BETHLEHEM, Pa. //  Jack Tarzy (So / Medford, N.J.) and team captain Benjamin Valdez (Jr / Stevenson Ranch, Calif.) captured All-Patriot League honors in leading Navy to a third-place finish at the 2024 Patriot League Men's Golf Championship held at the Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa. over the weekend. It marked the sixth time in as many appearances that Navy has finished third or better when the championship has been held at Saucon Valley CC (1st - 2003, '08, '18 / 2nd - fall 1996, '13).

Loyola held a 9-stroke advantage over Navy heading into the final round after covering the first-36 holes with a 12-over 588. The Greyhounds went on to shoot a 5-over par 293 in Sunday's final round to win the Patriot League title with a 17-over par 881 (296-292-293). It marked Loyola's fifth championship (2014-2015-2017-2021-2024) since joining the league in 2014.

Colgate shot the low round of the tournament on Sunday and jumped from sixth to second in the final standings with a 30-over par 894 (302-302-290). Navy, meanwhile, was consistent throughout the three-day tournament, putting together rounds of 299, 298 and 299 to finish 32-over (896) to place third. Lehigh, the host institution, finished a stroke behind Navy in fourth with an 897 (300-301-296), followed by Lafayette (296-307-302=905), Bucknell (303-303-299=905), Holy Cross (299-304-302=905) and Army (291-315-304=910).

Tarzy and Valdez garnered First-Team All-Patriot League recognition after finishing among the top five to pace the Mids. The last time Navy had two players earn First-Team All-Patriot League honors was in 2021 when Charlie Musto and Keegan Shreves tied for third to lead the Mids to a second-place finish.

Tarzy, who placed 18th a year ago in his Patriot League Championship debut, put together a fantastic tournament that saw him finish just a stroke behind the individual medalist, Carlo Pizzano of Loyola, in second. Tarzy turned in a 3-over par 219 (73-72-74), as did Loyola's James Rico (72-73-74). It's the best individual finish by a Navy player since Charlie Musto claimed individual medalist honors in 2018 at the Saucon Valley Country Club.

Meanwhile, Valdez entered the weekend having never finished inside the top 20 at the Patriot League Championship. The third-year standout bounced back after an opening-round 76 to shoot 1-over in the final two rounds to secure a fifth-place tie with three other players and just 3 strokes behind the winner.

Chip Deegan (So / Newport Beach, Calif.) entered the final round with an opportunity to earn All-Patriot League honors, but slipped to 21st in the final standings (74-76-79=229) with a 7-over par 79 over the final 18 holes.  Derek Weaver (So / Hackettstown, Va.) saved his best for last, shooting a 3-over par 75 in the final round to tie for 30th with a 17-over par 233 (80-78-75). Luke Lombardo (Fr / Severna Park, Md.) (77-80-77=234) and Noah Nuez (Jr / Laveen, Ariz.) (76-80-78=234) tied for 36th with each player closing out the tournament 18-over.

2024 Patriot League Men's Golf Championship
Winning Team:  Loyola (296-292-293=881)
Individual Medalist: Carlo Pizzano, Loyola (73-71-74=218)
Player of the Year: Carlo Pizzano, Loyola
Rookie of the Year: Alex Creamean, Bucknell
Coach of the Year: Chris Baloga, Loyola

First-Team All-Patriot League
1. Carlo Pizzano, Loyola / T2. James Rico, Loyola / T2. Jack Tarzy, Navy / 4. Dugan McCabe, Colgate / T5. Robbie Herzig, Colgate / T5. Nolan Schuermann, Holy Cross / T5. Sean Saw, Lafayette / Ben Valdez, Navy

Second-Team All-Patriot League
9. Sam Barton, Lehigh / T10. John Heckel Jr., Army / T10. Andres Barraza, Bucknell / T10. Ryan Scollins, Holy Cross

### Go Navy ###