 211.
This is the 10th conference championship title in Loyola's history and the fourth in the last eight years. "I couldn't be more proud of the way the team played this week," said head coach Tom Beidleman. "This championship was a tremendous team effort."
At the beginning of the season, Coach Beidleman mentioned that everything that the Greyhounds worked for on and off the season was for the single goal of winning the MAAC championship. Well that goal has been reached and the team has earned a bid to compete in the NCAA tournament.
Mulieri finished the tournament with a solid 70 following his clutch career best 67 on day two. Senior Matt Bassler shot 69 in the first round and closed the tournament with a one under par 71. Senior Chris Derby shot an even par 70 in the third round to help the Greyhounds finish strong. Freshman Alex Redfearn and Junior Mike O'Keefe had impressive showings as well, finishing with 228 and 236 respectively to round out the five man team.
In addition to being awarded with McLeod Medalist Honors, Mulieri was named MAAC golfer of the month every month this spring, and went into the MAAC championship with two individual tournament titles under his belt, one at the Carlton Oaks Invitational in California to open the season, and one at the LaCrosse Holmes Collegiate here in Maryland.
The team contributes their success this spring to all of the hard work they put forth during the off-season. According to Mulieri, the team lived by the saying "Failure to prepare, prepare to fail." With mandatory workout sessions and indoor swing fundamental sessions, Coach Beidelman whipped the men into shape for the start of the season, and the tough training obviously paid-off.
The Greyhounds were the only team of the tournament to shoot under 300 for every round of the championship. After day two, the Hounds held a slim two stroke lead over Rider, however on the third round of play, they pulled away to put a significant amount of space between themselves and the second place team.
Senior co-captains Derby and Bassler won the MAAC championship title four years ago when they were freshmen and had not tasted victory since that 2004 campaign. They vowed to bring the championship back to the Evergreen Campus with hard work, determination and practice. With that goal under their belt, the Hounds remain waiting for their NCAA regional-round assignment and opening round scheduled for May 28.
This is the 10th conference championship title in Loyola's history and the fourth in the last eight years. "I couldn't be more proud of the way the team played this week," said head coach Tom Beidleman. "This championship was a tremendous team effort."
At the beginning of the season, Coach Beidleman mentioned that everything that the Greyhounds worked for on and off the season was for the single goal of winning the MAAC championship. Well that goal has been reached and the team has earned a bid to compete in the NCAA tournament.
Mulieri finished the tournament with a solid 70 following his clutch career best 67 on day two. Senior Matt Bassler shot 69 in the first round and closed the tournament with a one under par 71. Senior Chris Derby shot an even par 70 in the third round to help the Greyhounds finish strong. Freshman Alex Redfearn and Junior Mike O'Keefe had impressive showings as well, finishing with 228 and 236 respectively to round out the five man team.
In addition to being awarded with McLeod Medalist Honors, Mulieri was named MAAC golfer of the month every month this spring, and went into the MAAC championship with two individual tournament titles under his belt, one at the Carlton Oaks Invitational in California to open the season, and one at the LaCrosse Holmes Collegiate here in Maryland.
The team contributes their success this spring to all of the hard work they put forth during the off-season. According to Mulieri, the team lived by the saying "Failure to prepare, prepare to fail." With mandatory workout sessions and indoor swing fundamental sessions, Coach Beidelman whipped the men into shape for the start of the season, and the tough training obviously paid-off.
The Greyhounds were the only team of the tournament to shoot under 300 for every round of the championship. After day two, the Hounds held a slim two stroke lead over Rider, however on the third round of play, they pulled away to put a significant amount of space between themselves and the second place team.
Senior co-captains Derby and Bassler won the MAAC championship title four years ago when they were freshmen and had not tasted victory since that 2004 campaign. They vowed to bring the championship back to the Evergreen Campus with hard work, determination and practice. With that goal under their belt, the Hounds remain waiting for their NCAA regional-round assignment and opening round scheduled for May 28.
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