PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Eastern Connecticut State University men’s golf team will look to remain as the only program to claim the Little East Conference (LEC) men’s golf title when the league’s six teams descend on Riverside Golf Course October 5-6, 2023 in Portland, Maine, hosted by the University of Southern Maine. Day one will get underway at 11:20 a.m. Thursday, while the second and final round will start at 10 a.m. Friday.
Eastern senior Ashton Lewis is the two-time defending individual champion, and is one of two returners from last year’s LEC championship winning group of five. Chris Davidson is also back after placing fifth a year ago. The Warriors have captured the team title in two of their three tournaments so far this season, winning the four-team Mitchell College Invitational and Westfield State University’s 10-team Brett Williamson Invitational, and most recently took fifth among the 22 teams competing at the Bowdoin College Invitational
Last year’s runner-up, Vermont State University Castleton, also has a pair of returns from last season, led by Brady Hathorn, who placed third overall in 2022. Andrew Stefura was 18th a year ago. The Spartans had a season-best second-place finish at the four-team MCLA Invitational, and most recently placed fifth of seven teams at the Keene State Invitational.
The host Huskies also have a pair of returners from a year ago in Zach Ellsworth (tied-14th) and Sam Farr (21st), who helped lead USM to a third-place team finish in 2022. The Huskies won a season-opening tri-match with Saint Joseph’s (Maine) College and Maine-Farmington and were second of four teams at the USM Cup, both of which were contested at Riverside Golf Course. The Huskies were 21st at the Bowdoin Invitational, and most recently were fourth of seven squads at the USM Fall Invitational at Spring Meadows Golf Club.
Rhode Island College was just a single stroke back of USM at last year’s championship. Cameron Mello tied for 21st in last year’s event, while Jasper Bruins Slot was just one stroke back in 17th. The Anchormen placed ninth at the Brett Williamson Invitational, and were edged in a dual match with Keene State last Wednesday, 340-344. They placed second at their home invitational to open the year, and took second at Saturday’s Emmanuel Invitational.
Western Connecticut State University placed fifth as a team at the 2022 LEC Championship, and has a trio of returners in Gavin Calcavecchio (19th), Nick Bedell (tied-23rd) and Cameron Bodamer (tied-25th). The Wolves took second at the Mitchell Invitational, and were sixth at the Keene State Invitational.
Keene State College has a trio of returning players from last year’s inaugural squad, led by Caden Capaldo who placed sixth overall in 2022. Sean McCaffrey and Cade Williams tied for 25th at their first-ever LEC Championship. In addition to defeating RIC last week, the Owls won their home invitational Friday and tied for seventh at the Brett Williamson Invitational.