Gaboury (left) was named NECC Rookie of the Year
Gaboury (left) was named NECC Rookie of the Year
Posted: Sep 30, 2018

Men's Golf Finishes Third at NECC Championship; Gaboury Named Rookie of the Year

WEST BOYLSTON, Mass. -- The Mitchell College men's golf team finished third overall at the 2018 New England Collegiate Conference Championship on Sunday afternoon at Wachusett Country Club.

Mitchell freshman Sam Gaboury tied for fifth overall and earned all-conference first team honors. He was also named NECC Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Mitchell golfer to ever earn the distinction.

Springfield College logged the low round for the second straight day en route to the team title, finishing with a two-day total of 615. The Pride's Jake Raichle, who began the day one shot behind teammate Mike Strong for the individual lead, shot a 74 to earn medalist honors at 148. Raichle was named NECC Golfer of the Year.

Elms College shaved 11 strokes off its first-round score to finish second overall at 635. Mitchell (643), Eastern Nazarene College (685) and Dean College (725) rounded out the five-team field.

The two-day total of 643 was the lowest ever for a Mitchell squad, and the third-place finish was the program's best showing since 2008. The 2008 squad finished second in the tournament's inaugural season with a score of 676, which was the mark the 2018 team eclipsed.

Gaboury carded a round of 78 on Sunday that included three birdies. He finished with a 36-hole total of 158, the lowest total ever by a Mitchell rookie at the conference tournament. He's also only the second Mitchell golfer to ever earn a spot on the all-conference first team (Mike Lepore, 2008).

Michael McCarthy, another Mitchell newcomer, turned in a solid effort in his NECC debut. He also shot 78 in the final round and finished 11th overall with a two-day total of 160. Over the 36 holes he logged two birdies and a team-high 21 pars.

After leading the Mariners with a 79 in his opening round, Michael Izzo fired an 82 to finish 12th overall at 161. His five birdies were the most by a Mitchell golfer for the tournament. Nick Knisel rounded out the scoring with a two-day total of 164 to finish tied for 14th.

Mitchell will next play at Emmanuel College on Thursday, October 4 at noon.