Sept. 26, 2009

Photo Gallery

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Army golf team rallied from a one-point deficit after four-ball action to take a 6-5 victory over the host Midshipmen Saturday in the annual Army-Navy Star Match played at the Naval Academy Golf Course in Annapolis. The loss was the Mids' first in the series since 2005 and just their third in the last 12 meetings.

"We lost a heartbreaker today," said Navy head coach Pat Owen, who owns an 11-9 record against the Black Knights. "It came down to the last match on the 18th green, and the Army player was able to roll in a four footer for the win."

The Mids took an early advantage in the match, by earning wins in a pair of the four-ball matches and halving a third. Among the eight players involved in the four-ball matches, four were making their first appearance in the annual Star Match. Sophomores Collier Jones (Little Rock, Ark.) and Peter Reilly (Merrimack, N.H.) paired up to take a 1 up victory over Army's Mark Garrison and Eric Park, while sophomore Andrew Haines (Kirtland, Ohio) and junior Ben Hayes (Carmichael, Calif.) took a 3&1 decision over James Raymond and William Park. Both Jones and Haines were impressive on the links as the duo were each making their first appearance in an Army-Navy Star Match.

Meanawhile, senior Michael Harrigan (Moorestown, N.J.) and second-year standout Tim Shield (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.), also both playing in their first Army-Navy match, were able to finish all square with Matt Krembel and Austin Rhymer in the No. 1 match to give Navy a 2.5-1.5 advantage after the morning session.

"Our guys played really well in the four-ball matches to gain a slight lead, but Army made more putts than we did coming down the stretch," added Owen, who would see the Mids win just two of the seven singles matches and halve a third.

Hayes and Reilly were both undefeated on the day, as Hayes earned a 3&1 victory over Krembel and Reilly easily cruised past Army's Matt Philie, 4&3, in singles play.

Army took the wind out of Navy's sails, however, by earning two close victories, 1 up decisions by Rhymer over Navy senior Rob Merkert (Severna Park, Md.) and Wes Carver over the Mids' Harrigan, to pull within a point, 4.5 - 3.5, with three matches remaining.

Raymond, who rallied from two-down, and Garrison each took 3&2 wins over Haines and Josh Ziska (Camarillo, Calif.), respectively, to pull Army ahead of the Mids, 5.5 - 4.5, with one match remaining.

Shield, who was matched up against Army's William Park, won the 17th hole to keep the day's final match alive and push it to the deciding hole. Shield was faced with roughly a 20-foot putt to win the hole and the point for the Mids, but was unable to get his ball to fall. Park, in turn, sank a four-foot shot to end the match all even and secure the win for the Black Knights.

"I am very proud of the teamwork and leadership that Navy displayed all day, and we hope to learn from this experience as the season goes along," said Owen. "We have a young, talented team and there will be some great performances in the future."

The Mids return to action on Monday when they take part in the 36-hole Rehoboth Beach Invitational played at the Kings Creek Golf Course.

Final Results Army - 6, Navy - 5

• Ben Hayes, Navy (Won, 3&1) Matt Krembel, Army
• Peter Reilly, Navy (Won, 4&3) Matt Philie, Army
• Austin Rhymer, Army (Won, 1 up) Rob Merkert, Navy
• Wes Carver, Army (Won, 1 up) Michael Harrigan, Navy
• James Raymond, Army (Won, 3&2) Andrew Haines, Navy
• Mark Garrison, Army (Won, 3&2) Josh Ziska, Navy
• Tim Shield, Navy (Halved) William Park, Army

• Michael Harrigan - Tim Shield, Navy (Halved) Matt Krembel-Austin Rhymer, Army
• Collier Jones - Peter Reilly, Navy (Won, 1 up) Mark Garrison-Eric Park, Army
• Wes Carver-Matt Philie, Army (Won, 5&4) Steve 'Beau' Guidry - Josh Ziska, Navy
• Andrew Haines - Ben Hayes, Navy (Won, 3&1) James Raymond-William Park, Army