University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
ALEX LAGOWITZ MEMORIAL INVITATIONAL
UConn Golfers Open Season At Colgate Tournament
9/4/2019 3:05:00 PM | Men's Golf
STORRS, Conn. --- With open spots in the lineup fueling fierce qualifying competition, the UConn men's golf team kicks off a 12-event, 2019-20 season this weekend, competing in the 54-hole Alex Lagowitz Memorial Invitational, hosted by Colgate on Saturday and Sunday, at Seven Oaks Golf Course in Hamilton, N.Y.
With two-time co-captain Jimmy Hervol, arguably the finest golfer to ever play for the Huskies, as well as two-time co-captain Nabeel Khan and lineup mainstay Nick Harrington all lost to graduation, there are big golf shoes to fill if the Huskies are to maintain the high standard they have set over the past few years.
And the in-team competition so far has been exciting for Coach Dave Pezzino.
"We've seen a lot of good golf in the early qualifying," said Pezzino, starting his 13th season in charge of the program. "I'm excited to see who is going to fill out the rest of the lineup, but it's nice to see everybody working so hard, continuing the culture of hard work and positive attitude that we have established here."
Senior Drake Hull (Rutland, Vt.), a two-time Division I PING All-Northeast Region selection who owns the best two-year career scoring average (72.4) in UConn history, will serve as team captain.
"Drake has done a nice job as captain," Pezzino said. "His expectations go pretty far with the guys because he's had so much success on the golf course. He's come back this year focused, determined and very passionate about playing at a high level for us this year."
Pezzino also cited junior Jack Boulger (Walpole, Mass.) as a player who has emerged in the preseason.
"Jack being under par as much as he has been is getting his confidence up early in qualifying," Pezzino said. "And Drake is as competitive as anything and that's going to rub off on the younger guys, which is great for us."
The rest of the squad includes senior Tim Umphrey (Northborough, Mass.), redshirt junior Chandler Morris (Hobe Sound, Fla.), juniors Finn Boynton (Milford, Conn.) and Rodrigo Sanchez (Santo Domingo, D.R.), and sophomore Nick Hampoian (North Reading, Mass.).
The new faces on the Huskies are sophomore Jared Nelson (Rutland, Vt.), who transferred to UConn following a stellar freshman season at Siena College, redshirt freshman Jack Boatwright (Fairfield, Conn.), who enrolled at UConn last January but did not play, and freshmen Logan Broyles (Rutland, Vt.) and Matt Umphrey (Northborough, Mass.), Tim's younger brother.
"The introduction of the new players has really been seamless," Pezzino said. "Jared is such an easy-going guy, with a super high golf IQ. He's fit in really well. Logan has done a nice job working through the first couple of weeks of freshman year, which is always tough, and Matt has been under the wing of his older brother and also done well.
"Boat was here in the spring, so I think his redshirt semester was a huge deal for him to be able to get his academic legs under him and understand how college golf works. It's a huge advantage for him and for us and he's become a huge asset since the beginning of the year."
The Lagowitz Memorial is a new event for the Huskies, as is the trip to Seven Oaks.
"We've never been to Colgate, but it's a well-run event and I'm excited to bring the team there," Pezzino said. "It's a Robert Trent Jones course, really good, and the field is wonderful -- teams that we like to see this time of the year. It's a good test of golf."
With new roles awaiting returning players and new players awaiting a chance, the Huskies are somewhat of a mystery as the season begins.
"I know how hard the guys have worked who were in and out of our lineup that are now going to be a predominant part of it," Pezzino said. "They have really stepped up their golf game. A lot of people outside of our program don't know them yet and that's fine by me. I'm just excited to get started."
Players Mentioned
