STEAMBURG, N.Y. – On a windy but pleasant fall weekend in The Empire State, EMU Disc Golf made a strong season-opening statement at the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Championships. The two-day tournament took place at Highbanks Disc Golf Park in Steamburg, N.Y.
Jesse Longenecker, a sophomore form Lancaster, Pa., led the way individually with his victory in the singles competition on Saturday.
The Royals then shined together in the team competition on Sunday. The men's "A" team of Longenecker,
Eli Stoll,
Beckham Jantzi and
Theo Andreas placed runner-up with a score of 16-under-par to qualify for the top division at College Disc Golf Nationals for the second year in a row. The Royals were just one stroke behind the team champions from Kentucky.
The women's "A" team of
Miriam Rhodes and
Naomi Kratzer cruised to victory in the women's division with a score of 10-over-par, 10 strokes ahead of the nearest team from Pittsburgh.
Saturday Highlights (Singles Round)
Men's "A"
- Longenecker posted a first round score of 10-under-par 52 to put himself in second place, just one stroke back of leader Zach Sisson of Houghton University going into the nine-hole final round.
- Longenecker was not the only Royal to make the cut for the final nine holes. Andreas, a sophomore from Bluffton, Ohio, had a breakthrough performance, shooting a 6-under-par 56 to tie for fifth and advance to the last round.
- Jantzi and Stoll logged scorecards of 1-over-par 63 and 6-over-par 68, respectively.
- In the finals, Longenecker went three-under-par over the final nine holes to edge past Sisson for the one-stroke victory. Andreas went one-under-par across the last nine to finish in a tie for fourth.
Men's "B"
Women
- Rhodes took home runner-up honors in the women's singles round at 11-over-par 73 with Kratzer close behind in third at 13-over-par 75. Rose Short finished with a 24-over-par 86, followed by first-year Monica Ehrenfels at 29-over-par 91.
Sunday Highlights (Team Round)
Men's "A"
- The "A" squad went into the final 18 holes in a three-way tie for second at 2-under-par, but then the Royals distinguished with the best score of the final round at 14-under-par 48. They capped the round with 10 straight birdies, giving the team from Kentucky a run for their money.
Men's "B"
- The "B" squad, consisting of Hedrick, Metzler, Wenger, and Peachey-Stoner, came home in fifth place in their division, going even-par 62. The team started strong with birdies on four of their first six holes.
Women
- Rhodes and Kratzer left no doubt with their 10-stroke victory in the women's division, adding an exclamation point with bridies on each of the final three holes.
- Short and Ehrenfels teamed up for a score of 43-over-par in the team round.
What's Next
EMU Disc Golf will be the home team the next time they take to the course for the EMU Royals Fall Classic at Westover Park in Harrisonburg on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15-16. The Men's "A" team will look to defend their team title from last year's tournament, while Longenecker will seek a repeat of his singles victory. The opening round gets underway at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15.
