Posted: May 16, 2023
Toms River, NJ - The 2023 Region 19 D-III Golf Championship concluded Tuesday (5/16), and the Ocean County College Vikings drove, chipped, and putted their way to a fine 4th place finish. Led by team captain Matt Heberling, the Viking golfers recorded Monday and Tuesday combined rounds of 417 and 479 (796) to beat out Raritan Valley CC and Union College, behind RCSJ Gloucester, County College of Morris and Lehigh Carbon Community College at Ash Brook Golf Club in Scotch Plains, NJ.
Heberling, who scored OCC's only sub-100 opening round on Monday (99), went 11 strokes lower on Tuesday to tie teammate Tommy Donachy's OCC low round of the season (88), en route to a solid 2-day total of 187. Donachy, for his part, shot five shots better than Monday on Tuesday, chipping in a 95. Logan Burnett contributed with rounds of 100 and 97. Bryan Potter, who hadn't played a competitive round of golf until this season, ended his campaign by breaking 100 (99) for his lowest round of the year. First year player Jeremy Schiel posted his season-best in this tournament as well, with a 108 in the 2nd round.
"It was a very tough 1st day for the whole team," said OCC Golf Head Coach Sean Fawcett. "I said to the team, 'Let's all do 10 strokes better today (Tuesday)', and they did. With Bryan's low round being 32 strokes better, and Matt (Heberling) shooting his lowest round of the year (88), we were 11 shots better Tuesday per man than on Monday. It was a great way to end a very good season."
"2023 was a rebuilding year for OCC Golf," Coach Fawcett continued. "We'll have 4 of the 6 young men coming back with a season of experience. I believe we can be a serious contender in 2024."