After coming one stroke away from winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship last year, the Iona College golf team is looking to get back to that point this year, and win it.

At the 2013 MAAC Championship, the Loyola Greyhounds claimed their sixth straight conference title by edging the Gaels by one stroke. With the departure of Loyola from the MAAC, this year’s field is wide open.

“After losing by a stroke last year, the key to success for us this year is obvious that every stroke matters,” junior Taylor Bellemare said. “I think as a team if we can put 100 percent into every shot, we’ll really have a good shot at the MAAC Championship this year.”

The MAAC Championship is scheduled to take place in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. from April 25-27.

Iona closed out the regular season with the Monmouth University Hawk Invitational on April 17. The Gaels tied for fourth out of five teams with a team score of 321 at the one-day event. Saint Peter’s won the event with a score of 313.

Junior Evan DeLuca shot a five-over 76, coming in a four-way tie for third place (two strokes behind the leader). Freshman Stefan Cygan carded an 81 and tied for 14th place. Junior Tom McHugh and freshman Brian Fitzpatrick found themselves in a three-way tie for 17th, one stroke behind Cygan.

Prior to this event, the Gaels finished ninth out of 14 teams at the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights Invitational. They carded a 657 in the two-day event.

Bellemare tied for 13th place with a score of 157; he shot 78 on day one and 79 the following day. He was one of only 11 players in the 74-player field to break 80 in both rounds. DeLuca shot 82 in each of the rounds, finishing at 164 and tied for 36th place.

One week earlier, the Maroon & Gold competed in the two-day Lafayette Invitational. Iona completed the event with a score of 627 and finished 16th out of 18 teams.

Bellemare led the team with a four-over 146 and came in a tie for third place. He carded an even par (71) on the second day.

“In terms of how I played I feel it showed potential more than anything,” he said. “I always strive to be the best and that’s what I’m gonna continue to do as player and a teammate.”

McHugh and Fitzpatrick each recorded a 159 and tied for 62nd. Cygan finished four shots behind his teammates.

The Gaels hope that the experience they have gained this season will benefit them at the MAAC Championship.

The Maroon & Gold lost a lot of experienced players to graduation last year, including Doug Hoppe, Dylan Newman, Andrew Graham and Scott Gallo. All four of these players finished in the top 20 individually at the MAAC Championship. Hoppe and Newman finished second and third, respectively.

“Last year, we brought a team that had a total of 30 rounds of combined MAAC tournament experience with only one player who had not competed in the championship before,” head coach Chris Merce said. “This year will be the complete opposite, with only one player (McHugh), who has competed in the MAAC Championship. Overcoming the inexperience factor will be key for us this year.”