ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Sophomore Jim Maru of the Moravian College golf team has been named the Empire 8 Conference Men's Golf Athlete of the Week for his performance at the John Makuvek Cup at Saucon Valley Country Club last week.

Maru sank a bogey putt on the second playoff hole to earn first place medalist honors at the inaugural event hosted by Moravian on the Weyhill Course at Saucon Valley on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

Maru had a 76 on the par-72 course, which was tied with Casey Schermick of DeSales University for the lead at the conclusion of 18 holes. Maru and Schermick both made par on the first hole of the playoff, the par-4 No. 1. On No. 2 and battling the setting sun, Maru put his tee shot on the green of the par-3 hole while his opponent saw his tee shot bounce off of a tree and into a water hazard. After the drop, Schermick two-putted for a five while Maru three-putted for the win.

Maru had a pair of birdies sandwiched around a triple bogey on holes 14 through 16 during his round that had three other bogeys. The 76 is the second straight for Maru, tying his low round of the season.

"I started off strong and ended strong," Maru said. "When I made the first birdie, I said, 'Finally!' I hadn't made a putt all day and I was hitting it within 10 to 15 feet. Then after the triple, I said, 'Here we go again.' I've blown a tournament before. Then I came back with a birdie and said, 'Let's go. It's go-time!'"

Maru and the Moravian squad are competing at the Lebanon Valley Fall Invitational on Monday, Oct. 14 at Lebanon Country Club before heading to the Chestnut Hill College Invitational on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at Indian Valley Country Club.