Sept. 26, 2010

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Junior Tim Shield (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.) calmly sank a 12-foot birdie shot on the 15th hole to not only clinch the singles win over Army senior captain Matt Krembel, but it also sealed the win for the Midshipmen as the Navy golf team defeated the Black Knights, 6-5, in this year's Star Match played at the West Point Golf Course. The two teams came into the final day of action knotted up at 2-2, but Navy won four of the seven singles matches to win its third straight Star at West Point.

"This was a key win for our program," said 21st-year head coach Pat Owen, who is now 12-9 all-time against the Black Knights. "What really makes me happy about the win was that it was a total team effort. All eight guys who played this weekend contributed in some way to the victory. Additionally, the rest of the team who accompanied also played a huge support role. The West Point Golf Course is a tough course to play and our guys put in the extra time yesterday to get more comfortable and prepare for today's singles matches. I just could not be more proud of our team and the way they conducted themselves this weekend and fought to get a win."

Army took the early lead in the match when freshman Michael Zierdt avenged his loss in the four-ball match to Navy's Tyler Kuhn (Louisville, Ky.) and Rob Merkert (Severna Park, Md.). Zierdt dropped a 4 & 2 decision on Saturday, but came back to play a fantastic match against Kuhn in singles action. Zierdt won the first holes and despite Kuhn staging a bit of a comeback, it was too much to overcome as Zierdt took the opening match of the day, 6 & 5.

The Mids, however, mounted a winning streak that gave them a 5-3 advantage. Junior Andrew Haines (Kirtland, Ohio) sparked the run by the Mids by putting on a clinic against his Army counterpart, freshman Brandon Baerwaldt who did not take part in the four-ball matches on Saturday. Haines, who experienced a disappointing loss in four-ball action, came back to play one of his best matches in a Navy uniform. Haines carded a 6 & 5 win over Baerwaldt in what was the first of three-straight wins by the Mids.

Senior team captain Ben Hayes (Carmichael, Calif.) also bounced back from his loss alongside Collier Jones (Little Rock, Ark.) in four-ball action on Saturday to score a 4 & 3 win over Army's Wes Carver. Hayes is now 3-0 in singles play against his Army opponents in the Star Match. Meanwhile, fellow senior Rob Merkert pushed Navy's lead to 5-3 when he cruised past rookie Anthony Kim, 4 & 3. Merkert chipped in his shot for birdie on the opening hole and never looked back as he led the entire game. Merkert was one of two players to win both of his matches over the weekend, joining Shield.

Needing a win, the Black Knights did just that when second-year standout Matt Phillie dealt Navy freshman David Hall (Huntersville, N.C.) a 4 & 3 loss to narrow the Mids' advantage to 5-4 with two matches remaining. Hall has been a bright spot in the Mids lineup this fall as he has been Navy's top placewinner in each of the first two tournaments and paired up with Shield on Saturday to give Navy a doubles point with a win over Krembel and Ethan Johnson.

A year ago, Shield won both his four-ball match, as well as his singles match but the end result was a 6-5 loss by the Mids. Shield was intent on turning the tables this year and stepped up to the challenge.

Shield built a 3-up advantage over Krembel after six holes of play and by the turn, he owned a 4-up lead. Shield continue to push his lead and by the 12 hole he was 5-up. Krembel took the 13th hole and then the two tied the 14th. Shield held a 4-up lead with four to go when the two approached the 15th. It was Shield who stepped up and rolled his 12-foot shot for birdie to win the match, 5 & 3, and clinch the win for Navy.

Although Navy had already secured the match win, there was one remaining match out on the links. All even through 14 holes, Navy junior Peter Reilly (Merrimack, N.H.) lost the 15th and 16th holes to find himself down two with two to play. He fought back and birdied 17 to narrow the deficit to one. Although he made par on 18, he conceded a birdie putt to William Park. Park was particularly impressive following the turn, 1-putting six of the last seven holes.

It's the second Star victory for the Naval Academy in as many days. On Saturday evening, sophomore midfielder Michael Rakoczy scored the game's only goal in the 60th minute to lead the Navy men's soccer team to a 1-0 Star Game victory over the Black Knights at Clinton Field in West Point.

The Navy golf team will return to action on Oct. 4-5 when it splits into two teams to compete at two different tournaments - the Service Academy Classic played at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and the Wolfpack Intercollegiate hosted by NC State in Raleigh, N.C.

Navy def. Army, 6-5
• Tim Shield and David Hall (Navy) def. Matt Krembel and Ethan Johnson (Army), 2 & 1
• Rob Merkert and Tyler Kuhn (Navy) def. Austin Rhymer and Michael Zierdt (Army), 4 & 2
• Matt Philie and Wes Carver (Army) def. Peter Reilly and Andrew Haines (Navy), 6 & 5
• William Park and Anthony Kim (Army) def. Ben Hayes and Collier Jones (Navy), 4 & 3

• Michael Zierdt (Army) def. Tyler Kuhn (Navy),6&5
• Andrew Haines (Navy) def. Brandon Baerwaldt (Army), 6&5
• Ben Hayes (Navy) def. Wes Carver (Army), 4&3
• Rob Merkert (Navy) def. Anthony Kim (Army),4&3
• Matt Philie (Army) def. David Hall (Navy), 5&4
• Tim Shield (Navy) def. Matt Krembel (Army), 4&3
• William Park (Army) def. Peter Reilly (Navy), 2-up

### Go Navy ###