Men's Golf

Your gift to the Crusader Athletics Fund will help to provide a more competitive experience for our student-athletes. Make your gift today.

You showed your dedication to our student-athletes’ journies to excellence, and it was an amazing day of giving. Crusaders across the globe came together to contribute the highest single-day total in Holy Cross Athletics Giving Day history. We look forward to sharing final results next week.

Today, you went All In for Crusader Athletics. You showed the power of the Holy Cross community and committed to the continued development of ethical leaders, champion athletes, and men and women for and with others.

Thank you for your support and dedication to this special family. We wouldn’t be who we are without you, and we are humbled by your generosity.

Our next great moment awaits.

Go Cross Go!

It’s been an incredible day of giving in support of our Crusader student-athletes! With four hours to go, we are on our way to a record-breaking day for Holy Cross Athletics.

Join us in the final hours and go All In for the programs that mean the most to you!

A group of generous alumni and parents have now come forward with a $50,000 challenge to inspire the entire Holy Cross community!

At the conclusion of Crusaders All In Giving Day, $5,000 will be awarded to the five programs with the highest percentage of alumni participation AND to the five programs with the highest total donor participation. 

Find out how your team is doing!

Also, thanks to the Hope + Access campaign, all new and increased gifts to Athletics are matched 100% for financial aid.

Go All In today in support of our student-athletes and their continued growth as leaders and champions. Our teams need you!

May 14, 2021

Today, I’m asking you, and all Crusaders, to go ALL IN.

All year, our student-athletes have dedicated themselves to looking towards the future, growing stronger as individuals and teammates athletically, academically and personally.

With fortitude, we are continuing to prepare our 700 Crusaders to compete at the highest level. Just as they are committed to training and learning, to capitalizing on the opportunities in front of them, we are committed to our vision – delivering a transformative student-athlete experience driven by competitive success. 

Year after year, regardless of the circumstances, one thing remains constant — the strength of Crusaders when we go ALL IN for one another. Every dollar you give today will be dedicated to continuing our tradition of developing champions. And today, thanks to the Hope + Access campaign, all new and increased gifts are being matched 100% for financial aid. 

Together, we are strong. Together, we shape our future. Together, let’s go ALL IN for Crusader student-athletes.

Go Cross Go! 

Marcus Blossom

Director of Athletics

Undoubtedly, this year will be remembered as one of the strangest in school history!  Men’s Golf was not excluded from the roller coaster ride that permeated college sports. We faced many unexpected challenges head-on that were difficult to overcome, and we underperformed in competition this semester. Our spring schedule changed multiple times; we competed with a limited roster size; golf course access was difficult; and we practiced for months indoors wearing face masks. The team persevered through everything, never complained, and looked forward with great anticipation in representing Holy Cross.

 We really owe a debt of gratitude to our seniors: Connor Phillips, Harrison Thayer, and Paul Carey for their leadership during these difficult times. I am extremely proud of how our young men handled the multitude of challenges and with only six players eligible to compete, it was critical for our players to remain healthy. I’m happy to report that we remained COVID free for the entire semester! While some may view this as a minor achievement, the harsh reality is that most schools and golfers missed several tournaments, while we completed our revised regional schedule in its entirety.

 While we underperformed in competition this semester, it is not something that I expect to see when our roster returns to normal size. Sophomore Juan Ignacio Suau improved greatly from his freshman year and led the team with a stroke average of 77.12, including a 5th place finish at the Hartford Invitational. Veteran players John Bowen '22, Christian Emmerich '23 Henry Horgan '23, and Jack Phelan '22 took classes remotely for the entire academic year, were not eligible to compete and we expect significant contributions from them upon their return. They will be joined by four talented recruits: Owen Egan (Winchester, MA), Grant Passi (Austin, TEX), Nolan Schuermann (Cincinnati, OH), and Mark Wilson (Needham, MA).  

 Stay tuned for our fall schedule! We are in the planning stages of hosting a competition that will attract alumni golfers to the Worcester area to compete against our current team in a Ryder Cup format next fall. We will share information with you as soon as it is available.

 Our loyal alumni and supporters continue to provide critical funds that will help elevate our program. Though the pandemic certainly slowed the progress we enjoyed during my initial four years, I’m confident that a return to form lies ahead. As always, thank you for supporting our team and for paving the way to future success.

Sincerely,

Steve Napoli, PGA Head Coach

Paul Carey '21

March 12, 2021

Nearly one year ago we competed in the Pinehurst Intercollegiate in North Carolina. I’m pleased to inform everyone that our spring season will begin on March 14^th at the Saint Peter’s University Invitational in Branchburg, New Jersey.  We have six students on our roster living on or near campus and attending class in person or virtually, and all are eligible to compete this spring. Four of our players have decided to remain at home taking classes virtually. They will not compete this spring, but will return next semester to a roster that includes four very strong recruits. The new additions next fall are accomplished tournament players and National Honor Society students. Please be sure to visit the Holy Cross athletic website in the near future to view the bios of Owen Egan, Grant Passi, Nolan Schuermann and Mark Wilson.

Last semester we held frequent Zoom calls with our players and included several alums during our December call, which proved to be very popular with our students. We would like to include a few of our alumni in a call during March. If you have an interest in participating, please reach out to me at snapoli@holycross.edu.

The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly altered the landscape for college students, Holy Cross golf included. Given our geographic location and the fact that area golf courses do not normally open for the spring until early April, we normally travel to warmer climates in our spring season. This spring, we will play a more regional schedule which is consistent with many area colleges during the pandemic. Unfortunately, three New England Division 1 college teams have suspended all sports for the remainder of the academic year. We are grateful that Holy Cross has allowed us to compete and we realize that any spike in Covid-19 cases may alter the following schedule:

Monday, March 15th - Saint Peter's Invitational

Fox Hollow Golf Club, Branchburg, New Jersey

Saturday, March 27th - Holy Cross vs. Colgate University

Country Club of Troy, Troy, New York

Friday, April 9th - Hartford Tumble Brook Invitational

Tumble Brook Country Club, Bloomfield, Connecticut

Monday, April 12th-Tuesday, April 13th - University of Rhode Island Invitational

Quidnessett Country Club, North Kingston, Rhode Island

Sunday, April 18th-Monday, April 19th - Abarta Collegiate Invitational

The Steel Club, Hellertown, Pennsylvania

Saturday, May 1st-Sunday, May 2nd - Patriot League Championship

U.S. Naval Academy Golf Course, Annapolis, Maryland

To prepare for the above schedule we have been practicing in the Luth Athletic Center, with several members of the Holy Cross women’s team joining our sessions from time to time. They have been welcomed enthusiastically by our players and I am very impressed with the talent that the women’s golf coach, Tim Bibaud '81, has attracted to Mount Saint James. During practices in Luth, we work on specific golf skills and incorporate a competition before practice ends and yes, we have had members of our women’s team fare better in some of these competitions than their counterparts on the men’s team. We view these as positive signs for both teams which will drive them to succeed once we transition to playing in tournaments.

Within a matter of weeks, the simulator room in the Joanne Chouinard-Luth Recreation and Wellness Center will open for both the men’s and women’s teams. We have upgraded to Flightscope X3 simulator technology which will permit our players to practice on 96 different golf courses worldwide. The X3 also has the capability to measure numerous parameters; club, ball flight, putting, chipping and wedge data instantly. Another upgrade — and for the first time in program history — we will have synthetic turf flooring, which allows our players to practice putting throughout the year.

The past year has been difficult for everyone within the Holy Cross community. I will share that our team has been resilient, cooperative and has risen admirably to every challenge that they’ve faced. Like you, we are greatly looking forward to more normal times. Our students are yearning for a return to a traditional college experience, and a return to competition in a few weeks will begin the process.

As always, I thank you for your emails, notes of supports, phone calls and contributions to the Crusader Athletics Fund. If we are competing at a tournament in your area our players would GREATLY appreciate your attendance at a tournament, even for a short period of time. While it may seem insignificant, I can assure you that your presence does help our team.

Be safe, be smart and stay healthy!

Steve Napoli, PGA 

Men’s Golf Coach

Connor Phillips '21

Harrison Thayer '21

We are in awe of and so very grateful for our supporters who continue to go All In for our student-athletes. Your generosity allows us to prepare our Crusaders for a stronger tomorrow as they strive to succeed and lead in athletics, in the classroom and in their communities.

Please accept our heartfelt thanks for your support! Holy Cross would not be what it is today without the participation and dedication of Crusader Nation.  

Holy Cross student-athletes are dedicated and resilient. When our world — and in turn, our campus life — changed this year, we adapted. Through challenge after challenge, our commitment to our education and our athletics never faltered. And today, we remain focused and hopeful for the future.

This is why we are asking the Holy Cross community to come together right now in support of our student-athletes.

Whether you make a gift to the Fund for Athletics Excellence or to one of our 27 varsity teams, your generosity helps position us for an even stronger return to competition.

In the face of unprecedented challenges, we know that one thing remains constant — the strength of Crusaders when we go all in to support one another. On this Giving Tuesday, your gift is for our future. With your support, our next great moment awaits.

A little more than one year ago, Men’s Golf won the 2019 Lehigh Invitational at Saucon Valley Country Club, our first tournament victory in twenty-one years! Our men were elated and anxious for the spring season to arrive and build upon their recent success.  We returned to action in Mid-February with a trip to Florida, followed by a tournament at Pinehurst, the home of American golf. Three days later COVID-19 ended our season. Our students went home and transitioned to online classes and distance learning, not knowing what to expect in the days ahead. COVID-19 presented numerous questions and challenges for our players, and we had no answers other than to encourage everyone to focus on academics, be safe, and seek advice from their parents. Though disappointed with the abrupt ending to our spring season, everyone took the news in stride, worked hard in the virtual classroom, and at year-end, four players were named Golf Coaches of America (GCAA) All-American Scholars. Joe Brosseau ’20, Harrison Thayer ’21, Connor Phillips ’21, and Collin Fitzpatrick ’22 join Joe Egan ’19 as Holy Cross GCAA All-Americans. To be eligible, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 and a stroke average of 76.0 or better.

The team also enjoyed additional recognition for their work in the classroom with eight players being named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. Joe Brosseau ’20 was named to the Honor Roll for the fourth time and is currently earning his master’s degree in Finance at Boston College. Harrison Thayer ’21 earned his third berth, Connor Phillips ’21 and Collin Fitzpatrick ’22 were honored for the second time. John Bowen ’22, Christian Emmerich ’23, Henry Horgan ’23, and Peter Radler ’23 each made the Patriot League Honor Roll for the first time.

2019 -2020 Holy Cross Final Individual Stroke Averages 2019-2020:

• Christian Emmerich 74.2
• Collin Fitzpatrick 74.6
• Connor Philips 74.6
• Harrison Thayer 74.7
• Joe Brosseau 75.1
• John Bowen 75.8
• Peter Radler 75.9

As I’m sure you know, the Patriot League cancelled our fall season, and we are anxiously waiting for a decision when competition will resume for spring 2021. We will communicate any updates regarding the season as soon as we have them.

Our players are currently taking classes remotely this semester, only three students are in Worcester. Once again, they are focusing on academics and practicing and playing golf near their residences whenever possible. Several have the luxury to be in warmer climates until they return to school in February. Everyone is anxious for the new Recreation and Wellness Center to open and for the installation of new technology in the simulator room with dedicated space for Men’s and Women’s Golf. During colder weather, the teams will also have access to the Luth Athletic Complex turf. Both are significant enhancements for our players and for recruiting.  

We do communicate with the team weekly, and all are anxious to return to a normal college experience, see their teammates again, and return to competition. We have held several Zoom calls and plan to include a few of our golf alumni in a Zoom call in November. If this proves to be successful, we will include more golf alumni and supporters in the future.

We encourage everyone to reach out and congratulate Matt Czarnecki ’08 on being selected to the Holy Cross Athletic Hall of Fame. Matt becomes the first golfer selected since 1983 and only the sixth golfer in school history to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Matt remains the only Holy Cross player to win the Patriot League Championship and in 2012 was selected to the All Patriot League’s 25th Anniversary team.

The NCAA has placed recruiting restrictions on coaches during the pandemic. Since March and extending at least through the end of this year, coaches are not permitted to observe players during competitions or have any in-person meetings on or off-campus. Each year nearly two hundred high school seniors from throughout the country seek one of the few roster spots that are available. Despite the NCAA restrictions, we are very pleased to have received verbal commitments from three students who are very strong players. At the appropriate time, we will share more information on our future Crusaders.

We are extremely appreciative of your support of Men’s Golf, Holy Cross, and the Crusader Athletics Fund. We take nothing for granted, especially in these challenging times, and we will strive to excel both on the golf course and in the classroom.

Steve Napoli, PGA

Head Coach