After a slow start to the season, the Oswego State golf team was able to get their clubs dialed in and have their best performance at the Elmira Fall Invitational last week, Sept. 13. The Lakers placed second out of 12 teams shooting a total score of 328 (+40), losing by three strokes to SUNY Canton (+37). 

    It is no surprise that Oswego State was able to capture a second-place finish as they have been shooting low at Elmira Country Club for the last six seasons racking up five first-place finishes and two second-place finishes in this span. 

    Ryan Fecco and Jake Owens were big reasons why the Lakers were able to shoot low and finish in second. Fecco continued his dominance on the course as he posted a 77 (+5) on the scorecard which put him tied for second place for individual players. Fecco lost by one stroke to SUNY Canton’s Jake Hess. In the first four invitationals of the season, Fecco has placed top three in all of them. His teammate Owens has also looked dominant as he finished one stroke behind Fecco as he shot a 78 (+6) which placed him in a three-way tie for fourth place for individual players. This is the third straight tournament that Owens has placed in the top ten. Owens was able to reflect on his performance through the first four invitationals. 

    “Been hitting a lot of shots pretty close with my short irons, getting in good scoring positions,” said Owens. “My weakness has been putting, if you don’t make putts there’s no way to score.” 

     Fecco and Owens were not the only players who contributed to the Laker’s success at Elmira Country Club. Tyler Kozlowski finished tied for 18th with a score of 85 (+13). Both Tyler Donohue and Max Mastrogiacomo finished tied for 25th with a round of 88 (+16). There were

     59 players at the invitational and Oswego State was able to have all five golfers finish in the top half in individual standings. 

     After the Elmira Fall Invitational, the Lakers get a well-needed 11-day break and will prepare to host the 24th Oswego Fall Invite this weekend Sept. 24 and 25. This invitational will take place at the Laker’s home course, the Oswego Country Club which is a par-71 and 6,410 yards long. 

     Owens has set some goals for the team as well as an individual goal for this upcoming home invitational. 

   “Team goals, we have to get our totals down and get a few wins before the season is over,” Owens said. “Individually, I would love to win our home tournament this weekend, I think I am in a good spot to do that.” 

   Last year, Oswego State  placed second on their home course, shooting a team score of 640 (+72), losing to Hamilton College by 13 strokes. Mastrogiacomo and Ownes were the key players for the Lakers last year during this event as Mastrogiacomo placed tied for third (+15) and Owens placed tied for fifth (+16). 

    Coach Mike Howard will look to improve on the Laker’s home course from last year. Howard has been impressed with his players so far but believes the team can improve in some aspects. 

        “Gold course management we can improve on, we have done some things in practice to help them with that,” said Howard. “Just making sure we keep the ball in play and not taking penalty strokes.” 

    Howard has his team eager and ready to defend the Laker’s home course this weekend.

Photo via Oswego Athletics