Bradford, Pa. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford golf team is one of three intercollegiate athletic teams that are returning to competition this spring. After AMCC championships in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, the team returns to action looking for a third straight title.
The 2019 championship team was one that was loaded with experience and they showed it. They won six of nine tournaments as a team, including the AMCC championship match.
The main scoring members of the team consisted of 4 seniors, Cooper Cordova, Sam Marchini, Matt Moonan, and Jamie Rook as well as 1 junior, Cary Ignaczak. They combined for 7 individual tournament medals, with three different golfers winning at least one tournament.
The standout performance from the season was from Cary Ignaczak, who was named AMCC Golfer of the Year. Ignaczak not only won the AMCC Championship Tournament by 6 strokes but led the conference in scoring for the season with a 75 stroke average. He won 4 Individual Tournament Medals.
Looking forward, this season’s golf team returns 3 players from previous teams, with only one of the returners having extensive tournament experience. “We understand the tremendous accomplishments of our last two teams, and want to continue that tradition,” said head coach Keith Stauffer. “We have set our goals and are working hard to defend our back-to-back championships.”
Johnny Fiore returns to the golf program after a year away from the team. Fiore was able to win the 2018 AMCC Championship Tournament and was selected as a 1st Team All-AMCC honoree. “Johnny has established himself as our leader. We are thrilled to have him return and will lean on him for experience and leadership,” said Stauffer.
Jarod Chaffee and Nick Mole return to the program as they both look to step into the scoring positions for the team. The newcomers to the program include two freshmen and an upper-class newcomer. Sean Campbell and Drew Swanson are the freshmen on the team, and Evan Jordan is a senior who joined the program this fall. “What the newcomers lack in collegiate experience, they make up for in great attitude, and a willingness to work and learn. We look for them to contribute to our team as they develop as collegiate golfers,” added Stauffer.
The Pitt-Bradford golfers will kick their season off at the James Bowen Invitational on Saturday, April 3rd. This will begin at 12:00 p.m. at the Whispering Woods Golf Club in Erie. It is the first of five tournaments the Panthers are scheduled to golf in this spring, including the two-day AMCC Championship Tournament.
