Oct. 6, 2009

Complete Results

• 2009 Service Academy Golf Classic Results

ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. -- Senior Michael Harrigan (Moorestown, N.J.) shot a 4-over par 220 (73-75-72) to place fourth and earn All-Service Academy honors, as he led the Navy golf team to a third-place finish at the 2009 Service Academy Golf Classic played Monday and Tuesday at The Courses at Andrews Air Force Base. Harrigan shot the Mids' low round of the tournament on Tuesday, covering the final 18 holes with a par-72.

Air Force took the two-day, 54-hole team title behind a 13-over par 1093 (370-361-362) performance, a 23-stroke advantage over second-place Army, who finished 36 strokes over with a 1116 (379-368-369). The Mids finished with a 47-over par 1127 (378-374-375), while the Merchant Marine Academy rounded out the tournament with a 1408 (471-470-467).

The Falcons' Kyle Bailey took medalist honors by leading the back with a 5-under par 216. While Bailey began the tournament with a 3-over par 75, he bounced back to turn in a 7-under par 65 in the second round of action, followed by a 1-under par on Tuesday. Air Force's Tom Whitney (216, E) and Robert Belz (219, +3) placed second and third, respectively, followed by Harrigan in fourth and Army's Matt Krembel in fifth (221, +5).

Navy opened the final round of action trailing Army by six strokes, however, the Mids were unable to cut into the lead as they turned in a 75.0 average over the final 18 holes.

"We played hard throughout the tournament, but we need to continue to work on our short game," said Navy head coach Pat Owen. "We played well over the last two days, but so did the other Academies. We were excited to have the tournament move to the East Coast and the experience overall was a positive one for our team."

Harrigan was among the leaders throughout the tournament, opening with a 1-over par 73 and following up with a 3-over par 75 in the afternoon round. Harrigan secured his first collegiate top-five finish by posting par in the final round.

Meanwhile, junior Ben Hayes (Carmichael, Calif.) placed 10th in the tournament with a 9-over par 225. Hayes recorded a 4-over par 76 to open the event, but came back to score a 1-over par 73 in a second round that would be called early due to darkness. Hayes was among the top foursome to set out early Tuesday morning, capping off the second round before setting its sights on the final 18 holes where Hayes would again post a 4-over par 76.

Sophomores Collier Jones (Little Rock, Ark.) and Peter Reilly (Merrimack, N.H.) found themselves just outside of the top 10 in 11th and 12th place, respectively. Jones turned in a three-round, 11-over par 227 (76-74-77), while Reilly scored a 12-over par 228 (76-75-77). Fellow second-year standout Tim Shield (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.) played a solid final round to jump up in the standings. After posting a 12-over par 156 to open the tournament, Shield regrouped and shot 1-over on Tuesday to place 14th with a 13-over par 229.

Rounding out the field for the Mids were juniors Rob Merkert (Severna Park, Md.) and Steve `Beau' Guidry (Durham, N.C.). Merkert placed 18th with a 21-over par 237 (77-79-81), while Guidry owned a 22-over par 238 (81-77-80) to finish tied for 19th.

The Mids will be back in action this weekend when they head to the City of Brotherly Love to take part in the Philadelphia Big Five. Action is slated to begin on Saturday and Sunday at 8:00 am.