Oct. 26, 2005

DALLAS-FORT WORTH, Texas - The Navy golf team concluded its fall season Tuesday with a third-place finish at the Service Academy Classic played at the Trophy Club Hogan Course in Fort Worth, Texas. For the 11th-straight year, Air Force claimed the Reemtsma Trophy, named after the founder and chairman of the Service Academy Classic Bill Reemtsma (USAFA '63) and awarded to the winning team. Army sophomore Patrick Beverly earned medalist honors by two strokes over Air Force sophomore Tyler Labrum.

Air Force paced the field with its 16-over par 1096, followed by Army with a 29-over par 1109 and Navy in third with a 55-over par 1135. The Falcons and Black Knights were tied for the lead after the first 18 holes, as each team posted a 10-over par 370, while Navy got off to a rough start and turned in a 28-over par 388. The Mids collected themselves in the second round, improving 20 strokes and posting the low second round with an 8-over par 368. Air Force captured the team title on the final day, posting a 5-under 355, while Army was 6-over in the final round and the Mids were 19-over.

Four Midshipmen placed among the top 10, including junior Jeremy Garner (Fayetteville, Ga.) who turned in a 10-over par 226 (77-72-77) and placed ninth. Rookies David Miller (Chillicothe, Ohio) and Ryan Wielgus (Bethesda, Md.) joined junior Bryan Stoniecki (Montgomery, Ill.) in 10th place, as each player produced a 12-over par 228. Wielgus was the most consistent of the three golfers, shooting consecutive rounds of 4-over par 76. Miller, meanwhile, sandwiched a low round of 74 between a pair of 77s. Sophomore Erich Schoen (Sylvania, Ohio) stumbled in the opening round with a 9-over par 81, but continued to improve in each round, posting a 76 in the second round and a 2-over par 74 on the final day for a 54-hole mark of 231. Fellow sophomore Ryan Sload (Lancaster, Pa.) tied with Schoen for 15th and owned the team's low round of 72 (along with Garner) shot in the second round. Finally, sophomore Jeff Sawin (Haverford, Pa.) placed 17th with a 16-over par 232. Like Schoen and Sload, Sawin struggled in the opening round, but improved over the next two rounds.

Navy's spring season is set to begin Feb. 20-21 at the UTSA Intercollegiate in San Antonio, Texas.

Team Leader Board
1   Air Force   370-371-355 - 1096   +16
2   Army        370-375-364 - 1109   +29
3   Navy        388-368-379 - 1135   +55

Navy Leader Board
       Navy         388-368-379 - 1135  +28
9      Jeremy Garner    77-72-77 - 226  +10
T10    David Miller     77-74-77 - 228  +12
T10    Bryan Stoniecki  77-75-76 - 228  +12
T10    Ryan Wielgus     76-76-76 - 228  +12
T15    Erich Schoen     81-76-74 - 231  +15
T15    Ryan Sload       82-72-77 - 231  +15
T17    Jeff Sawin       81-75-76 - 232  +16

G-o N-a-v-y