Utica Announces Addition of Women's Golf as 26th Sport
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UTICA, NY – Utica College Director of Physical Education and Athletics
David Fontaine has announced the addition of women's golf as the College's 26
th NCAA Division III intercollegiate sport. Starting in the Fall of 2016 women's golf will be added to the roster of sport offerings at Utica College and the program will compete in the highly competitive Empire 8 Conference.
Recruiting for the women's golf program will begin immediately under the guidance of current Utica College full-time coaches
Dave Clausen and
Brian Marcantonio. Clausen and Marcantonio will take over duties as the head coaches of both the men's and women's golf programs, effective in the Fall of 2016.
"We're excited to give our women another opportunity within intercollegiate athletics at Utica College," said Fontaine. "As Utica College continues to grow, it is important to give our female students as many opportunities as possible. With the popularity of golf on the rise, it is an ideal time to add a women's collegiate golf program."
Utica College will now offer 14 varsity women's athletic programs to go along with its roster of 12 men's varsity sports.
The Empire 8 Conference will now have five teams represented in the sport of women's golf, including Utica College, Ithaca College, St. John Fisher College, Elmira College and Nazareth College.
"We are thrilled to have Utica College add the sport of women's golf," said Empire 8 Conference Commissioner Chuck Mitrano. "The move further supports the other women's golf programs in the Empire 8 and is a commitment to an important emerging sport for women."
Dave Clausen is in his 15
th season as the head coach of the women's hockey program at UC, while
Brian Marcantonio recently wrapped up his second full season as head coach of the men's soccer program. Both coaches will take on extra duties as they will now lead both of the Pioneers' golf programs.
"The Mohawk Valley is one of the best golfing areas in the state and we have access to high quality facilities," said
Dave Clausen. "The Fall season is a beautiful time of year to play golf in Central New York and we are excited and enthusiastic to hit the ground running."
205 NCAA Division III institutions currently sponsor the sport of women's golf. 14 of those programs are from New York State, including SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Cortland, Elmira College, Hamilton College, William Smith College, Ithaca College, Keuka College, Manhattanville College, Nazareth College, New York University, St. John Fisher College, St. Lawrence University, Union College and Vassar College.
"I'm excited about the addition of women's golf here at Utica College", said
Brian Marcantonio. "There's a number of quality golf courses in the area and with the campus thriving we are well positioned to build a strong women's program."
The NCAA conducts the women's golf championship each spring and has done so since 2000. The 2015 championship was claimed by Williams College.