Final holes keep Men's Golf down, but not out, in Maryland

By SCOTT WARD
UNCBears.com

GRASONVILLE, Md. -- Save for the final three holes Saturday, Northern Colorado Men's Golf continued its strong play at the Towson Fireline Invitational and positioned itself for a final-group pairing in tomorrow's final round.

The Bears were just 1-over par for the day heading into Prospect Bay Country Club's hole No. 16 but finished 5-over on Nos. 16, 17 and 18 in their four counting scores and carded a 6-over 294 team score.

Northern Colorado, which led the team leaderboard after Friday's first 18 holes, will enter Sunday's final round in a tie for second with Navy and just four strokes behind leader Seton Hall, which shot a 4-under 284 Saturday.

"This was a little bit of a disappointing day," Bears coach Chuck Scheinost said. "We had a good round going, and then our last three holes we let it slip a little bit. That's frustrating after we had such a good round going early.

"Seton Hall put together a really good round today, but it's nothing we can't make up. If all of our guys birdie the first hole tomorrow, the deficit will be gone, just like that. That's the way we have to think, and that's how our guys think."

Freshman Steven Kupcho continued his solid individual play Saturday with an even-par 72. That, paired with his 1-under 71 on Friday (143), has him all by himself in eighth place after 36 holes.

Junior Kevin Collignon matched Kupcho with a 72 Saturday for the second straight day and is in a tie for ninth (144) with Hartford's Anthony Vecchiarelli, who followed up a 70 on Friday with a 74 today.

Steve Connell finished in 75 strokes Saturday to earn a top-20 individual spot (T-19th, 147) and Charlie Mroz matched him with a 75, which could have been better if not for a back nine holes that saw him finish 3-over.

"Kevin Collignon and Steven [Kupcho] shot well for us today," Scheinost said. "Charlie had it going well early, but then he was very disappointed with his back nine. He's devastated and heartbroken about that. He knows that's the difference between where we sit right now and leading the golf tournament. But it wasn't just him. We've all got to play better.

"We're right where we wanted to be when we started the tournament, which is having a chance to win it on the final day. Tomorrow is supposed to be some nice weather, and we'll be in the final pairing. You can't ask much more than that. We've got some work to do, and hopefully we can come out of here accomplishing our goal for the week by putting together a solid round tomorrow, which I know we can do."