Story Courtesy Wofford Sports Information
HUNTERSVILLE, NC - An even-par 72 was enough to give Wofford's Neil O'Briain the individual medalist honor Saturday at the Birkdale Collegiate Classic. The front-runner for Southern Conference Freshman of the Year honors captured his first collegiate tournament crown with an overall 3-under par 70-71-72--213 and held off a charge by Charlotte's Ray Sheedy, who carded a 77-71-67--215 (-1) to finish as the only other player under par.
O'Briain's tournament win was the first by a Terrier since Daniel Sloan, class of 2005, won the 2005 Furman Intercollegiate with a 6-under par 210. Sloan, who is the program's only two-time All-Southern Conference selection with accolades in 2004 and 2005, tied for first at the 2004 Birkdale Collegiate Classic with a 6-over par 222.
Senior Andrew Hewitt, the current SoCon Player of the Week, surged into a 16th-place tie after posting rounds of 81-77-68--226 (+10). The 68 during the final round Saturday was the second lowest of any individual, just behind Sheedy's 67.
Freshman Drew Perry registered a 39th-place tying 16-over par 75-78-79--232. He was named the November 2005 SoCon Player of the Month.
Concluding the Wofford contingent were a pair of seniors, Richard Cox and Adam Dox. Cox placed 66th with an 82-85-88--255 (+39), while Dox finished behind him in 67th place after tallying an 82-94-83--259 (+43).
Charlotte defended its team title with a 298-286-286--870 (+6), 19 shots ahead of second-place Chattanooga. The 49ers are ranked No. 24 in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin Performance Index and No. 32 by the GCAA/Bridgestone Coaches Poll.
The Terriers shot a 57-over par 308-311-302--921 to earn a ninth-place result out of the 12 teams.
Wofford returns to the links March 24-26 at the Furman Intercollegiate in Greenville, S.C.
Wofford Individuals:
1--Neil O'Briain, 70-71-72--213 (-3)
T16--Andrew Hewitt, 81-77-68--226 (+10)
T39--Drew Perry, 75-78-79--232 (+16)
66--Richard Cox, 82-85-88--255 (+39)
67--Adam Dox, 82-94-83--259 (+43)
Top-10 Individuals:
1--Neil O'Briain (Wofford), 70-71-72--213 (-3)
2--Ray Sheedy (Charlotte), 77-71-67--215 (-1)
3--Matt Watson (Old Dominion), 75-72-69--216 (E)
4--Jonathan Hodge (Chattanooga), 75-71-71--217 (+1)
T5--Kasey Timms (Belmont Abbey), 73-75-71--219 (+3)
T5--Chris Bagley (Richmond), 71-75-73--219 (+3)
T5--Trevor Murphy (Charlotte), 73-71-75--219 (+3)
8--Andrew DiBitetto (Charlotte), 76-72-72--220 (+4)
9--Jonas EnanderHedin (Charlotte), 77-72-72--221 (+5)
T10--Andrew Turner (Liberty), 74-75-73--222 (+6)
T10--Colin Floyd (Francis Marion), 78-69-75--222 (+6)
Team Scores:
1--Charlotte, 298-286-286--870 (+6)
2--Chattanooga, 304-294-291--889 (+25)
3--Old Dominion, 301-301-289--891 (+27)
4--Liberty, 296-305-292--893 (+29)
5--Richmond, 293-304-297--894 (+30)
6--Belmont Abbey, 299-309-301--909 (+45)
7--Bowling Green State, 310-307-297--914 (+50)
8--Francis Marion, 313-304-298--915 (+51)
9--Wofford, 308-311-302--921 (+57)
10--James Madison, 315-307-300--922 (+58)
11--William & Mary, 305-310-311--926 (+62)
12--Davidson, 312-311-308--931 (+67)
Story Courtesy Chattanooga sports information
HUNTERSVILLE, NC ?Gordon Strother and Jonathan Hodge both carded sub-par final-round scores to lead the Mocs to a second place finish at the Birkdale Collegiate.
Strother’s 2-under par 70 was bested by only four players during Saturday’s final round. Hodge carded back-to-back 71’s for a three round total of 1-over par 217, good for fourth place. Hodge finished four strokes behind medalist Neil O’Briain of Wofford.
Ben Rickett and Bryce Ledford both shot final round 75’s to tie for 15th place. Strother’s low round moved him past 22 players for a 28th place finish. Strother was 1-under the last two rounds after an opening 86.
The Mocs’ team total of 889 was second only to Charlotte. The 49ers are # 30 in the current Golfstat rankings. The Mocs performance against the Birkdale field pleased coach Mark Guhne. “I am really please with our play this week. To play well against a ranked Charlotte team is encouraging for young players. Jonathan continues to play well, and Gordon (Strother) hung in there after a tough opening round, and played great his last two rounds. As we approach the conference season, I am glad to see our young team playing well.”
Hodge leads a Chattanooga freshman class which is currently ranked # 9 nationally by Golfstat.
CHATTANOOGA INDIVIDUALS
4. Jonathan Hodge......75-71-71--217
T13. Bryce Ledford......73-77-75--225
T13. Ben Rickett.........77-73-75--225
T28. Gordon Strother....86-73-70--229
T57. Tripp Harris.........79-83-77?239
Story Courtesy Davidson sports information
HUNTERSVILLE, NC ? Davidson shot a final round 308 and the host Wildcats' finished with a two-day total of 931 (312-311-308) to place 12th at the 2006 Birkdale Collegiate Men's Golf Classic. The annual 54-hole event was played on the Par 72, 7013-yard Birkdale Golf Club layout.
Junior Steve Mayo led the Wildcats individually posting his second consecutive 78 to finish in a tie for 43rd. Both Tim Dillon and Michael Saari finished a stroke back of Mayo at 234 (+18), while David Fowler placed tied for 50th with a 54-hole total of 235 (81-79-75).
Other Davidson competitors included Ty White (56th), Christian Davis (T57th) and Alex Knoll (T61st). White and Davis' scores did not figure into the team total as they were competing as individuals.
Charlotte claimed the overall team title as it fired a two-under 286 for the second straight round. The 49ers' finished with a 54-hole total of 870 (+6), 19-strokes better than the rest of the field en route to becoming the first team in the history of the event to defend their crown.
Neil O'Briain of Wofford carded a final round 72 to grab individual medalist honors. He entered the last day of play three strokes better than the field and beat Charlotte's Ray Sheedy (-1) by two shots.
The annual event featured 12 schools and 68 competitors.