ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. – Freshman Christian Garruppo (Hilton Head, S.C./Hilton Head Prep) posted a 54-hole score of 228 to finish as the low rookie, part of McDaniel's fourth-place finish at the 2017 Centennial Conference (CC) men's golf championship at The Bridges Golf Club on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The Green Terror combined to post 14 individual rounds of 78 or better on the weekend to finish with a score of 913, improving each day. On Friday, McDaniel carded a round of 306 but found itself in a 15-stroke deficit after Franklin & Marshall turned in a round of 291 to match the championship record. The Green Terror posted a round of 304 on Saturday and 303 on Sunday. The Diplomats staved off Swarthmore for their fourth straight title, carding rounds of 301 on Saturday and Sunday to finish with a score of 893. The Garnet finished four shots back with a score of 897 (303-295-299) while Muhlenberg was third with a 903 (301-299-303).
Garruppo is the second McDaniel player to earn Rookie of the Year honors for the low 54-hole score by a freshman and first since 2013. Garruppo finished tied for 10th overall in the field, carding a round of 75 on Friday before posting a 77 on Saturday and a 76 over the final 18 holes.
Brandon Vance (Worcester, Md./Methacton) led the squad, finishing tied for sixth overall and missing all-conference honors by two strokes. He finished with a score of 226, posting a 76 in the first round and matching rounds of 76 on Saturday and Sunday.
Kevin Keane (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) and Brian Norwitz (Germantown, Md./Northwest) finished tied for 15th overall with scores of 230. Keane posted rounds of 77 on Friday and Saturday before shooting a 76 for the final round. Norwitz posted a 78 on Friday before turning in his low round of the weekend with a 75 on Saturday. He finished the tournament with a 77 on Sunday.
Shawn MacBurnie (Beverly, Mass./St. Mary's Lynn) finished 24th with a score of 236. After a round of 83 on Friday, he improved to fire a 77 on Saturday and 76 on Sunday.
Team Scores: 1. Franklin & Marshall 893 (291-301-301), 2. Swarthmore 897 (303-295-299), 3. Muhlenberg 903 (301-299-303), 4. McDaniel 913 (306-304-303), 5. Gettysburg 923 (304-314-305), 6. Dickinson 959 (322-319-318), 7. Ursinus 973 (327-322-324).
McDaniel Results: 6T. Brandon Vance 226 (76-75-75), 10T. Christian Garruppo 228 (75-77-76), 15T. Brian Norwitz 230 (78-75-77), 15T. Kevin Keane 230 (77-77-76), 24. Shawn MacBurnie 236 (83-77-76).
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