Sept. 7, 2008

Complete Results

• 2008 Maryland Intercollegiate - Final Results

CAMBRIDGE, Md. - Led by senior captain David Miller's (Chillicothe, Ohio) 6-over par 148 (78-70), the Navy golf team placed 16th (304-302--606) at the 18-team season-opening Maryland Intercollegiate Sunday. The event, shortened to 36 holes due to Tropical Storm Hanna, was played in two rounds at the River Marsh Golf Course at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort.

Arkansas was in a class of its own as it easily claimed the team title with its 24-under par 544 (272-272), 20 strokes ahead of second-place NC State (280-284-564). VCU shot the second-lowest score in the second round (289-276--565) to finish just a stroke behind the Wolfpack as the three schools were the only ones to finish under par.

Three of the Hogs' five players finished among the top five, including rookie Ethan Tracy (64-68--132) who won the individual championship by four strokes over teammate David Lingmerth (69-67--136) and Corey Roberson of Texas State (67-69--136). His 64 in the opening round broke the competitive course record of former assistant pro and Maryland alumnus Phil Fenstermaker, who shot a 65.

Navy sophomores Ben Hayes (Carmichael, Calif.) and Josh Ziska (Camarillo, Calif.) opened the tournament by each turning in marks of 3-over par 74, but it was seniors Miller and Eric Stinson (Spotsylvania, Va.) who turned the low marks over the second 18. Miller paced the Mids in 42nd place by turning in a 1-under par in the second round to go along with his opening-round 78. He was one of 13 players to produce an eagle during the competition. Miller's came on the par-5 16th hole and just two holes later, he birdied the 18th as his group finished the tournament in the dark. Stinson, meanwhile, also improved upon his opening-round 78 by posting a 2-over par 73 in the final round to place 56th.

Hayes finished 69th (74-80--154), while Ziska was a stroke back in 73rd (74-81--155). Severna Park, Md., native Rob Merkert rounded out the scorecard in 85th (82-79--161).

"It was a long day, but a great opportunity for us to get out and play," said 19th-year head coach Pat Owen. "Ben Hayes and Josh Ziska had strong performances in the early round and our seniors, David Miller and Eric Stinson, came back to play well in the afternoon. Looking back on the day, all of the mistakes we made are things we can fix.

"This was a very strong field and while we may not have played our best game, it was a tremendous opportunity for us to play against the upper echelon of teams. Competing against the quality of teams we played provides us a good measuring point for where our program is and where we want to be. It's an invaluable experience for us as a team and for our individual players.

The Mids return to action next Friday and Saturday when they play host to the annual Navy Fall Classic. Nearly 20 teams are on tap to compete in the tournament held at the Naval Academy Golf Club.

### Go Navy ###