Corey Purcell
When Catholic Central’s Corey Purcell put pen to paper this week and signed his letter of intent to play golf at Division II College of Saint Rose, he said “it was a major relief.”
Purcell was disappointed last fall in the Section II high school tournament when he followed up a 74 on the first day with an 84, settling for first alternate. There had been some Division I schools, including Siena, looking at him but “I think my second score at the state qualifier was unappealing,” he said, adding “that’s golf.”
Purcell, 18, says it came down between St. Rose and Chestnut Hill College, a small school of about 500 undergraduates in Philadelphia.
“I was more comfortable on the campus and it felt like home,” he said. “It just felt like a good fit.”
Purcell carries a 3.5 GPA and plans to study computer information systems and felt the internship opportunities were better in the Capital Region. Additionally, he likes coach Scott Warren.
“I met him after the second round when I blew up and from there we had a great relationship,” Purcell said. “( The program’s) headed in the right direction. He’s got a great personality and he’s in it for the kids.”
“St. Rose wants them to be good students and players but also solid members of the community,” Warren said. “Corey gives us a good building block.”
Purcell lettered in golf from 2007-12 and was varsity captain, team MVP and Big Ten Player of the Year for the past three seasons. He also made the Troy Record Player of the Week Honor Roll in Sept. 2011.
“I am just looking to go and contribute to the team the only score that matters is the one after 18 holes,” Purcell said.
He admits he used to get very angry when things didn’t go right on the course but he’s learned to get over that and now goes shot by shot.
This week he still had studying, his job at Kmart in Clifton Park and running varsity track, adding about the Golden Knights, “I hope I can rock the black and gold.”
This week, Catholic High’s Corey Purcell signed his letter of intent to study and play golf at the College of Saint Rose. Check out our video at www.saratogian.com.