Suffolk men’s golf had a standout fall campaign with some of the best finishes as a team at the conference and regional level in program history.
To prep for the championship courses the blue-and-gold teed off at a pair of two-day events in September – the Duke Nelson Invitational and the Blazers Invitational.
Over the first weekend of October, Suffolk put an exclamation point on its championship prep when it captured the RIC Homecoming Invitational at the Valley Country Club in Warwick, Rhode Island. The Rams foursome combined for a team card of 328 to top the quad-meet, edging host RIC by one stroke, as well as Wentworth and Western New England.
In its GNAC finale, with the squad transitioning to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) in 2020, the Rams left everything on the green at Gorham Country Club.
On the second day of action, Suffolk subtracted 20 strokes from its first day total to finish with a combined 646 to finish fifth in the eight-team field.
It was the last event of the fall that was the climax of the 2019-20 season as the team put together the best showing at the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association (NEIGA) Championship in recent history with a sixth-place showing. The Rams have not broken into the top ten let alone place higher than a share for 12th since 2017. Suffolk’s success was behind a team card of 639.
Individually, Owen Boggini anchored Suffolk to that success as the senior had the best-known individual outing in the 85-year history of the event. He shot a 156 to share 12th and become the first male golfer to earn All-NEIGA Second-Team honors in program history.
The Rams looked to carry their autumn momentum into the spring as it readied for the eighth annual Spring Series. Suffolk’s plans came to a screeching halt, however, as the NCAA canceled all competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
THROUGH THE LENS
REGIONAL RANKS
Suffolk closed its 2019 fall schedule in record-setting fashion with the best team showing at the 85th New England Intercollegiate Golf Association (NEIGA) Championship with a sixth-place showing.
The Rams have not broken into the top ten in recent history let alone finish higher than a share for 12th since 2017. Suffolk’s success was behind a team card of 639.
BOGGINI BRINGS SECOND-TEAM ALL-NEIGA
Owen Boggini did what no Ram has done before him, according to the record books, which date through the 2008 campaign, pick up an all-region nod.
The senior from Tolland, Connecticut, became an all-region honoree as he stroked his way to a share of 12th place at the 85th New England Intercollegiate Goal Association (NEIGA) Championship October 19-20.
He started the two-day event with an 84 and shaved four strokes off that on the day two on the green at Captains Golf Course in Brewster, Massachusetts, to take a spot on the All-NEIGA Second-Team.
SPORTSMANSHIP SMITH
Elias Sachs, who was the first-ever named captain under head coach Ed McMellen’s leadership, garnered GNAC All-Sportsmanship distinction for the second straight season.
Sachs, a native of Arlington, Massachusetts, has been a staple in Suffolk’s line-up since he emerged on the collegiate course four years ago. He had a stand-up career, which included the Rams’ highest finish at the GNAC Championships with a fourth-place showing in 2018, and the best-ever performance at NEIGAs with a share of sixth place this year.
He is the first-ever Rams’ golfer to garner a pair of all-sportsmanship recognition from the league.