The West Chester University men’s golf season will resume this spring following a short break during the winter months. The season kicks off Mar. 19–20 at the Glade Springs Invitational contested at the Glade Springs Resort – Cobb Course in Daniels, West Virginia. Penn Oaks Golf Club in West Chester, Pennsylvania will serve as the host site for the Dr. Edwin B. Cottrell Invitational. This event, scheduled for Apr. 3–4, will be the team’s sole home competition. The Le Moyne Invitational will take place Apr. 9–10 at Timber Banks Golf Club in Baldwinsville, New York. The Rams will travel to Indiana, Pennsylvania for the Cecil Spadafora Invitational to be held at Indiana Country Club Apr. 17–18. Finally, Lebanon, Pennsylvania’s Iron Valley Golf Club will host the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) preview Tournament on Apr. 24–25 and the NCAA Atlantic/East Regional May 5–7.
“I would love to see a team win in at least one of our tournaments,” junior business management major and captain Jacob Sokalsky said. “I think a team win early in the season would boost our confidence a lot.”
Senior math finance major and co-captain Brock Fassnacht expressed that receiving a bid at nationals is a season goal for the team. Nationals bids are reserved for the top three finishing teams at regionals. The top 10 teams from the Atlantic and East regions as well as the conference team champion receive bids into the regionals tournament which consists of 20 teams.
Let’s meet the team:
*-Denotes Captain
Brock Fassnacht*
This spring will mark Fassnacht’s fourth year on the team and his second semester as men’s golf captain. The Warwick High School graduate played six tournaments in the fall and ended the semester with a 74.9 stroke average. Shooting 70 in the third round of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship allowed him to finish T7 while defining a new college career personal best. Two top five finishes at the Howard ‘Bud’ Elwell Invitational (4th) and the Hal Hansen Invitational (5th) also sweetened his fall semester.
Jacob Sokalsky*
No shame for Sokalsky in the fall. The third year team member and Garnet Valley Graduate, accompanied the Rams in all six fall tournaments. During his first semester serving as team captain, he ended the fall with a 75.5 stroke average thanks to a college career personal best 69 he shot on day two of the Howard ‘Bud’ Elwell Invitational. Sokalsky finished the PSAC Championship T10.
Hamilton McNaughton
McNaughton makes moves. The third year team member and Manheim Township High School graduate ran with the Rams at three tournaments in the fall. Carding a season best score of 77 at the Hal Hansen Invitational, McNaughton enters the spring semester with an 81.6 stroke average.
Connor Strine
The second year team member and Manheim Township High School graduate sparkled in the fall. Joining the team at six tournaments led Strine to a 75.8 scoring average. During round two at the California Invitational, he shot a season personal best of 69.
Adam MacMillan
Second year team member and Princeton High School graduate MacMillian played in one tournament in the fall. At the California Invitational, he shot rounds of 75, 78 and 77 for a total score of 230.
Jonathan Glick
Second year team member and Lancaster Mennonite School graduate Glick played in two tournaments during the fall season. An 81 in the second round of the Howard “Bud” Elwell Invitational, his college debut, was a season personal best for him.
Fletcher Masterson
Masterson played in two fall tournaments. The Aldenham Senior School graduate and first year team member shot 76 on day one of PSAC Championship during the fall semester.
Ryan D’Ariano
D’Ariano is a first-year team member and graduate of Bayard Rustin High School. He played in six tournaments in the fall and carded a season low 69 during round two of the Vulcan Invitational, his college debut.
Victor Mominey
Mominey, a graduate of Owen J. Roberts High School and first-year team member, played in the individual spot at different points throughout the fall semester. A player who plays in the individual spot plays in the tournament alongside the team, but their score is excluded from overall team score.
Frank Ruggiero
Ruggiero is a second year team member and graduate of Dunmore High School. He competed as an individual last spring in the Brown Golf Intercollegiate Tournament.
Coach Harry Hammond continues to head the coaching staff in his 15th season assisted by Coach Mike Versuk who joined him last fall.
Notes:
The start of spring season warrants a look at the team’s record book.
During the fall season, Brock Fassnacht captured six eagles. He bested previous record holder Andrew Patterson who earned five during the 2016–17 season. Now Fassnacht is knocking on another one of Patterson’s records — most career eagles by a player. Fassnacht currently stands four back from Patterson’s record set during his career which lasted 2014–17. He earned 13.
“I guess I have a good streak with getting eagles,” Fassnacht said. “[That] doesn’t always correlate to high performance.”
Fassnacht is tied for low round with Connor Lefever (2012–13) at 66.
Jacob Sokalsky occupies the top of the par 5 scoring leaderboard with an average of 4.6666.
Connor Strine leads par 4 scoring with an average of 4.1964.
John T. Iswalt is the Men’s Golf Correspondent and a senior media and culture major with minor in digital marketing.