For Immediate Release: May 2, 2005
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Binghamton golf runs away with America East Championship by 20 strokes
Bearcats shoot final-round 290; Vinal claims medalist honors with 73-71

Final Scores
Opening Day Release

ALTAMONT, N.Y. - Binghamton University golf returned to form with a sizzling 290 in the final round of the America East Championship on Tuesday at Orchard Creek GC, running away with the conference crown by 20 strokes. The Bearcats shot 304-290=594 to capture the program's second America East title in four years. Runner-up Hartford was at 614 and Boston University came in at 652.

"It was nice to see the team rebound from a tough spring and play the way we're capable of playing," head coach Nick Lasky said.

Binghamton had four of the tournament's top five finishers, headed by freshman Zach Vinal (Syracuse, N.Y.), who won his first collegiate tournament with a 73-71=144 (even par). He recorded two birdies in Tuesday's final round. Vinal's 36-hole total ties for the third-best total in championship history.

"I played steady golf all day today," Vinal said. "I never put myself in position to bogey."

"From the last two weeks, you can see how much we missed Zach," Lasky said, referring to Vinal's surgery that kept him out of the lineup for two spring tournaments. "It's good to have him back. And it is encouraging to see our 'Big 3' of Jeff (Wolniewicz), Zach and Aaron (Ungvarsky) play so well."

Junior Brad Moulton (Orangeville, Ontario) and sophomores Jeff Wolniewicz (West Seneca, N.Y.) and Aaron Ungvarsky (Wilmington, Mass.) were among a four-way tie for second place at 150. Moulton went 75-75, Wolniewicz carded 77-73 and Ungvarsky went 79-71.

Head coach Nick Lasky was named Coach of the Year by his peers.

The Bearcats have now completed their regular season and will await word on a possible third straight NCAA Championship berth.

"We'll just have to wait and see," Lasky said.