HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, FLA – The York College men's golf team completed their stay at the 2021 NCAA Fall Division III National Preview tournament in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida on Tuesday. The tournament was an invitation only event featuring 24 teams from last year's NCAA Division III Tournament field.
The Spartans finished eighth of the 24 teams with a three-day score of 882. York fired 298 on Sunday, 289 on Monday and 295 during Tuesday's final round. Methodist won the tournament with a tournament score of 852 (-12). Emory finished second at 857 (-7) while Huntingdon finished third at 860 (-4). Wittenberg (864) and Illinois Wesleyan (867) rounded out the top five.
Junior
Riley Rohlfs was York's top tournament performer as the reigning MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year tied for 19
th as he was two-over-par for the tournament. Rohlfs fired a one-over-par 73 on Tuesday to finish with a three-day score of 218. Rohlfs was extremely consistent with scores of 72, 73, and 73. He was four strokes out of a top five finish. On Tuesday, Rohlfs had a tough front nine as he shot a four-over-par 39. He was fantastic on the back nine. Rohlfs opened the final nine with an eagle two on the par five tenth. He followed that with a birdie on the par four 11
th hole. He had a bogey on 13 and another birdie on 14 to finish with a three-under 34 on the back nine.
Fellow junior
Nick Fioravante also had a strong tournament as he finished tied for 32
nd in the 122-player field as he finished with a three-day total of 221. Fioravante had a tough first round with an uncharacteristic 78 but rebounded with a two-under-par 70 on Monday and a one-over-par 73 on Tuesday. During Tuesday's round, Fioravante was two over on the front nine with a bogey, a double bogey and a birdie on nine. He then birdied 10 before completing his round with eighth consecutive pars.
Freshman
Gavin Ganter fared well in his first big collegiate tournament as he finished tied for 38
th with a three-day total of 222, one stroke back of Fioravante. Ganter shot 75 on Sunday followed by a one-under-par 71 on Monday. He concluded the tournament with a 76 on Tuesday. Ganter shot a three-over 38 on his opening nine Tuesday morning. He then birdied 10 and 11 to get back to one-over for the round. He finished the round with four pars and three bogeys as he shot a one-over 38 on the back and four-over for the round.
Freshman
Matthew Salter had a good round on Tuesday as he fired a one-over-par 73 to tie Rohlfs and Fioravante for team scoring honors. Salter shot an even par 35 on the front with a birdie on two and a bogey on seven. He then bogeyed two of his first three holes on the back before rebounding with a birdie and five pars to close out his round. Salter finished the tournament tied for 51
st with a three-day total of 224. He shot 76 on Sunday, 75 on Monday and 73 on Tuesday. He was just two strokes out of a top 40 finish.
York's third freshman starter,
Jason Velez, shot a seven-over-par 79 on Tuesday. He was four-over on the front and then three-over on the back for his 79. For the tournament, Velez finished with a total of 230 with scores of 75, 76, and 79.
Head coach
David Boslough was pleased with the performance of his young squad during the biggest fall tournament the Spartans have ever played in as a program.
"I am really proud of how our guys adapted quickly and made adjustments to the different conditions all week," said Boslough. "You are never quite sure how a young team will react in a big-time tournament situation but our guys were fantastic. We played very consistently one through five for the entire tournament. The guys did a great job of minimizing damage when we needed to and avoided big number situations. It was a great trip."
The Spartans led the field with four eagles in the three rounds. York also captured 36 birdies and 163 pars during the tournament.
York is now off until October 9 and 10 when they travel to the McDaniel College Fall Invitational at the Bridges Golf Club in Abbottstown, PA. The action is slated for a noon kick off on October 9.
