March 23, 2004

FAIRFIELD, CT - With the addition of the one of the top teaching professionals in the metropolitan area in Tom Rosati, Head PGA Pro at Great River Golf Club, and Jeff Cavaliere, golf strength and conditioning expert, the Pioneers are looking to send a message this spring that they are ready to make their move in the always-competitive Northeast Conference.

The spring preseason will again focus on The Architects Golf Club in Lopatcong, NJ, the site of the 2004 Northeast Conference Men's Championship. The conference championship, which is a two-day thirty six hole event, in which the team scores are achieved by adding the team's lowest four scores from each day.

"We struggled a bit this past fall coming off a banner campaign in 2002-2003," Coach Michael Giaquinto said, "We have put in quality work this spring, both learning how to build dependable golf swings and conditioning our bodies for peak performance. My expectations are high for us to get back to playing solid golf, which is hitting fairways and greens."

The Pioneers will be led by their top, ever-steady performer Dustin Ledda of Torrington, CT as they open at the Yale Invitational, April 3rd and 4th. The spring season will come fast and furious, playing in four tournaments in April and wrapping up with the NEC Championship in the first week of May.

"Anything can happen in the game of golf in the NEC," Giaquinto stated, "We want to make sure that we hit our peak come the end of April, beginning of May".

After Yale, the Pioneers will make tournament stops at Hofstra, the New England Division I Championship, the University of Rhode Island Spring Invitational, finishing up the 2004 season at the NEC Tournament.

Behind the solid play of Ledda, the Pioneers will feature juniors Mike Giaquinto and Kevin Gordon, transfer Jonathan Molchan, along with freshmen Albert Ruggiero and Rob Thurston. Ledda will be called upon to lead the young group in this rebuilding year. With the signings of Tommy Campbell and Patrick Fillian, the future looks bright as the Pioneers reload for the future.

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