Lehigh University Athletics
Incoming freshman named Co-Golfer of the Year
6/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
By Karl Gilbert
Of the Express-Times
Friends since their days on the local junior golf tour, both players immediately lifted the
Hurricanes golf program into the upper echelon of the Lehigh Valley Conference.
This past fall -- their senior seasons -- Marcincin and Mohler concluded their careers in fine fashion. They led
In recognition of their playing accomplishments and leadership attributes, Marcincin and Mohler are the 2008 Express-Times Co-Golfers of the Year.
"Doug and Brendan were leaders this year," said
Marcincin and Mohler, who averaged 73 and 74, respectively, finished tied for sixth place at the District 11 Championships, and 14th place at the PIAA Eastern Regionals. At the PIAA championships, Marcincin tied for seventh place; Mohler was one stroke back in a tie for ninth place.
Just as important as their on-course abilities, both players kept their teammates positive after a big loss at Emmaus in early September.
In what will go down in history as one of the region's best high school golf matches, Mohler (72) and Marcincin (73) backed teammate Scott Kalamar's 4-under-par 67 to help beat pre-season favorite
Three weeks later at Mahoning Valley CC,
"It sort of unfolded that Doug and I were the leaders," said Mohler, who is headed to Franklin & Marshall. "When guys were down, we would pick them up and help them out. Everybody on the team looked up to us, and we wanted to do our jobs."
The 6-foot-2 Marcincin gave a glimpse of his potential in the fall of 2005 when he upset two-time District 11 champion Brian Belden Jr. on his home course (Brookside CC) to win the District 11 title as a sophomore.
But an average junior season -- he missed the PIAA state tournament by one stroke -- and an eye-opening experience at the 2007 Pennsylvania State Amateur motivated Marcincin to practice more. The results were evident.
"The conditions that day were good for scoring," Marcincin recalled. "The best score was 63, and it beat me by 13 shots. I thought the course was playing hard and 63 wasn't possible, so I knew I had to practice more. I re-dedicated myself to practicing everything."
Despite their highly competitive natures, Marcincin said he and Mohler can play golf together and remain good friends.
"We have always been competitive together and still remained friends," said Marcincin, who will attend
Coming off a ninth-place finish at the 2007 Pennsylvania State Junior championship, Mohler expected to have a big senior season.
"We had two of the best players in the league, Kalamar played well, and we had a lot of depth," Mohler said. "Our goal was to win the league. We did it."
This story originally appeared in the Wednesday, June 11, 2008 edition of The Express-Times . Used with permission.
