Navy Unable to Catch Army on the Links

Oct. 2, 2005

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Army golf team won four of the seven singles matches Sunday afternoon at the United States Naval Academy Golf Course, enough to win the annual Army-Navy Star Meet, 6.5-4.5. The Black Knights owned a 2.5-1.5 lead after Saturday's four 4-ball competitions.

"It was an exciting day of golf, but unfortunately we were on the short end of the result," said Navy head coach Pat Owen. "Our guys left everything they had on the course. It came down to one or two shots in every match."

Navy opened Sunday's singles matches on a strong note, winning two of the first three and just missed out on a sweep. Sophomore Josh Benson (Bloomington, Minn.) turned in a 3&2 victory over Army senior Jimmy Fisher in the first singles match to knot the score at 2.5-2.5.

Army pulled out in front of the Mids again as second-year player David Padgalskas was able to pull ahead of Navy sophomore Jeff Sawin (Haverford, Pa.) on the final hole, winning the match, 1 up.

Junior Bryan Stoniecki (Montgomery, Ill.), playing in his final Army-Navy competition with his eligibility exhausted after this spring, produced a 2&1 victory over freshman Minou Pak to pull the Mids even with the Black Knights.

Army, however, won three of the next four matches, including a pair of 6&5 victories to win the overall competition. Navy's lone win in the final four matches was a 3&2 win by freshman David Miller (Chillicothe, Ohio), who posted a 3&2 win over sophomore Joey Cave.

"Josh (Benson) was our point man today and led us off with a win. David (Miller) had another great showing today and did a nice job as a freshman. The effort was great, but we're not satisfied. We're not happy with the result."

The Mids return to action Oct. 15-16 when they travel to Philadelphia to take part in the Penn Invitational.

Four-Ball Matches
Austin Luher-Sam Walenz (A) def. Michael Pierce-David Miller (N), 5&4
Joey Cave-Minou Pak (A) def. Josh Benson-Jeff Sawin (N), 1 up
Matt Hanlon-David Padgalskas (A) halved Bryan Stoniecki-Ryan Wielgus (N)
Jeremy Garner-Erich Schoen (N) def. Patrick Beverly-Jimmy Fisher (A), 4&3

Singles Matches
Josh Benson (N) def. Jimmy Fisher (A), 3&2
David Padgalskas (A) def. Jeff Sawin (N), 1 up
Bryan Stoniecki (N) def. Minou Pak (A), 2&1
Sam Walenz (A) def. Ryan Wielgus (N), 6&5
David Miller (N) def. Joey Cave (A), 3&2
Patrick Beverly (A) def. Jeremy Garner (N), 1 up
Austin Luher (A) def. Erich Schoen (N), 6&5