UTICA, NY - The Empire 8 Conference announced its Men's and Women's Golfers of the Week, awarding Utica athletes both honors. Junior Aydin Parekh (Nobleton, Ontario/Blyth Academy) earned the award on the men's side, with freshman Claire Draper (Watertown, NY/Watertown) taking the award for the women. Both the men's and women's teams competed in the SUNY Poly Invitational at Teugega Country Club, with Parekh winning the individual scoring among men, and Draper finishing third overall in the women's event.

Parekh headlined the day for Utica, turning in a +3 scorecard on the par 71 course. He finished just one stroke better than the second-place finisher, a golfer from Nazareth. Parekh's round featured three birdies, 10 pars, and a back nine that stayed on par. The round marked his best in any event he played in competition for Utica, as his previous best was in late April of 2024, when he shot +6 at the Oswego Country Club. Utica fell just short as a team, with Nazareth winning the team scoring by just one stroke. 

Draper shone in her collegiate debut. She finished +13 on the day, just two strokes behind the second-place finisher. St. Lawrence golfer Sadie Cumming won the individual scoring by a 10-stroke lead. Behind Draper was a +16 fourth-place finisher before the next two highest-scoring Pioneers were tied for 5th overall at +21. Draper's round saw two birdies, including staying below par through the first three holes of the day. Utica placed second as a team, with St. Lawrence being the only other competing team in the women's event.

Both teams will now take just over a week off before their next event. On September 24th, men's and women's golf will travel to Lakeside Country Club in Penn Yan. NY to compete in the Keuka College Invitational. Play is scheduled to begin at 10 am.