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COLLEGE GOLF: Polka swinging close to home at NU
LEWISTON — Recruiting Jason Polka was a simple task for Niagara men’s golf coach Kevin Miller.
“Niagara was the only school I applied to,” Polka, a Lewiston-Porter graduate, said Monday. “I wanted to stay close to home.”
And close to his swing coach.
Polka said he learned more about golf in his freshman year at Niagara than in all his prior years playing the game. But he’s still looking to improve, which is why he and his father Glenn made some adjustments in preparation for today’s Little Three Championship at Niagara Falls Country Club.
“I’m feel good about my game,” Polka said. “We made a few minor improvements.”
Polka finished strong last season, posting a 75 on the final day of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships in Orlando to help the Purple Eagles finish third. Miller is expecting more consistency from Polka this season, now that he understands the critical element of playing college golf in these parts.
“Usually the weather is bad,” Polka said. “You have to go out and realize everybody else has to play through the same (conditions).”
The Purple Eagles finished sixth in their season-opening tournament, the Colgate Invitational. Mike Jarvis (Lancaster) led the way with a pair of 74s. Polka shot 77 on the second day after opening up with an 81.
Canisius features Kenmore native Drew Creighton, a sophomore who finished third at the Buffalo District Golf Association Men’s Individual Championship over the summer. St. Bonaventure’s Ryan Swanson was a 2007 Porter Cup qualifier.
St. Bonaventure has won three consecutive Little Three Championships. Niagara’s Chris Singleton, a native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, was co-medalist last year with a 71. The tournament was last held at NFCC in 2004.
Polka, who holds the course record at Niagara Frontier Country Club (63), said NFCC can be very challenging depending on the set up.
“I’ve played it probably five or six times,” said Polka. “It’s not like you can go out there and just play. You need to know your way around the course. It’s not that easy.”
It might be a little easier for Polka, who is expecting a small gallery to follow him.
“Hopefully we’ll have a lot of people coming out that I know,” he said.
Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.
IF YOU GO
• WHAT: Little Three Championship
• WHO: Niagara, Canisius and St. Bonaventure men’s golf teams
• WHEN: Today
• WHERE: Niagara Falls Country Club
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