The men’s golf team finished third in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference and was an NCAA Regional qualifier during the 2009-10 season. Head coach John Asbell returns five of the eight players from that team this year and has added three talented freshmen into the mix for what should be a very promising 2010-11 season.
Highlighting the returnees for the Lightning are sophomores Devon Ripley and Michael Coppa. Ripley was an All-CACC selection last year and earned the team’s most valuable player award. In 12 tournaments, his average score was a 78.75 (7.33 versus par, 7.20 adjusted). He led GBC and placed second overall with a 72 in the one-round Goldey-Beacom College Spring Invitational shortened due to rain.
Coppa was named the team’s top newcomer last season. He had an average score of 79.17 (7.75 versus par, 7.61 adjusted). Coppa was most impressive in the Andrew Geyer Memorial Classic on Oct. 19 when he shot a 147 (76, 71) to tie for third place overall and the Dr. Edwin B. Cottrell Invitational on Apr. 4-5 when he shot a 148 to force a sudden-death overtime extra hole against the reigning NCAA Division II individual champion to decide a champion before finishing second.
Also returning are seniors Wes Hood, John Marstellar and Erik Tammsalu. Hood averaged an 80.00 (8.58 versus par, 8.45 adjusted) in 12 tournaments last year. He shot a season-low 151 twice at the Andrew Geyer Memorial Classic and at the St. Thomas Aquinas Spring Invitational. Marstellar played in three tournaments and averaged a 79.60 (8.80 versus par, 9.40 adjusted), and Tammsalu played in 10 tournaments and averaged an 83.00 (11.37 versus par, 11.29 adjusted). Tammsalu finished tied for sixth with a 75 at the GBC Spring Invitational.
Asbell has also brought in three talented freshmen in Justin Lesko (Newark, Del./St. Mark’s High School), Matt Japchen (New Britain, Pa./Central Bucks West High School) and Patrick McRae (Markham, Canada/Markham District High School).
The Fall season includes seven meets beginning with a three-team tri-match hosted by Philadelphia University on Sept. 11 at the Ace Club. The season will culminate with the GBC Fall Classic on Oct. 18-19 at Chesapeake Bay Club at Rising Sun.
