May 14, 2008

The 2008 Northeast Conference Champion Sacred Heart men's golf team has made its way to Columbus, Ohio and is ready to tee off in their first-ever NCAA Tournament starting Thursday morning. The Pioneers got their first look at The Ohio State University Scarlet Course on Wednesday morning during their practice round as they make their final preparations for the 54-hole, three-day tournament that will feature 27 teams.

The NCAA Central Regional is one of three regional tournaments conducted to determine the 30 teams and six individuals not on a qualifying team that will compete in the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship, May 28-31 at Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana.

The Pioneers will be sending a talented group that rewrote the NEC record books in claiming their first-ever league title just over a week ago. SHU won the three-day event by firing a record-setting 54-hole total of 870 (+6). SHU bested the 11 team field winning the three-day tournament by 23 strokes over second place finisher Long Island (+29). Sacred Heart also set new conference records for 18-hole total after firing a 280 during Saturday's round two while the team's score of 577 through the first two days of competition broke the league's 36-hole mark.

Sacred Heart's starting five is made up of senior Tommy Campbell (Wall, NJ), juniors Patrick Fillian (Tinton Falls, NJ), Matt Belizze (North Salem, NY) and Kevin Lauretti (Newington, CT) and sophomore Adam Petrasovic (Tecumseh, Ontario).

Fillian was the Pioneer's top-golfer in 2007-08, posting a 73.9 average in 10 events played over the year. He posted three-straight top-five finishes to close the season, tying for second at the New England Championships, taking third at the URI Northeast Invitational and second at the NEC Championships.

On the year, he owns six top-10 and top-20 finishes. He fired 68's on two separate rounds in back-to-back weeks at New England's and at URI, tying for the team low round on the year. Fillian saved his best for the final tournament of the year, shooting a -3 under 213 at the conference championship, posting matching 71's over all three rounds to earn All-NEC honors.

Petrasovic had two top-fives, three top-10 and five top-20 finishes this season while holding a 75.3 average over 24 rounds of golf. Petrasovic matched Fillian for the season-low round by firing a 68 during day two of the Pioneers record low round at the NEC Championships. He claimed All-NEC honors by finishing seventh at the event. His top finish of the year came at the ECAC Championship in the fall where he took third with a two day score of 146 (72-74). Petrasovic tied for fourth at the URI tournament matching his two-round season low of 146 (71-75).

Belizze sports a 75.7 average over the 10 events and has four top-20 finishes to his credit. His best finish of 2008 was at the New England Championship where he tied for 10th with a 149 (74-75). Belizze finished the season strong posted a 71 during day two of the NEC tournament where he finished tied for 17th overall. His low round came in the spring opener at the Palmas Del Mar where he shot a third round 69.

Campbell ended his senior season on a high note by grabbing All-NEC honors with his best finish of the year, taking eighth place at the conference championship. Campbell shot a 220 (77-70-73) that included his low round of the season, a day two 70. Lauretti posted an average of 78.2 over 20 rounds in 2007-08. His best tournament of the year was at the URI Northeast Invitational where he shot 149 (76-73) to take eighth place.

Fans will be able to follow all of the action live through www.GolfStat.com by clicking the Live Scoring link.

The Ohio State University Scarlet Course was established in 1938 and is rated the best collegiate facility in the country by Golf Digest. In 2005 and 2006 the Scarlet Course underwent a major restoration project overseen by former Buckeye legend Jack Nicklaus. The field will play from the Buckeye Tees, playing to 7,455 yards and a par 71.

NCAA Central Regional Participating Teams: Alabama, Oklahoma State, Georgia Tech, Florida, Tennessee, Lamar, Wake Forest, Indiana, Texas A&M, Louisville, Wichita State, Kent State, Penn State, Arkansas, Michigan, TCU, Texas-Arlington, Illinois, Ohio State, Baylor, Colorado, Eastern Kentucky, Marquette, Eastern Michigan, Cleveland State, Loyola (Maryland), Sacred Heart

NCAA Central Regional Participating Individuals: Chris Baker, Iowa State; Clayton Rask, Minnesota; Josh Sandman, Notre Dame; Victor Almstrom, Minnesota; Brent Long, Western Kentucky; Jordan Weber, Northern Iowa