Hilton, NY—The Empire 8 Conference announced its 2021 Men's Golf All-Conference awards on Wednesday, April 28. This year's Championship was held on April 24-25 at Timber Banks Golf Club in Baldwinsville, NY and the awards were based on results from the 2021 Empire 8 Championship, which took place on April 24-25 at Timber Banks Golf Club in Baldwinsville, NY. Utica won its first Empire 8 Championship in program history and will compete at the 2021 NCAA Division III Championship, which will take place May 11-14 at Oglebay Resort & Conference Center in Wheeling, WV.
For the Gators , senior Blake Pritchard (Malone, NY/Franklin Academy) posted his best career finish at the Empire 8 Championships as he took third place with a two-day score of 155 (78-77). He was just four strokes behind the medalist, Josh Kienz of Utica who carded a151 (73-78). He earned a spot on the Empire 8 First Team for his performance. As a junior, Pritchard was a second team pick after taking seventh at the 2019 Fall Championship.
One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2021 Men's Golf Sportsman of the Year Team. The Empire 8 Conference emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen.
RSC's junior Stuart Phair (Canberra, Australia/Trinity Christian School) finished in 20th at the Championships with a 175 (89-86) and was named to the Sportsman Team for his performance.
2021 Empire 8 Men's Golf Award Winners
Player of the Year: Josh Kienz, Sr., Utica
Rookie of the Year: Benjamin McBane, Fr., St. John Fisher
Coaching Staff of the Year: Utica, led by head coaches Dave Clausen and Brian Marcantonio
Empire 8 First Team
Josh Kienz, Sr., Utica – 151
Ryan Fecco, Jr., SUNY Oswego – 153
Blake Pritchard, Sr., Russell Sage – 155
Michael Dugan, Gr., St. John Fisher – 157
Joe Miga, Jr., Utica – 159
Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year
Alex Crysler, Sr., Elmira
Tom McIntosh, Fr., Nazareth
Ryan Fecco, Jr., SUNY Oswego
Stuart Phair, Jr., Russell Sage
Luke Buckley, Fr., St. John Fisher
Brandon Young, Sr., Utica
