April 17, 2010

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• 2010 Navy Spring Invitational - Rd. 1 Results

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Paced by tournament leader Ben Hayes' (Carmichael, Calif.) 4-under par 67, the Navy golf team is atop the leader board after round one of the 21-team Navy Spring Golf Invitational held Saturday at the United States Naval Academy Golf Course in Annapolis. The Midshipmen, who hold a 10-stroke advantage over Columbia (+12, 296) turned in a 2-over par 286, the second-lowest score and score to par in the tournament's 31-year history.

"Our goal for today was to go out and play the golf course as well as we could considering the conditions," said 20th-year Navy head coach Pat Owen. "The wind was the biggest factor, but the guys were able to manage their games well and shoot a good number."

Three members of the Navy blue squad were among the field's top eight performers in the first round. Hayes, in particular, was spectacular on the afternoon, producing a tournament-best seven birdies, while the Navy blue team as a whole paced the field with 19. Hayes' 4-under par is tied as the second-lowest 18-hole score in tournament history, tying with two other players, including former Navy All-American Billy Hurley who accomplished the feat in back-to-back Navy Spring Invitationals in 2003 and `04. Hayes will head into Sunday's final round with a four-stroke advantage over Columbia's Clark Granum and teammate Peter Reilly (Merrimack, N.H.).

Reilly also enjoyed a successful day on the links, shooting par on 12 of the 18 holes. He had two near holes-in-one on the sixth and seventh holes, but ended up walking away with birdies. At even-par (71), Reilly holds a one-stroke advantage over four players tied for fourth, including Navy team captain Michael Harrigan (Moorestown, N.J.) who also scored par on 12 holes to finish Saturday's opening round 1-over.

Rounding out the Navy blue team were sophomores Tyler Kuhn (Louisville, Ky.), who recorded four birdies, and Tim Shield (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.) who are tied for 18th with a 5-over par 76.

"The Navy blue team played exceptionally well today," added Owen. "It was nice to see all five guys be competitive, and they finished strong, playing the last three holes 1-under par collectively."

Meanwhile, Navy's gold team is in a three-way tie with Iona and Lehigh for eighth with a 27-over par 311. Sophomore Andrew Haines (Kirtland, Ohio) enjoyed one of his most successful days representing Navy by producing six birdies en route to a fourth-place score of 72 (+1).

Junior Rob Merkert (Severna Park, Md.) sits in 29th place with a 6-over par 77, followed by Collier Jones (Little Rock, Ark.) in 61st (+9, 80), John Moore (Winnetka, Ill.) in 74th (+11, 82) and Matt Hardie (Arnold, Md.) in 84th (+13, 84).

A short-handed Navy white squad, meanwhile, stands 19th alongside La Salle with a 49-over par 333. Made up of all rookies, Chris Ceconi (Vienna, Va.) led the way with a 4-over par 75 to finish the first round in 14th. Ceconi produced four birdies on the afternoon. Just three strokes back is Pat Collins (Floral Park, N.Y.) in 37th, while Keegan Merkert (Severna Park, Md.) is 98th with an 89 (+18) and Chris Reed (Springfield, Ohio) is 103rd with a 91 (+20).

"I am also excited about some of the rounds from the Navy gold and Navy white teams, including a 72 from Andrew Haines, and a 75 from Chris Ceconi."

The final round of the tournament will get underway Sunday beginning at 8:15 am.