Photo of Jasper Golf Team @MJASPERSGOLF/ INSTAGRAM
Emmanouel Sofillas, Asst. Sports Editor
The Manhattan University (MU) Jaspers golf teams are looking to shock some people at the MAAC Championships in Florida this week. It has been a spring season full of promise, and both the men’s and women’s programs are heading into the conference tournament with momentum, confidence and something to prove.
Some of the high points for the Jaspers this spring have come directly against MAAC competition. The men’s team finished first at the Sacred Heart Invitational, while the women’s team turned heads by finishing second in that same tournament. These high-level performances have set the tone for what both squads are hoping to accomplish in Florida.
This is the first year of women’s golf at MU, and the program has wasted no time making an impression. For a brand-new team to come in and compete at this level against established MAAC programs is a testament to the talent that has been assembled and the culture being built from scratch. The women’s team has a real shot at making noise at the MAAC tournament, and nobody in the field should be taking them lightly.
The women’s team has had plenty of contributors this season, but some of the most important play has come from freshman Jayden Peters, who has quickly established herself as one of the team’s key players. According to GoJaspers, Peters finished tied for second alongside Siena’s Emely Kintzel, shooting three over par for a combined total of 75. As a first-year player on a first-year program, Peters’ performance speaks volumes about the vision of where this team is headed.
The men’s team has been making waves in the conference as well. Beyond the first-place finish at Sacred Heart, the Jaspers also turned in a strong showing at another invitational, where they placed third. Cabell Faulkner was particularly impressive, finishing tied for fifth place individually and providing the team with a reliable anchor at the top of the lineup. That momentum has carried over and helped the Jaspers sustain their level of play heading into championship week. The green and white are hoping that consistency translates into a strong finish when it matters most.
It has not been a completely smooth road to get here. The Jaspers have had their ups and downs throughout the season, dealing with the kind of adversity that every competitive program faces at some point, but what sets MU apart is the team’s ability to bounce back from any challenge.
Now, the Jaspers are looking to do something no golf team at Manhattan has ever done: win the MAAC Championship. For the women’s program, this is just the beginning of what they hope will be a long run at contention. For the men, the memory of 2016 still lingers. That year, according to GolfStat, Manhattan fell to Siena College in a playoff after both teams finished deadlocked at 26-over through 54 holes. The Jaspers actually finished stronger down the stretch, posting a closing 290, but Siena’s final round forced extra holes and ultimately made the difference.
Despite these near misses, this week in Florida, both teams have a chance to write a different ending.