New Hartford, NY -- Behind a one-over-par 72 by sophomore Evan Clarke and a 73 from freshman Jarryd ten Vaanholt, the EC Men’s Golf team shot a four-score total of 300 to take a five-stroke lead over two-time defending champion St. John Fisher College after the opening round of the Empire 8 Conference men’s golf championships Saturday afternoon at Yahnandasis Golf Club.
The Soaring Eagles also received a 77 from senior Alex Todd and a 78 from sophomore Troy Gordon in their quest for their first conference title in the conference’s 13-year history of the event. Leading the way for St. John Fisher today was Thad Wier III with a 75, Chris Blyth and Ryann McGinnis each shot 76, and Joe Radulski carded a 78.
Scranton, behind a two-under par 69 by individual leader Erik Meyer, shot 306 and is in third place, followed by Stevens Institute of Technology (326), Susquehanna University (329), Utica College (337), Nazareth College (338), Moravian College (357), and Houghton College (386).
Second-round action continues tomorrow. The final 36 holes of competition will be played during the 2013 spring semester, with the eventual Empire 8 Conference team champion earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III championships.