Men's Golf | March 5, 2023

OCEAN VIEW, N.J. — The La Salle men's golf team captured the team title for the second straight season at the South Jersey Kick Off on Sunday at Shore Gate Golf Club's par-72 course. 
 
The Explorers combined for a two-day total score of 40-over-par 616 to finish five strokes ahead of Fairfield (+45) for first place in the seven-team field. The field also included Iona, Hofstra, Monmouth, Fordham and Manhattan.
 
"We've been blessed to have some great talent come through La Salle and last year we played some really great golf to win the South Jersey Kick Off, but to come back in 2023 and repeat as champions has to be an even tougher feat," La Salle head coach Scott Yurgalevicz said. "This year's team, which only had two players from last year's team in the starting five, went out and played 36 holes in some of the toughest conditions I've ever seen."
 
The Explorers, who won the event last year with a 32-over-par 608, had to overcome some adversity to claim. this year's title. On Saturday, they shot a 26-over-par 314 while playing in conditions in which there were 20-30 mph sustained winds and wind gusts up to 45.
 
"Saturday's conditions were absolutely diabolical," Yurgalevicz said. "The entire plan going into it was to put ourselves into a position to be in contention headed into Sunday. We knew we had the horses to be able to compete in the race but we needed to make sure we didn't stumble out of the gate. We were very fortunate to play really good golf and after 18 holes we are leaders by one. The score of 314 was the equivalent of shooting 284 given the conditions."
 
On Sunday, the Explorers were able to claim the title after shooting a 14-over 302 and having three players finish inside the top 10 on the leaderboard.
 
Kevin Lydon led the way by finishing second overall with a 6-over-par 150. The freshman earned his runner-up finish after firing a 1-over 73 on Sunday to move up three spots from fifth place.
 
Following Lydon for the Explorers was Nikita Romanov, who shot a 9-over 153 to place fourth. The senior carded a 3-over 75 in the final round to climb two spots from sixth.
 
Anthony Garcia was the other top-10 finisher for the Explorers, as the freshman shot an 11-over 155 to finish in a tie for ninth. 
 
Karsen Rush rounded out the Explorers' lineup with a 14-over 158 to earn a 17^th-place finish.
 
"With a one-shot lead and heading into today's round, we knew there was a lot of work left to be done but we got some great rounds out of our freshman Kevin Lydon and senior captain Nikita Romanov," Yurgalevicz said. "But, the best part about this event was that every player was within a shot or two of the best player each round. It was literally the definition of a team effort."
 
The Explorers also had five players competing as individuals in the tournament and not factoring into the team score. 
 
Ryan Smiley had the best performance from the group, finishing in a tie for 14^th after shooting a 13-over 157. Ben Battye also ended the tournament in the top 20, as he posted a 15-over 159 to end in a tie for 20^th.

The Explorers also saw Kristian Fortis post a 1-over 73 in the final round. Fortis, who finished 25^th overall with a 17-over 161, was one of six players to shoot 1-over or better in the final round along with Lydon, Erik Stevens of Monmouth (even-par 72), Gonzalo Arcelay of Iona (+), Fletcher Wunderlich of Iona (+1), and Zach Baldwin of Iona (+1).
 
The Explorers will have almost a month off before they play at the Columbia Spring Invitational on April 3 at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa.