Fairfield Selected as the Preseason Favorite in MAAC Men's Golf
MAAC Sports
EDISON, NJ – Fairfield University has been selected as the MAAC men’s golf preseason favorite for the second year in a row according to a vote of the league’s nine head coaches. The Stags look to capture the 2016 MAAC Men’s Golf Championship crown after finishing in third place behind Saint Peter’s University and Iona College in 2015.
The Fairfield Stags ended their fall season with three top three team finishes. They were crowned the 2015 ECAC Champions after defeating Bryant University on the final day by one stroke. Teammates Kevin Duncan (E) and Eric Austin (+1) finished 1, 2 in a field of 24 golfers and were selected to the All-Tournament Team. The Stags went on to finish third in both the MacDonald Cup and NEIGA Championship.
The Stags are led by freshman and two-time golfer of the month, Kevin Duncan. Duncan capped his first two months as a collegiate golfer with two individual victories. His fall was highlighted by individual wins at the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association Championship (+2) and the 2015 ECAC Championship (E).
A total of six teams earned first-place votes from the league’s nine coaches. Fairfield finished first with 66 total points, including one first-place vote. Coming in second, was defending MAAC Champion, Saint Peter’s, who received 64 points and two first-place votes. Iona and Siena tied for third place with 58 points and two first-place votes each. Monmouth finished in fifth place with 46 points and one first-place vote, followed by Rider (41), Canisius (29), Manhattan (29), and Niagara (14).
The 2016 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships will be held April 22-24 at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
2016 Coaches’ Preseason Poll
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1.
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Fairfield (1)
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66
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2.
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Saint Peter’s (2)
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64
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T-3.
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Iona (2)
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58
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T-3.
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Siena (2)
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58
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5.
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Monmouth (1)
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46
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6.
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Rider (1)
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41
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7.
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Canisius
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29
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8.
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Manhattan
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29
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9.
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Niagara
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14
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