Sports

Green Mountain College to add golf back to its NCAA offerings

Courtesy of GMC

Chris Jenkins, a former player on the men’s varsity golf team, organized a club program and strengthen membership over the past two years as the president. Thanks in large part to Jenkins’ determined effort, the men’s golf program is ready to compete once again as a varsity sport. Jenkins will lead the 2015 men’s golf team as its new head coach.

POULTNEY–Green Mountain College Director of Athletics Keith Bosley announced Thursday, July 23, that the athletic department will be reinstituting men’s golf as a varsity sport this fall. The addition of men’s golf brings the number of NCAA Division III offerings to 14 programs, the most the College has offered since the 2009-10 academic year.

“After bringing back women’s tennis last year, we are equally excited about reimplementing the varsity golf program at Green Mountain College this year,” said Bosley. “Adding golf back to our host of varsity programs was a natural progression as it is a lifelong sport that fits well with the College’s mission emphasizing personal health and wellness.”

Chris Jenkins, a former player on the men’s varsity golf team, took the onus on himself to organize a new club program and strengthen membership over the past two years as the president. He worked hard to establish a strong relationship with the local Lake St. Catherine Country Club and identify tournaments in which Green Mountain could be competitive.

Thanks in large part to Jenkins’ determined effort, the men’s golf program is ready to compete once again as a varsity sport. In fact, Jenkins will remove himself from competition to captain the 2015 men’s golf team as its new head coach.

Jenkins grew up around the sport during his time in California and North Carolina and received topnotch lessons from a variety of professionals. During his first two years at Green Mountain College, he served as the Eagles’ top rated golfer and team captain, and was a medalist at the Green Mountain College Invitational at Green Mountain National as a sophomore.

“Getting an opportunity to bring golf back as a varsity sport this year is a testament to the hard-working group of young men that have changed the culture of the club program at GMC over the past two years,” said Jenkins. “We look forward to the challenge of tournament style play as there will be a learning curve as we adjust from club style golf.”

Green Mountain will begin its regular season with an entry into the JSC Invitational, which is scheduled for Sept. 2. Tournament play will continue with several local matches in Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts, including a home tournament at Lake St. Catherine Country Club on Sept. 17.

The North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship will be held in Rutland this year at the Rutland Country Club on Oct. 9-10. The two-day tournament will feature eight teams, including the reigning champions from Salem State.

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