Owls' Golf Wins Third Straight Tournament

Westfield State won the team title at the 2019 Trailblazer Invitational at Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield, Mass.
Westfield State won the team title at the 2019 Trailblazer Invitational at Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield, Mass.

Westfield State University men's golf used a balanced team effort to win the Trailblazer Invitational this afternoon at Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield, Mass.

The event was very competitive as Westfield State scored 313 to take home the team title by edging Elms (314) and Roger Williams (315).  

The Owls won their second-straight meet to open the season, and third straight dating back to last spring.  Westfield also defended the title in the Berkshires by winning the Trailblazer Invitational for a second-straight year.

Westfield was consistent across the board as every player shot 82 or better.  Led by J.J. Newcombe's (Bellingham, Mass./Blackstone Tech) 76 and Matteo Godek's (Feeding Hills, Mass./Agawam) 78, the Owls were off to a good start.  Ryan Koczela (Bridgewater, Mass.) carded a 79 and when Michael Waldman (Billerica) posted an 80 to round out the Westfield's scoring four at the par-72, 6,700-yard course designed by the legendary AW Tillinghast (the designer of both Bethpage Black and Baltrusol).

Castleton University's Jacob Erwin and Roger Williams' Ryan Burrill shared medalist honors with a one over par 73.  Erwin was declared the champion via a match of cards after both players tied during a two-hole playoff.  Erwin took the title by shooting a back nine score of one under par 36 while Burrill posted a 38 on the back nine at BHCC.

Westfield is next slated to play in the two-day Elms Blazer Invitational on September 29 and 30 at Westover CC in Chicopee and the Ledges Golf Course in South Hadley.