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Post by cindycrawford on Apr 26, 2015 16:25:01 GMT -5
Congratulations to the guys and their superb coach.
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Post by loyal on Apr 26, 2015 17:21:17 GMT -5
Great accomplishment....a concrete jungle school going back to back....in GOLF!
OT, this win gives you the latitude to express, for one more season, how valuable a player Chris Burke really was. :-)
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Post by youngalum on Apr 26, 2015 19:37:29 GMT -5
Congrats OT and players!! Great Accomplishment! As John Sterling would say, "Back to Back and Belly to Belly!!"
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Post by youngalum on Apr 26, 2015 19:48:44 GMT -5
Unfortunately I wasn't able to watch the end of the tourney. Looks like a tough break for Dilio, finishing with a bogey and double bogey that forced a playoff which he lost for the individual title. Very close to the trifecta...Team Champs, Coach of the year, and so close to our first individual title. Nick will get another shot next year.
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Post by whiskeyjack61 on Apr 26, 2015 20:22:45 GMT -5
Always nice to read about Peacock victory in any sport!!
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Post by oldtimer1 on Apr 27, 2015 0:24:47 GMT -5
Just got home an hour ago but wanted to thank all the faithful for their interest and support. Means a lot to myself and the players. Some comments
1) We really destroyed the field. Magnolia, the Disney course that we played has been a PGA Tour stop for years. The Tournament was played from the "tips" meaning as far back as possible. This makes the four under par rounds by Brian Grubbs and Nick Dilio even more impressive.
2) Think the practice round we played Thursday set us up for an outstanding Tournament. We set a game plan for each of the 18 holes, followed that plan in the Tournament and executed. There were some very good golfers in the Tournament. Burak of Fairfield, for example, is an impressive player who won the individual title two years ago. However, our guys were clearly the class and their dominance showed.
3) Part of the game plan was to start each round at 0-0 and on the last day we were looking to expand our lead rather than hold on. While the final score looked a bit close, the issue was never even in doubt. We sort of screwed up the final two holes to make that final tally look closer than it really was.
4) Feel bad for Brian and Nick who finished 2nd and 3rd. Eric finished top ten and would have been in the mix for the Championship had he not taken a triple bogey 7 on an early hole on day #2. That triple put Eric 5 over with 9 holes to play. Just to show how mentally tough a kid Eric is, I told him to shrug it off and play the back nine in even par...he did just that.
5) Felt especially bad for Nick, in the way he lost. Nick had a 3 stroke lead with five holes to play. On #14 he barely missed a 6 foot birdie put which would have put him up even further... tough luck. On the next hole Nick made an easy par and the Iona player needed to make an 8 foot put just to tie Nick on the hole. Again another chance to pull away. On the following hole, # 16 the Iona player made a great mid-range birdie put ( fate?) but Nick, who was closer, birdied also....tough kid!. Lead still 3 shots. On #17, toughest hole on the course, Nick lost a shot. But he still held two shots ahead going to the final hole. Looked like an easy victory! Nick promptly bombed his drive right down the middle. However, his second shot on this very long par four was pushed only slightly but got caught in the swirling wind , hit the side of the bank and into the water. Can't call it a bad break, nor did Nick appear nervous. He just hit a pretty good looking shot that was only slightly off line but the wind and the bank made him pay. Lost in a playoff that followed.
6) Let's wait to see where the NCAA sends us. MAAC teams usually finish at the bottom of their Regional. No expections this time except to say that if Brian and Nick can each post a four under par round at Magnolia then, they can play with anyone in the country! Consistency is really the main difference but my guys can really play.
Thanks again...OT
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Post by spcfan on Apr 27, 2015 6:21:17 GMT -5
Congratulations OT on an incredible 2nd straight MAAC title for the concrete campus Peacocks against the field. Like i've said previously great win against teams loaded with country club raised players. A testament to superior recruiting and coaching on your part. Also if i'm not mistaken you won your 3rd straight MAAC coach of the year honors.I know the NCAA matchup is never favorable for a MAAC school hopefully you wind up in a place with better weather than last year in Illinois. I'll be watching the golf channel to see where they send you on May 4th. Best of luck.
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Post by oldtimer1 on Apr 27, 2015 7:56:12 GMT -5
Thanks spcfan and all. Still believe that a Coach is only as good as his players. However, the combination of Coach and player has worked well for us over the years. College golf may be a bit different in that all players, even on the top ranked teams hit the ball about the same... except for consistency. We work on improving and working on those things to bring each of my players "to the next level". Some is physical but a lot is mental...believing in themselves. Also helps to have great kids.
No question, that we are the "closest" team in the League! Finally, I've exposed them to two of my close friends to "pick their brains". Do not bring them to what I call the "driving range pro's" who often make golf seem complicated. I'd rather have my players get advice from those who have accomplished. Bill Britton, Director of Golf at Trump National in Colts Neck has a top ten Master's and PGA finish on his resume. One of my closest friends, Jim Albus won over 7 million on the Champions Tour in the 1990's. Best player out there for 3/4 years. Beat Nicklous 7/8 times they were paired together and eventually became friends with Jack. Took my players to see both this year. I'm sure it helped.
Now in my 7th year coaching these great guys. They have performed and that makes me proud.
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Post by figgyprez on Apr 27, 2015 9:40:52 GMT -5
Congrats OT and your guys. Verrrry Sweet. Hey Karl Anthony Townes has 3 yrs of eligibility left- He can go NBA and play a little golf at an NCAA tourney regular school on the side especially if he goes to the Knicks. No worries about schedule interfering with playoffs at MSG. Its all good LOL
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Post by loyal on Apr 27, 2015 9:42:08 GMT -5
Quite an accomplishment. Congrats again to the players and coach. I hope the post-Tourney celebration was a wild one!
SPU is certainly not the easiest place to attain athletic success, but as OT (and a few other SPU coaches over the past decade) have proven, it can be done.
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Post by oldtimer1 on Apr 27, 2015 15:10:09 GMT -5
Thanks guys but it's getting a little embarassing. I'm no genius and 80% or more of the credit belongs to the players. I will, however, tell you this. Our Athletic Scholarships are pretty competitive with those of other schools. If the minor sports ( I don't consider golf a minor sport...but that's my problem) had more Scholarship money available we could really kick ass. As is, we (golf) are doing fine. Let's see how the NCAA goes.
Would also like to see some more full time coaches for certain sports. Would make a big, big difference.
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Mens Golf
Apr 27, 2015 17:01:06 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by newfan on Apr 27, 2015 17:01:06 GMT -5
CONGRATULATIONS to the golfers and to you OT!!! Back to back, nothing more to be said. I don't know much about golf but I know Success and you guys bring it to yourselves and SPU, continued success as you move on to the NCAA's
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Post by eclecticed on Apr 28, 2015 9:31:30 GMT -5
I'm a little late but I didn't want an opportunity to say thanks go bye. All of us have been in competitions of some sort and we all know how hard it is to succeed. OT, you and your team ought to be really proud of yourselves. Good luck in the NCAA's.
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Post by maacfan on Apr 28, 2015 13:59:24 GMT -5
I'm a little late but I didn't want an opportunity to say thanks go bye. All of us have been in competitions of some sort and we all know how hard it is to succeed. OT, you and your team ought to be really proud of yourselves. Good luck in the NCAA's. Congratulations to you, OT and the golf team for an outstanding performance. We all know how difficult is to win any a title in any sport, but to repeat in golf from a city school, like St. Peters is absolutely amazing. Let's go for the three-peat!
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Post by oldtimer1 on Apr 28, 2015 14:58:28 GMT -5
You guys know more about this basketball recruiting stuff than I do but at the Athletics Senior Awards Dinner, last night, I spoke with JD and Marlon for quite a while. Without going too far they think that they might sign a prospect from Texas. If signed will be a Freshman, not a transfer, about 6'3" and labled as a scorer. Their primary target will make a decision in a week or so. They mentioned his name but I forgot...honestly!
Regarding Golf, the SID will announce two recruits by month's end. Since I graduate 3 Seniors, I need one more recruit to be in the mix next year.
PS Eric Edmunds was selected male Senior Athlete over Marvin and Desi. Nice recognition!
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