May 18, 2008

Complete Results

2008 NCAA Men's Golf West Regional - Final Results

BREMERTON, Wash. - Seniors Chris Renninger (Darnestown, Md.) and Erich Schoen (Sylvania, Ohio) turned in their best rounds of the tournament in the final round to lead Navy to a 26th-place finish at the 2008 NCAA Men's Golf West Regional Saturday played Gold Mountain Country Club in Bremerton, Wash. The Mids turned in a 22-over par 310 in the final round to hold off Columbia by 19 strokes, while it was just four strokes shy of moving into 25th alongside San Diego.

"This was a tremendous experience for our team, one that I'm sure none of our golfers will forget," said Navy head coach Pat Owen. "For Chris and Erich, it was an amazing opportunity for them to finish their careers on a high note by playing their last tournament in an NCAA Championship. I'm sure David, Ryan and Ben will use the experience as incentive next year to help lead our team back to the NCAA Championship.

"The course was tough, but it was a great opportunity for our golfers to play alongside many of the premier teams and golfers in college golf. The rewards were plentiful. I can't say enough about the hospitality of the host school and the many, many fans, parents and friends of the Navy and Navy golf. We appreciated their support throughout our stay in Washington."

Top-seeded USC won the program's first regional crown by two shots over surprise runner-up Oregon. USC was the only team to finish under par at 2-under 862 after an even-par 288 in the final round. The Ducks, led by individual medalist Joey Benedetti, finished at even-par 864. Benedetti led the event from wire-to-wire, winning his first collegiate tournament with a 54-hole score of 9-under 207 on three-straight three-under 69s.

San Diego State, which began the round 20th among 27 teams, made a late surge with the best final round score of 5-under 283, forcing a three-way tie for ninth place with Texas and Pepperdine. With only the top 10 teams earning at spot in the NCAA Championships, a three-team sudden death play-off was held. The playoff procedure featured a five-hole shotgun format with players from each of three teams playing holes 14 through 18 simultaneously. San Diego State and Texas were both 2-under, while Pepperdine's NCAA hopes were dashed with their even-par team score.

Following the team playoff, an individual playoff was held for the second of two individual berths. Wisconsin's Dan Woltman eagled the par-5 ninth hole in the playoff with teammate Tyler Obermueller and Boise State's Troy Merritt to punch his ticket to nationals. Pepperdine's Eric Shriver earned the other individual qualifying spot.

The other teams heading out of the West to the NCAA Championship are Clemson (3-over 867), UCLA (12-over 876), Stanford (14-over 878), Saint Mary's (20-over 884) and Arizona State (21-over 885).

Junior David Miller (Chillicothe, Ohio) turned in the low score of the tournament for the Mids, placing 71st with a 12-over par 228 (76-74-78). Miller was Navy's low scorer in each of the first two rounds.

Schoen moved up in the standings after posting his low round of the day with a 4-over 76. He capped his career by placing 114th with a 29-over par 235 (80-79-76). Meanwhile, rookie Ben Hayes (Carmichael, Calif.) had a positive experience in his first NCAA Tournament appearance where he placed 122nd with a 20-over par 236 (80-77-79).

Tying for 128th were Renninger and junior Ryan Wielgus (Bethesda, Md.) who each turned in a 21-over par 237. Renninger (78-82-77) produced a 5-over par 77 on his final day of representing the Navy golf team, while Wielgus (78-79-80) struggled in the final round, turning in an 8-over par 80.