Men’s Golf Team Wins Conference Title

The University of Hartford men’s golf team captured the 2006 America East Men’s Golf Championship earlier this month, Hartford’s 11th overall conference title and its fourth in six years.

Led by Kenneth J. Pope medalist David Arnold’s championship-low, two-day score of 150, the Hartford men combined to shoot 625 for the championship tournament, holding off defending champion Binghamton University (639) and Boston University (678).

Arnold became the eighth Hartford men’s golfer to earn medalist honors at the America East Championship. His final round of 76 was two shots more than his previous day’s score, though it was the low round of the day. He entered the final round tied with Boston University’s Michael O’Day, as each player finished the first round with scores of 74.

The Hawks also got solid final rounds of 78 from both junior Dustin Wetherup and senior Jim Reed. Wetherup finished third overall at 155 while Reed finished sixth at 161. Rounding out the scoring for the Hawks was freshman Kyle Parsons (164, 10th) and sophomore A.J. Oleksak (165, 11th). Arnold and Wetherup were named to the America East All-Conference Team while head coach Bill Poutre was named America East Coach of the Year.

Women Finish Second

The University of Hartford women’s golf team finished second at the 2006 America East Women’s Golf Championship. Boston University held on to the top spot and took home the championship with a two-day total of 706. Hartford shaved 38 strokes off its first round score but still finished as runner-up at 726. The University at Albany rounded out the field with a final score of 764.

Senior Kerry Hassell played perhaps the best golf of her four-year career in her final collegiate tournament. After shooting 89 in the first round, Hassell carded an 87 on the final day to finish second overall at 176. Sophomore Juliana Carrillo finished tied for sixth overall at 179 after shooting an 85 in the final round. Freshman Megan Claxton improved 10 strokes from the previous day and posted a score of 87, finishing eighth overall at 184. Sophomore Jennifer Guido also shot 85 but finished ninth overall at 187 while senior Jo-Anna Krupa rounded out the scoring with a total of 191 to finish 12th.