Iona Men and Albany Women Selected as 2019 Golf Preseason Favorites
EDISON, NJ – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced today that the Iona College men and University of Albany women were selected as favorites in the 2019 Preseason Coaches’ Polls. The Gaels and the Great Danes each received five first-place votes in their respective preseason polls.
Iona is the MAAC Men’s Golf defending champion, as it earned its fifth MAAC in 2018. Head coach Sean Burke was awarded MAAC Men’s Golf Coach of the Year, and now sophomore Justin Burkhamer secured the 2018 MAAC Rookie of the Year honors. Iona looks to win back-to-back Championships and its sixth program title overall, which would be the most titles secured by one MAAC team.
Following Iona is Saint Peter’s University (59 points), who received two first-place votes. The Peacocks claimed seventh place at the 2018 MAAC Championships. The Peacocks are led by head coach, Nick Dilio, the 2017 MAAC Men’s Golf Coach of the Year. Senior Mike Winter, the 2017 MAAC Most Outstanding Golfer returns to help Saint Peter’s as it looks to reclaim the title.
Siena (58) received one first-place vote and was selected third in the poll, Monmouth University (47) follows with Rider University (42) in fifth. Fairfield University (41) was picked sixth, followed by both Canisius College and Manhattan College tied for seventh with 32 points. Niagara University (18) rounds out the poll.
On the women’s side, Albany received 77 points in the poll and five first-place votes. The Great Danes are the defending champions, as they tallied a score of +57 (921) at last year’s championship. Senior Annie Songeun Lee returns as the 2018 Individual Champion after shooting a +4 (220) at the 2018 MAAC Championships. The Great Danes are led by head coach Colleen Cashman-McSween, 2018 MAAC Women’s Golf Coach of the Year.
Quinnipiac University follows Albany in the poll with 67 points and three first-place votes. The Bobcats look to reclaim the title after having won in 2017.
Following Quinnipiac with one first-place vote is the University of Dayton (60) in third, the University of Hartford (55) placed fourth, and Siena (46) was picked fifth. Selected sixth was Monmouth (30), followed by La Salle University and Fairfield tied for seventh with 24 points. Niagara (22) rounds out the women’s poll.
The 2019 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Golf Championships return to Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course in Lake Buena Vista, FL for the fourth consecutive year. The three round 54-hole championship takes place April 18-20. For more information regarding the 2019 MAAC Men’s & Women’s Golf Championships visit,
maacsports.com/golf.
| Men’s Golf Preseason Poll |
| 1. |
Iona (5) |
72 |
| 2. |
Saint Peter’s (2) |
59 |
| 3. |
Siena (1) |
58 |
| 4. |
Monmouth |
47 |
| 5. |
Rider |
42 |
| 6. |
Fairfield |
41 |
| 7. |
Canisius (1) |
32 |
| 7. |
Manhattan |
32 |
| 9. |
Niagara |
18 |
| Women’s Golf Preseason Poll |
| 1. |
Albany (5) |
77 |
| 2. |
Quinnipiac (3) |
67 |
| 3. |
Dayton (1) |
60 |
| 4. |
Hartford |
55 |
| 5. |
Siena |
46 |
| 6. |
Monmouth |
30 |
| 7. |
La Salle |
24 |
| 7. |
Fairfield |
24 |
| 9. |
Niagara |
22 |
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 38th year of competition during the 2018-19 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University, and Siena College.