WINTHROP, Mass. – Worcester State University has been picked to finish fifth at this weekend's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men's Golf Championship at Gorham Country Club in Gorham, Maine.
Rhode Island College (RIC) is the top pick and will be seeking its sixth GNAC Championship as when the University of Southern Maine hosts this year's two day event (Oct. 15-16).
RIC received four first-place votes and 76 points to lead the way in the annual GNAC coaches' poll, as announced on Thursday afternoon by the league office. Southern Maine finished second with 67 points and four first-place nods, while Saint Joseph's College of Maine finished third with 58 points and one first-place tally. The University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth was one point back of SJC for the fourth spot.
RIC sophomore Tom Sheran received the 2015 GNAC Golfer and Rookie of the Year awards after earning medalist honors last fall with a 78-77—155.
Finishing fifth in the ledger was Johnson & Wales University with 46 points, narrowly ahead of Worcester State University (44 points), which finished as runner-up to RIC at last year's GNAC Championship. Two of the three Worcester State student-athletes to earn All-Conference honors last fall – senior Steven Ferraro and junior Mike Jezierski – are back in 2016.
Rounding out the coaches' poll was Suffolk University with 25 points, Emmanuel College (Mass.) with 20 points and Albertus Magnus College with 12 points.
The championship tees off on Saturday morning and concludes Sunday, with sunny weather approaching 60 degrees each day in the forecast. Spectators are not permitted to bring dogs or smoke during the tournament. For more information on the course, please visit gorhamcountryclub.com.
Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement.
2016 GNAC Men's Golf Championship Coaches' Poll
1. Rhode Island Coll. (4) – 76
2. Southern Maine (4) – 67
3. Saint Joseph's of Maine (1) – 58
4. UMass Dartmouth – 57
5. Johnson & Wales – 46
6. Worcester State – 44
7. Suffolk – 25
8. Emmanuel – 20
9. Albertus Magnus - 12
Release Courtesy of GNAC Media Relations