April 19, 2008

2008 Navy Spring Invitational - Day 1 Results

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Anchored by rookie Ben Hayes' (Carmichael, Calif.) 2-under par 69, the Navy Gold team is tied with George Washington for fourth with a 12-over par 296 in the opening round of the 18-team Navy Spring Invitational on Saturday at the Naval Academy Golf Course in Annapolis. The Mids are five strokes behind the leader, Iona, who shot a 7-over par 291, while Niagara and George Washington "B" are tied for second with a 10-over par 294.

Three members of Iona's team are among the top 15, including Jordan Lesansky (+1, 70) and Russel Giglio (E, 71) who are third and fourth in the individual standings, respectively. Navy's Hayes is in second place, trailing tournament leader Sebastian Palomares of the George Washington "B" squad by just a stroke.

While Hayes shot well below his 77.3 stroke average on the opening day of the tournament, the Navy Gold team also saw junior Ryan Wielgus (Bethesda, Md.) post a 3-over par 74 in his first competition of the spring. Wielgus, who is tied for 15th, has been plagued with a hand injury throughout the spring, but looked sharp in his first tournament. Freshman Josh Ziska (Camarillo, Calif.) sits in 37h with a 5-over par 76, followed by senior Ryan Sload (Lancaster, Pa.) in 49th (+6, 77) and Eric Stinson (Spotsylvania, Va.) in 61st (+8, 79).

The Navy Blue team, which is traditionally the No. 1 Navy team, is 12 strokes behind the Navy Gold team in 13th with a 24-over par 308. Perhaps the most consistent golfer on the team the spring, senior Erich Schoen (Sylvania, Ohio) produced a 2-over par 73 and is tied for 12th after the opening round. Junior Chip Hardie (Arnold, Md.) is four strokes back in 49th with a 6-over par 77, while senior captain Chris Renninger (Darnestown, Md.) and junior David Miller (Chillicothe, Ohio) are deadlocked in 61st with an 8-over par 79. Rounding out the lineup was junior John Montemayor (Woodbridge, Va.), who after pacing the Mids a week ago at the River Landing Intercollegiate, stands 81st with a 12-over par 83.

Sitting in 15th place is the Navy White squad who posted a 29-over par 313 and is jus a stroke behind 14th-place La Salle. Competing for just the second time this year, freshman Rob Merkert (Severna Park, Md.) turned his lowest round in a Navy uniform with a 3-over par 74. Merkert is tied for 15th. Meanwhile, fellow rookie Marcus Heyland (Fort Madison, Iowa) stands 49th with a 6-over par 77, while John Fischer (West Des Moines, Iowa) and Joshua Howell (New Bern, N.C.) are tied for 73rd with a 10-over par 81. Sophomore Michael Harrigan (Moorestown, N.J.) closed out the lineup with an 11-over par 82 and is tied for 77th.

"I'm happy with the way the gold team competed today, however the blue team was not a its sharpest," said Navy head coach Pat Owen. "That said, I'm looking forward to seeing the blue team regrouping and stepping up their play tomorrow.

"I was particularly please with Ben (Hayes) shooting a 69 and Rob Merkert also played well today," added Owen. "It was nice to see Ryan Wielgus get back out on the course for us this weekend. And Erich Schoen continues to be a solid leader for us out of the senior class with his consistent play.

In addition to fielding three teams, Navy also put four individuals on the course, including freshman Steve 'Beau' Guidry (Durham, N.C.) who is tied for 27th after producing a 4-over par 75. Additionally, sophomore Andrew Hutchison (Jonesboro, Ark.) is 49th (+6, 77), sophomore John Moore (Winnetka, Ill.) is 73rd (+10, 81) and Blaine Henning (Simonton, Texas) stands 86th (+13, 84).

The final round of the Navy Spring Invitational will get underway Sunday with teams teeing off between 8:30 and 11 a.m.