Oct. 19, 2004

BREWSTER, MA - Freshman Pat Fillian (Belmar, NJ) has the Sacred Heart University community believing that the golf program has turned the corner in the short time that he has been on campus this fall. The freshman has not rested on the truckload of accolades that he collected this summer in his native New Jersey, but has carried the momentum into the fall portion of the Pioneer men's golf schedule.

Fillian's performance of 73,72 was one for the record books...46 teams, 230 golfers, Fillian standing alone at the end as the medalist of the tournament. The New England Intercollegiate Golf Association (NEIGA) Championship, which is in its' 70th year, featured Northeast Division I golf powers URI and UConn. Fillian knocked off University of Rhode Island's ace Ben Spitz, who is a transfer from Texas Christian University, in a two-hole playoff. What made the showing that much more impressive were the horrible conditions that the tournament was played in.

"This is definitely exciting - a true honor," says Fillian. "Past winners of this tournament are people like Dana Quigley (Senior PGA Tour) and Tim Petrovic (PGA Tour) and to be recognized with this group of medalists is very special. We also continue to grind away as a team. We need to be patient and we will get there."

Freshman Tom Campbell (Wall, NJ) continued his solid play, firing a 77 and 79. The "Jersey Connection" which the two have been tabbed because of their long-term friendship that has stretched from childhood, continue to pace the Pioneers. Senior Michael Giaquinto and sophomore Rob Thurston also played well for the Pioneers, who finished with a total of 643 for the tournament, which was good for 14th place out of 46 teams.

"We are going to stick to the game plan," says men's golf coach Michael Giaquinto. "We are looking for five guys who can routinely shoot in the 70's."

"Pat just competes and finds a way to get it done week after week. This is a great honor for him and I could not be more proud of the effort that the boys gave. We are heading in the right direction."

The Pioneers wrap up the fall portion of their program with a trip to the Toski Invitational to be help in Amherst, MA this Sunday and Monday.