Springfield Edges Babson for NECC Men's Golf Title

 
LITCHFIELD, N.H. – Sophomore newcomer Adam Ziewancz captured individual medalist honors and earned conference "Rookie of the Year" accolades, firing a tournament-low 146 over two rounds including a final-round best 73 to finish four-over par, helping Springfield College capture the 2012 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Men's Golf Championship Sunday afternoon at Passaconaway Country Club.
 
The Pride returned to winners circle in the NECC for the first time since winning the inaugural conference crown in 2008. Springfield will represent the NECC in the NCAA Division III Championship next spring.
 
Two strokes was the difference as Springfield garnered a two-day score of 613 on the par-71 course which covered 6,855 yards. The Pride edged defending champion Babson College, which finished at 615, while Elms College was just seven strokes off the pace finishing at 620.
 
Both Springfield and Babson stood tied after Saturday's opening round.
 
The field rounded out with Newbury College (656), Becker College (668), host Daniel Webster College (702) and Mitchell College (753).
 
Ziewancz edged out tourney runner-up Phil Rurak of Elms, who shot a 76 to finish 149 overall and +7 for the weekend, while Babson's Wesley Tryhane took third by carding a 74 to finish at 150 (+8).
 
The top five – who all earned First Team All-Conference honors – also included Henry Fall of Elms who was fourth (75-76-151, +9) and Vijay Vasandani of Babson (73-79-152, +10).
 
The Second Team All-Conference included the sixth through 10th place finishers, including (in order) Tim Vollaro of Springfield, Kyle DiFranco of Springfield, Adam Navarro of Newbury, Kenny Chong of Babson, Chris Vincent of Springfield and Chris Maguire of Babson.
 
Becker was led by Brandon Parkhouse who tied for 14th overall, Daniel Webster was paced by Kieran Kavanaugh who placed 22nd, while Mitchell was led by freshman Max Jewett who placed 26th.

Four of the five Mitchell golfers shot lower rounds on the final day of play. Jewett (83), Nick Braunreuther (93) and Chris Heller (96) all carded season low rounds while Taylor Zaldivar (97) shaved 14 strokes off his first round score.
 
Craig Cowles of Elms was selected as the NECC's "Coach of the Year" by his peers at the conclusion of the event, while Becker College earned the conference's Team Sportsmanship Award.
 
FINAL ROUND TEAM RESULTS
 
Springfield (308,305) 613
Babson (308,307) 615
Elms (310,310) 620
Newbury (335,321) 656
Becker (343,325) 668
Daniel Webster (356,346) 702
Mitchell (384,369) 753
 
FIRST TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
Adam Ziewancz, Springfield 73 73 (146)
Phil Rurak, Elms 73 76 (149)
Wesley Tryhane, Babson 76 74 (150)
Henry Fall, Elms 75 76 (151)
Vijay Vasandani, Babson 73 79 (152)
 
SECOND TEAM ALL CONFERENCE
Tom Vollaro, Springfield 76 78 (154)
Kyle DiFranco, Springfield 80 76 (156)
Adam Navarro, Newbury 78 78 (156)
Kenny Chong, Babson 80 76 (156)
Chris Vincent, Springfield 79 78 (157)
Chris Maguire, Babson 79 78 (157)