St. John's University Athletics
Red Storm Men's Golf Team Hosts McLaughlin
9/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Red Storm Men???s Golf: McLaughlin Preview
The St. John???s men???s golf team will be hosting one of its three annual events, the McLaughlin, this Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23 on the Red Course at Bethpage. This year, the Red Storm will look to defend its 2005 McLaughlin Championship title against a field of 16 other teams.
The Red Storm finished third at its first event of the season, the Rutgers Invitational. Co-captains Keegan Bradley and George Zolotas served as St. John???s top-two finishers. Bradley carded a three-under par 139 over the two round event and finished tied for second place, while Zolotas stood alone in fourth place with a one-under par 141.
The duo will be among the probable five starters for this weekend???s event, along with, sophomore Kevin Velardo and freshmen Dan Mollicone and Mike Ballo Jr. Velardo shot a 148 at the Rutgers Invitational while Mollicone posted a 152 in his first collegiate outing.
Senior Joe Yastrub and sophomore Casey Calmi will compete individually at the McLaughlin. Yastrub will look to improve on the 159 he carded at the Rutgers Invitational while Calmi will see time in his first fall event.
St. John???s took first place at last season???s McLaughlin, recording its first NCAA win of the season. Bradley took third overall with a two-under par 208. Zolotas, Velardo and Calmi were all part of the starting five and carded a 215, 218 and 219, respectively. Yastrub competed individually and finished with a 231.
???We have a great field of schools competing at this year???s McLaughlin,??? said head coach Frank Darby. ???I will look for our guys to be ready to protect our title at our event. We have the talent and are more than capable of capturing our first NCAA win of the season on a course we consider home.???
The Red Storm shared first place honors with Winthrop University, which will be in attendance again this year. Drexel, the University of Akron, the University of Hartford and Binghamton will all be back at the McLaughlin this season and rounded out last year???s top-5 schools. Some of the best conferences around the East Coast will be represented at the McLaughlin as members of the BIG EAST Conference, Mid-American Conference, America East Conference, Ivy League Conference, Colonial Athletic Conference, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, East Coast Conference, Atlantic-10 Conference and Big South Conference will be on hand.