CCC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP: Endicott Comes Up Short in Bid For Second Straight Title

SALEM, Mass. - After two rounds of golf in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship, the Endicott men's golf team came up just short in their bid to repeat as conference champions, finishing second to Western New England.

After posting a team score of 303 on day one at the Kernwood Country Club, the Gulls were able to improve on day two, firing a final round of 300. Leading the charge were juniors Christopher Billings (Portland, Maine) and Carter Knox (Hinesburg, Vt.), who posted rounds of 72 and 73, respectively. Finishing just off the pace was senior Athan Goulous (Peabody, Mass.), who carded a 75 on day two. That trio all finished with two-day totals of 151 to finish in a three-way tie for fifth place.

Ben Palazzo (Farmington, Conn.) and Drew Benshoff (Concord, Mass.) finished their tournament play with scores of 153 and 157, good for 10th and 14th in the field. Benshoff, Goulos and Palazzo finish their careers at Endicott having won one CCC conference title, and having finished as the runner-up three times as well. 

After cruising to an opening round of 289 on Saturday, Western New England put up an impressive round of 294 on Sunday to claim the second CCC title for the senior class. Senior John Abbott (Higganum, Conn.) claimed medalist honors for the tournament, shooting identical rounds of 71 to finish three strokes ahead of teammate Joe Ciolek (South Hadley, Mass.), who finished with a 76 after an opening round 69. Fellow Golden Bear Mike Metcalf (Longmeadow, Mass.) finished third after posting two rounds of 73.

Roger Williams' Joshua Unkrich (Bristol, Conn.) completed the top five, finishing in fourth place overall after shooting 74 on both days of the championship.

The Nichols Bison finished day two with a team score of 311 to finish in third place, while Roger Williams finished in fourth.