James Madison Women’s Golf Places Sixth at Golfweek Program Challenge: The James Madison women’s golf team continued its improvement round to round and finished sixth at the 2014 Golfweek Program Challenge, Sept. 7-9. The three-day, 54-hole tournament was played at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club (Par 71 – 6,123 yards) in Pawleys Island, S.C.
The Dukes improved three more shots in the last 18 and finished at 52-over 904 for the event. Furman overcame a two-shot deficit heading into the final round and took home tournament honors by 12 shots, shooting a tournament-best 1-under 283 in the last round. Campbell was runner-up at 27-over 879 with Old Dominion in third at 40-over 892. Houston Baptist improved to fourth at 44-over 896, one shot ahead of Gardner-Webb in fifth at 45-over 897.
Freshman Laura Gomez-Ruiz (Malaga, Spain) was the top JMU finisher following her final round 2-over 73 and a 54-hole total of 9-over 222, good for 17th. Senior Shabril Brewer (Herndon, Va./Westfield) was next in a tie for 20th at 12-over 225. Senior Maria Andrea Legaspi (Quezon City, Philippines/St. Paul College-Pasig) posted her second-consecutive 2-over 73 and placed 26th at 14-over 227. Junior Karishma Thiagaraj (Haymarket, Va./Battlefield) tied for 38th at 20-over 233, with senior Nikola Wessels(Muenster, Germany/Marienschule Muenster) completing the team scoring at 22-over 235, finishing 43rd.
Old Dominion’s Rachel Walker shot a 2-under 69 in the final round to take home medalist honors at 1-under 212, three shots ahead of runner-up Frida Fougberg of Akron at 2-over 215.
Madison returns to the course Mon.-Tue., Sept. 15-16 at the Cardinal Cup at the University of Louisville Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
JMU Men’s Golf Finishes Fifth at Golfweek Program Challenge: James Madison men’s golf team continued its rise in the last 36 holes and finished fifth at the 2014 Golfweek Program Challenge, Sept. 7-9. The three-day, 54-hole tournament was played at True Blue Plantation (Par 72 – 6,926 yards) in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
After opening with a 6-over 294, Madison put together rounds of 9-under 279 and then 14-under 274 in the last 18 to move up to finish fifth. Old Dominion was the team champion at 31-under 833, three shots ahead of runner-up Jacksonville at 28-under 836. Jacksonville State finished third after a tournament-best round of 17-under 271 put them at 27-under 837. Valparaiso was fourth at 22-under 842, followed by JMU.
Junior Chris Kapsak (Richmond, Va./Trinity Episcopal) shot a team tournament-best 7-under 65 in the final round to finish in a tie for 12th at 6-under 210. Both single round and tournament scores were career bests for Kapsak, as the 65 ties for the second lowest round in the program since 1993-94. It was his second career top-20 finish.
Sophomore Ryan Cole (Mount Airy, Md./Linganore) shot a career-best 6-under 66 in the last 18 and tied for 18th at 5-under 211. The 54-hole total was Cole’s career best, giving him his 10th career top-30 placing. The 6-under 66 also tied for the fifth-lowest single round in JMU annals.
Redshirt-sophomore Connor Walters (Salem, Va./North Cross) tied for 25th with a career-best 2-under 214 after a final round 1-over 73. SophomorePoom Pattaropong (Minburi, Bangkok, Thailand/Heritage Academy (S.C.)) tied for 29th with a 1-under 215 that included his second straight under-par round, this time a 2-under 70. Senior Jon Weiss (Florence, S.C./Sumter (Newberry)) was the final JMU player in a tie for 44th at 5-over 221.
Jacksonville State’s Tomasz Anderson shot a 12-under 60 in the last round to take home medalist honors at 19-under 197, five shots ahead of runner-up Colin Monagle of Jacksonville at 14-under 202.
JMU will return to the course Mon.-Tue., Sept. 22-23 at the VCU Shootout at Hermitage Country Club in Manakin Sabot, Virginia.