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2008 Wingate University Men's Golf Team

Season Outlook

During the spring 2007 NCAA Championship season, Wingate University’s young men’s golfers could not match the record-setting pace of the fall. The team placed a disappointing sixth in the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Championships at Lake Hickory Country Club. The team record for lowest NCAA-era team round of 289 (+1) in the Anderson Invitational at Brookstone Meadows went into the record books and posed a challenge for future teams.                                              

With only graduated senior Garrett Davitt missing, the young but more experienced Wingate men faced a stronger schedule during the fall season of 2007. They hoped to place higher against a strong field at the Cougar Point Club on Kiawah Island, but the Bulldogs settled down in subsequent events behind the low scoring of various players. Sophomore Spencer Percy (Statesville, N.C.) led the Bulldogs to third place at Cross Creek Plantation in Seneca (S.C.) with an even par 73-69=142 with senior Corey Iacofano (Painesville, Ohio) close behind with a 147 total. 

At Link Hills Country Club (Greeneville, Tenn.), junior Shane Dyer (Watertown, N.Y.) posted a two-over-par 144 and Spencer Percy a three-over-par 145 to spark Wingate to a new NCAA-era team record round of 285 (+1) and a fourth-place finish. Two weeks later, junior Kevin Robertson (Pottstown, Pa.) challenged the Woodlake Golf Club course in Tazewell, Tenn. (Lincoln Memorial Invitational) with a 69-71=140 (-4) and the ‘Dogs again lowered the NCAA-era team record round to 288 (even par) and the NCAA-era event record to 581 (+5). As a result, Wingate finished a strong third at the LMU Invitational).

At the close of the fall season, Wingate was ranked number 13 in the NCAA Division II South region. The South Atlantic Conference is strong; Tusculum, Newberry, Lincoln Memorial, Lenior-Rhyne and Carson-Newman stand ahead of Wingate in the regional rankings. The Bulldogs hear the challenge; the gauntlet is down.

Seven members of the Wingate squad competed in fall varsity events and most established consistently low scoring averages. Percy led with an average of 73.9, followed by Robertson with 74.8 and Iacofano with 75.0. 

Dyer, Chet DeLong (Madison, Ohio) and Scott Caragher (Charlotte, N.C.) contributed to varsity scoring with averages of 76. Varsity players capitalized on their experience and managed to keep an impressive corps of freshman players only nipping at the varsity heels. Zachary Harris (Kernersville, N.C.) and Evan White (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) led the Blue Team with Stuart Bryson (Motherswell, Scotland) and Trey Hovis (Indian Trail, N.C.) not far behind. These freshmen played two events and served notice that they will not be denied a varsity slot for long.

Senior Manuel Fossas (San Juan, Puerto Rico) competed in one Blue team event and junior John Palermo (Chestertown, N.Y.) made one varsity and one Blue event. The squad was rounded out by senior Justin Logan (Newmarket, Ontario),  sophomores Seth Girouard (Spofford, N.H.) and Ed Winters (Washington, N.J.) and freshmen Neill Lindley (Snow Camp, N.C.) and David Velasquez (Anarco, Veneuzela).

The Wingate men’s golf approaches the championship season brimming with confidence. They face a demanding challenge on premier courses with strong fields. The month of February takes the varsity to The Hombre in Panama City, Fla. and Pine Needles in Pinehurst, N.C. In March, events include tournaments at the Country Club of Salisbury and Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation.

The Bulldogs will host the J. Ralph Hargett Memorial Intercollegiate Men’s Golf Tournament at the Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation. A trip to Carolina Sands Country Club will prepare the Bulldogs for the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Championship at Lake Hickory Country Club in April. The Blue team will play at Crescent Golf Club, Olde Sycamore Golf Plantation and Etowah Valley Country Club. 

Will more new team records be established? Will the men challenge for the SAC championship? The Bulldogs think so; they have the talent and the drive. Two things are certain…the Wingate men will compete with their best efforts and represent the University well.