Emmanual College Golf Set For First Tee Off In Fall 2009

By Kate McKenna

GNAC Correspondent, Emmanuel College

In the fall of 2009, as the academic year tees off, the first-ever Emmanuel College golf team will tee off as well.

With the addition of the men’s golf team, Emmanuel College will increase its number of varsity programs from 14 to 15. The growing athletic department will benefit the Emmanuel College community, and it will attract a wider variety of prospective student-athletes to the school.

Pamela Rocker, Emmanuel College Athletic Director, said “We feel that this additional program further enhances our Emmanuel College athletic department and position in the GNAC.”

Julio Avila, who has coached the Emmanuel College varsity men’s soccer team for the past 7 seasons, has resigned from the soccer position and has accepted the position of head golf coach. Coach Avila’s experience in coaching at the collegiate level will help him immensely in creating a strong program quickly.

“Coach Avila actually started our men’s soccer program at EC so he has a great deal of experience with this,” said Roecker.

Coach Avila’s golf history and understanding of the game will play an integral role in the golf program’s success.

“I became a caddy when I was 13 in Honduras. From then on I have played in tours,” said Avila. “ I have won a couple of tournaments and now I am a member of the Franklin Park Golf Club.”

The Saints will practice and play at the William J. Devine golf course located at the Franklin Park Zoo. The 18-hole public course, which is the second oldest golf course in the country, spans 5,240 yards from the red tees, 5,622 yards from the white tees, and 6,009 yards from the blue tees.

Coach Avila has gathered 8 Emmanuel College students thus far who are eager to play next fall. With the addition of a handful of fearless incoming freshmen, the Saints should be a force to reckon with right from the get-go.

“My expectations for the first season are to field a team and work on the mental aspect of the game with my players because golf is more mental than it is physical,” said Avila. “I hope to start recruiting next year and create a team [at Emmanuel] that will be respected as we compete in the GNAC.”

GNAC correspondents are selected by their institution to write feature stories for the GNAC website.