Elms Golf Picked Second In NECC Poll
Posted: Aug 22, 2018

Elms Golf Picked Second In NECC Poll

MARSHFIELD, Mass. – The Elms College men’s golf team was picked to finish second in the 2018 NECC Golf Preseason Poll, which was released by the league on Wednesday. The Blazers will be under the direction of head coach Adam Ziewacz who took over the team in April. Ziewacz will have the luxury of guiding an experienced squad, including returnee Chris Soderberg (Florence, Mass.), who shot a 161 to finish 12th at the 2017 NECC Championship.

With 25 total points, Springfield College tops the 2018 NECC Golf Preseason Poll, as the unanimous selection to win the 2018 NECC Championship. Led by head coach Joe Eadie, the Pride were the runner-ups in the 2017 NECC Championship, and return two top-five finishers from last year’s team, Mike Strong (Newington, Conn.) and Jakob Raichle (Bethlehem, N.H.). Strong and Raichle were both First Team All-NECC performers last season, shooting a 149 and 150, respectively.

Finishing third in the poll with 14 points is Dean College. The Bulldogs, led by head coach Jay Leiendecker, will look to returnee Mike McAuliffe (Dunstable, Mass.) to make an impact. McAuliffe finished tied for 19th at the 2017 NECC Championship, shooting a 172.

Mitchell College was voted into the fourth slot, with a total of 11 points. Led by head coach Todd Peretz, the Mariners return Second Team All-NECC performer, Nick Knisel (Weatogue, Conn.). Knisel finished ninth at the 2017 NECC Championship, with a score of 156.  

Newcomer Eastern Nazarene College closes out the 2018 NECC Golf Preseason Poll in the fifth spot, with five total points. The Lions are led by fourth-year head coach Toni Kabilian, and return all five players from last season’s squad, including Michael Dietz (North Charleston, S.C.) who received Second Team All-Conference honors in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) a year ago.

The 2018 NECC Golf Championship will be held at Wachusett Country Club on September 29 through September 30.

2018 NECC Golf Preseason Coaches Poll

  1. Springfield- 25
  2. Elms- 20
  3. Dean- 14
  4. Mitchell- 11
  5. Eastern Nazarene- 5