St. John's University Athletics
2003-04 Men's Golf Recap
5/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 8, 2004
The St. John's men's golf team finished the 2003-04 season with three top-five finishes, eight top-ten finishes and one team championship. The team even though being young had a good fall campaign, while playing a competitive schedule. With the success of newcomers John Stoltz, Brian McArdle and Joe Yastrub and the added experience of sophomores Tom Travalja and junior Ian Middleton, the Red Storm were able to grow throughout the season and be victorious. They placed in the top ten in four out of the five events that they entered. The fall season began with St. John's hosting the McLaughlin at the Bethpage Red Course. They finished 10th and were led by sophomore John Stoltz who carded a ten-over par 220. At the Temple Invitational they finished in 8th place and were led by freshman Joe Yastrub who shot a 13-over par 156.
At the MacDonald Cup, St. John's finished 9th out of 18 teams. Sophomore John Stoltz was the top performer carding a 6-over par 146 to finish in 11th. To finish off the fall season St. John's hosted the Tillinghast at Fenway Golf Club in Scarsdale, NY, where they finished in sixth place. Junior Ian Middleton shot his season low round one-over par 71 in the first round, while John Stoltz finished the tournament in seventh place carding a nine-over par 149 just six shots out of the lead.
The 2004 spring schedule kicked off at the Dick Witcoff USF Invitational in Tampa, Fla., where the team finished 13th overall. Joe Yastrub was their top performer, finishing 26th at 14-over par 227. Yastrub's had a great first year with the team, he was second in stroke average 76.83 and percentage of rounds counted 90.4% .Then at the Northwood Invitational they placed fourth. Ian Middleton placed ninth, his first top-10 finish of the year, with a 5-over par 149.They hosted the Treasure Coast WTC Heroes' Classic in Port St. Lucie, Fla. where they finished seventh. John Stoltz led the team with his best round of the season 1-under par 71 and finished 7th, his second top-10 finish of the year, shooting 6-over par 160.
Stotlz continued to roll at the Drew Upton Classic, where he shot 1-under par 71 in the first round, for the second consecutive tournament. The Red Storm started out slowly in the first round, but they improved on the second day against some of the nation's top teams and finished 18th overall. At the Hofstra Invitational the Red Storm came together and play consistent team golf, one thru five. They overcame a one stroke deficit entering the final round to win the Hofstra Invitational by six shots for their first win of the season. The Red Storm were led by John Stoltz who carded a one-over par 145 for the tournament, finishing in first place for his first career title. Tom Travalja shot a two-over par 74 and finished in second place three shots behind his teammate. Finishing in fourth place was sophomore Brain McArdle who carded a final round three-over par 75.
The Red Storm finished off the spring season playing in the Princeton Invitational. They finished in 13th place and were led by steady play from Brian McArdle who shot two rounds of 4-over par 75 golf to finish the tournament with an eight-over par 150. John Stoltz also finished the tournament at eight-over par 150; both Stoltz and McArdle finished the two-day event tied for 23rd. Stoltz and McArdle transferred to St. John's this season and have been tremendous addition to the program. They are both one two in stroke average, percentage of rounds counted, top-five and top-ten finishes.
With a successful spring season the Red Storm qualified for the 2004 BIG EAST Championship as the sixth seed. Led by sophomores Brian McArdle and John Stoltz, the Red Storm finished fifth. McArdle finished tied for 8th and Stoltz finished in 13th. With the return of a solid core group of young players and the experience of this season, the Red Storm have set their sites on getting back to the NCAA Regional in 2005.