Farmingdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State men's golf team won their fourth consecutive Skyline Conference Championship this year and earned the conference's automatic-bid to the NCAA Division III National Championships held at Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida May 15-18, 2012. The Rams finished 21 shots ahead of runner-up The Sage Colleges at Bethpage State Park - Red Course.
At the Skyline Conference Championship, senior Chris Arnold (Hauppauge, N.Y.) was the tournament medalist and Skyline Player of the Year after posting rounds of 75 and 73 for a two-day total of 148. Sophomore Rich Kelly (Oceanside, N.Y.) finished in a tie for second place (77-74-151) and sophomore Adam Larkin (Bellmore, N.Y.) used a pair of 77's to take fourth place individually.
The Rams finished in second place at the St. Joseph's Fall Invitational held at Spring Lake Golf Club. Arnold shot a 77 and was the runner-up after losing on the first playoff hole. The Rams captured the rain shortened Farmingdale State Skyline Invitational, finishing eight strokes ahead of St. Joe's.
At the Manhattanville/NYU Fall Classic, the Rams finished in third and were led by Arnold who carded two rounds of 77 and finished T2 at Hudson National Golf Club. Farmingdale State edged 15th ranked Skidmore College by one stroke.
The Rams won the Centenary Invitational by 23 strokes at Panther Valley Golf & Country Club. Larkin (74), Arnold (76), and Kelly (77) finished first, second and third, respectively.
Arnold and sophomore John Michael Haining (Hauppauge, N.Y.) each shot career low rounds this fall. Arnold recorded a one-under par 70 in a dual match vs. Nassau CC at Bethpage State Park - Green Course and Haining shot a 75 at Hudson National. Haining's 75 on day two of the Manhattanville/NYU Fall Classic tied for the lowest round of the day in the field of 34 players.
Farmingdale State looks forward to the spring season which kicks off with the annual trip to Orange County National in Orlando, Florida. The team will be competing in four two-day tournaments including the L.I. Intercollegiate Championship at The Bridge, Skidmore College's Palamountain Invitational, the Manhattanville/NYU Spring Classic and the Farmingdale State Invitational at Bethpage Red.
Head Coach Tom Azzara was named the Skyline Conference Coach of the Year.
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