Mitchell Finishes Fourth at NECC Championship

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GROTON, Conn. - In its first season as an associate member of the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC), Babson College won the 2009 NECC Men's Golf Championship on Sunday afternoon at Shennecossett Golf Course.

While windy conditions made for higher final round scores, Babson recorded the best team score of the day at 314 and finished the 36-hole tournament with a total of 608. The Beavers' Bryan Eger was the individual medalist for the tournament and was named NECC Golfer of the Year. He shot 79 in the final round and finished with a two-day total of 149.

Becker College freshman Branden Parkhouse was named NECC Golf Rookie of the Year as the low rookie finisher. He shot 85 in the final round and tied for ninth overall at 163.

Becker's Brian Gorman was named NECC Golf Coach of the Year, as voted upon by all seven conference head coaches. The Hawks were also awarded the NECC Team Sportsmanship Award.

Becker College shot 328 for the final round and notched a two-day total of 643 to finish as runner-up. Rounding out the team scoring were Springfield College (659), Mitchell College (683), Elms College (696), Daniel Webster College (729) and Newbury College (839).

Eger, who vaulted to the top of the leader board with Saturday's low round of 70, edged teammate Camilo Perlaza by one stroke for the individual title. Perlaza was one of three golfers to shoot 78 in the final round, the low number for the day.

Becker's Ben Malone also shot 78 and placed third at 153, followed by Babson's Fernando Pineres at 156, Joseph Young at 157 and Matt Foley at 159. Rounding out the top 10 individuals were Springfield's Craig DiFranco at 160, Elms' Andrew Sullivan at 162 and David Pianki at 163 and Becker's Parkhouse and David Rixham at 163.

The top-10 finishers and ties all earned all-conference honors. Eger, Perlaza, Malone, Pineres and Young were named to the NECC All-Conference First Team while Foley, DiFranco, Sullivan, Pianki, Parkhouse and Rixham were named to the NECC All-Conference Second Team.

Mitchell moved up one spot to finish fourth overall. Freshman Will Visel followed a first round 82 with an 85 on Sunday to finish 15th overall at 167. Freshman Mike Baker bounced back to shoot the lowest round (81) by the Mariners for the weekend and tied with junior John Pescheta (86) for 17th at 171. Sophomore Tad Maynard shaved eight strokes off his first round total to card an 83 and finished 19th at 174, and junior Matt Chatell finished 28th at 196.

Mitchell will wrap up the 2009 season with a quad match on Wednesday, October 14 at Shennecossett Golf Course. Tee times begin at noon.

2009 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Golf Champion: Babson College

NECC Golfer of the Year: Bryan Eger, Babson College

NECC Golf Rookie of the Year: Branden Parkhouse, Becker College

NECC Golf Coach of the Year: Brian Gorman, Becker College

NECC Golf Team Sportsmanship Award: Becker College

NECC Golf All-Conference First Team: Bryan Eger, Babson College; Camilo Perlaza, Babson College; Ben Malone, Becker College; Fernando Pineres, Babson College; Joseph Young, Babson College

NECC Golf All-Conference Second Team: Matt Foley, Babson College; Craig DiFranco, Springfield College; Andrew Sullivan, Elms College; David Pianki, Elms College; Branden Parkhouse, Becker College; David Rixham, Becker College