Individual Title Makes Magalski NEC Golfer of the Week
[Click here to read more about Magalski's NEC Honor]
Loretto, Pa. – Sophomore Michael Magalski (Spring Grove, Pa./Spring Grove) achieved his initial Northeast Conference Golfer of the Week nomination following his first ever individual title at the Lafayette Invitational hosted at the Center Valley Country Club from Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13.
Saint Francis has had prior success to Magalski’s NEC claim in their 2008 campaign. On Marrch 26, senior Matt Gowdy (London, Ontario / A.B. Lucas) was elected the NEC Golfer of the Week following his leading effort at the George Washington Invitational on March 21-22, firing an impressive 191 (78-74-39) for the event. Gowdy finished tied for 22nd place individually, placing ahead of 19 other fellow NEC swingers overall. Magalski’s election marks SFU’s second GOW this season and third overall for the entire year (Gowdy capture Saint Francis’ first award this fall on October 10, 2007).
Magalski’s first-place, one-under par 143 (72-71) directed the Red Flash to a sixth place finish out of a 25 team billet. Magalski set himself in a seventh place tie after his round of 72 on Saturday, but discovered his true form on Sunday, ending with a final card in red numbers of 71. Magalski, the first Red Flash individual medalist since senior Steve Foisy’s (Repentigny, Quebec/Academie Les Estacades) undivided NEC Championship performance in 2006, finished with a lower total than 126 golfers at the event, including 34 Northeast Conference participants.
“Magalski’s breakthrough performance gave me butterflies this weekend,” stated first-year head coach Nick Wheeler. “Gowdy and Foisy have been swinging the sticks well, but as senior leaders, I have come to expect that. I must say it’s reassuring that one of our underclassmen can take the reigns when the other boys might be having a tough time on the loop. This was a big boost for Magalski’s confidence and I hope that his torrent pace will continue heading into the Northeast Conference Championships.”
Magalski and the rest of the troops will try and remain on their high horse next weekend when they go up against some stiff competition at the Navy Spring Invitational put on by the U.S. Naval Academy Golf Club in Annapolis, Md. The Red Flash first tee off on Saturday, April 19.
The Northeast Conference Championships will commence on the Hershey Links Golf Club come May 2nd and push through May 4th.