HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Penn. (April 23, 2017) – Some of the players' names may have changed, but the one constant in the North Eastern Athletic Conference golf world is that Rutgers University-Camden remains the champion.
The Scarlet Raptors blazed to their fifth consecutive NEAC championship here Sunday at the Philmont Country Club, winning the two-day conference tournament by an astounding 26 strokes. Rutgers-Camden finished first in the nine-team field with a two-day total of 308-309—617. Penn State-Berks was second at 325-318—643.
The Scarlet Raptors have now won seven of the nine NEAC titles since they joined the conference for golf, beginning with the 2009 crown. They also won in 2010 before finishing as the NEAC runner-up in 2011 and 2012. They returned to the top in 2013 and have kept the crown since then.
The Scarlet Raptors' title means they will once again represent the NEAC in the NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships, scheduled for Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida from May 16-19.
Rutgers-Camden's dominance was so great in the 44-man field that the Scarlet Raptors placed all five of their players on the All-NEAC First, Second and Third Teams. Seniors
Kevin Sarlo (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township), Ryan Dick (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) and
Zach Arsenault (Medford Lakes, NJ/Shawnee) all earned NEAC First Team recognition as the Raptors placed a trio of players on the five-man squad.
Sophomore
Cory Meyer (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown) captured NEAC Second Team honors and senior
Pete DeStefano (Sicklerville, NJ/Paul VI) was a member of the NEAC Third Team.
Penn State-Abington's Mike Lam was the medalist on the Par 70 course, carding a two-day total of 76-74—150. Both Sarlo and Dick tied for second place with identical 74-77—151 scores. Arsenault was right behind them in fourth place, shooting 79-76—155 over the two days.
Meyer finished seventh with an 81-79—160 total, while DeStefano tied for 10th place at 82-82—164.
The Scarlet Raptors' victory stretched their winning streak to five consecutive invitationals, one shy of the program record set by the 2015-16 team. It was the second five-invitational winning streak this scholastic year for the Scarlet Raptors, dating back to last semester. Rutgers-Camden's golfers have won 10 of their last 11 invitationals, with only a second-place finish interrupting the two streaks.
2. Penn State-Berks, 325-318—643; 3. Penn State-Abington, 328-332—660; Pennsylvania College of Technology, 326-343—669; 5. SUNY Cobleskill, 347-328—675; 6. Morrisville State, 346-338—684; 7. Keuka College, 346-348—694; 8. Bryn Athyn College, 375-349—724; 9. Wilson College, 463-451—914.
Individual scores
Rutgers-Camden Scores: Kevin Sarlo, 74-77—151;
Ryan Dick, 74-77—151;
Zach Arsenault, 79-76—155;
Cory Meyer, 81-79—160;
Pete DeStefano, 82-82—164.
The NEAC First Team included a trio of Scarlet Raptors in the center, from left: Zach Arsenault, Ryan Dick and Kevin Sarlo
Cory Meyer, second from the right, was a member of the NEAC Second Team
The NEAC Third Team included Pete DeStefano, left
