April 20, 2008

Complete Results

2008 Navy Spring Invitational-Final Results

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Ben Hayes (Carmichael, Calif.) became the first Navy freshman in Pat Owen's 18 years as Navy's head coach to win a tournament as his two-day 3-under par 139 led the Navy Gold team to Navy Spring Invitational team title Sunday afternoon at the Naval Academy Golf Course in Annapolis. The Mids (296-293) and Iona (291-298) both finished the tournament with a 21-over par 589, however the playoff was wiped out after a tornado watch was issued and lightning surrounded the course. Navy was awarded the win by virtue of Eric Stinson's 77 vs. Iona's Anthony Rubeo's 79 in the final round.

Navy is the only team in the last 11 years to win the team title multiple times, earning bragging rights in 2003, '06 and now '08.

All three of Navy's teams improved their scores in Sunday's final round and were able to move up in the standings, including the Gold team which leapt from fourth to first by shaving three strokes off its first-round score, while Iona tacked on seven strokes.

"We had a great team effort by the gold team today, but the other two teams pushed just as hard and had strong performances on Sunday," said Owen. "I was really pleased and proud of our three seniors who really did a nice job of leading the teams this weekend."

Hayes sat in second place heading into the final round, just a stroke behind George Washington's Sebastian Palomares. Hayes, who shot a 2-under par 69 on Saturday, followed up with a 1-under par 70, the low round of the day, to capture his first collegiate title. He bested Iona's Russel Giglio by five strokes and was the only player to finish the tournament under par.

Hayes tied the tournament record for lowest 36-hole score, as well as the lowest 36-hole scores to par. Both records were previously set by teammate Erich Schoen (Sylvania, Ohio) in 2006, while Brian Crum was the first to turn in a 139 (-1) in 2003.

Junior Ryan Wielgus (Bethesda, Md.), who has battled an injury this spring, played an impressive tournament, finishing tied for 14th with a 5-over par 147 as a member of the Navy Gold squad. Rookie Josh Ziska (Camarillo, Calif.) moved up 10 spots in the standings by turning in a 4-over par 75 in the final round to place 27th with a 9-over par 151. Senior Ryan Sload (Lancaster, Pa.) finished just outside of the top 30 and a stroke behind Ziska in 31st with a 10-over par 152 (77-75), while junior Eric Stinson (Spotsylvania, Va.) placed 52nd with a 14-over par 156 (79-77).

The Navy Blue team, which is traditionally the No. 1 Navy team, captured a top-10 finish by shedding six strokes off its first-round score. The Blue squad placed ninth with a 42-over par 610 (308-302). Schoen, one of the Mids' three seniors, jumped from 12th to seventh in the final standings after turning in a 4-over par 146, shooting a pair of 73s. Classmate and team captain Chris Renninger (Darnestown, Md.) turned in the low round for the Blue squad, shooting par to move up from 61st to 23rd (79-71-150, +8). Chip Hardie (Arnold, Md.) finished 52nd with a 14-over par 156, followed by junior David Miller (Chillicothe, Ohio) in 66th (79-80-159, +17) and John Montemayor (Woodbridge, Va.) in 78th (83-79-162, +20).

The Navy White squad, meanwhile, bettered its score by 13 strokes in the final round as it came from 15th place to finish in 11th with a two-round mark of 613 (+45), just a stroke behind St. Francis (Pa.) in 10th. Newcomer Rob Merkert (Severna Park, Md.) put together his finest tournament showing of his young career by placing 23rd with an 8-over par 150 (74-76). Junior John Fischer (West Des Moines, Iowa) trimmed eight strokes off his score from the opening round, turning in a 2-over par 73 on Sunday to jump from 73rd to 39th with a two-day 12-over par 154. Also placing 39th was freshman Marcus Heyland (Fort Madison, Iowa) who put together back-to-back 77s. Meanwhile, sophomore Michael Harrigan (Moorestown, N.J.) also solved his woes on the final day, as he bounced back from a first-round 11-over par 82 to shoot a 3-over par 74 on Sunday. He finished 52nd with a 14-over par 156, while sophomore Joshua Howell (New Bern, N.C.) rounded out the lineup with a 74th-place finish with a 19-over par 161 (81-80).

In addition to fielding three teams, Navy also put four individuals on the course, including freshman Steve 'Beau' Guidry (Durham, N.C.) who tied for 39th (75-79-154, +12). Additionally, sophomore Andrew Hutchison (Jonesboro, Ark.) finished 58th (77-80-157, +15), while sophomore John Moore (Winnetka, Ill.) (81-77-158, +16) and rookie Blaine Henning (Simonton, Texas) tied for 64th (84-74-158, +17).

The Midshipmen will be back in action next Saturday and Sunday when they travel to Bethlehem, Pa. to take part in the 2008 Patriot League Championship played at Saucon Valley Country Club.