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March 22, 2008

Complete Results

2008 George Washington Invitational Results

BETHANY BEACH, Del. - Led by senior Erich Schoen's (Sylvania, Ohio) 7-over par 187 (81-68-38), the Navy golf team tied for third place at the 10th annual George Washington Invitational Saturday in Bethany Beach, Del. The two-day, 54-hole tournament played Friday and Saturday on the par 72, 6,834-yard Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club on the Delaware Shore was shortened to 45 holes due to darkness.

The Mids opened the tournament struggling to find their shot and after nine hours of play, Navy was in a three-way tie for 12th with Lehigh and St. Francis (Pa.) with a 30-over par 318. Navy, however, regrouped and came back out on the links Saturday a confident squad. Paced by Schoen's 4-under par 68, the Midshipmen turned in the field's low round with a 4-over par 292. With darkness looming, the teams played just nine of their final 18 holes. Navy was well on its way to turning in another strong round, as the team combined to shoot a 139 (-5) over nine holes and was on pace to post a 10-under par 278.

Led by medalist Chris Gold, Maryland took the team title by 10 strokes over the host Colonials of George Washington with an 18-over par 738 (306-293-139). George Washington (301-297-150 - 748) owned a 1-stroke lead over Maryland heading into the final round, however, it had a difficult time managing the course and the wind gusts of up to 30 miles per hour. The Colonials turned in a 6-over par 150, while Maryland mastered the course along with Navy with a 5-under par 139. Like Maryland, Navy was able to make up ground over the final nine holes of play, catching Penn (304-296-149 - 749), who owned a 10-stroke lead over the Mids (318-292-139 - 749) with nine to play, for a share of third place. Bucknell rounded out the top five with a 38-over par 758 (304-298-156).

"I was really pleased with how well we came back and played today," said Navy head coach Pat Owen. "The weather conditions were a struggle for everyone, so for us to finish up as strong as what we did is very encouraging."

Schoen was the only Navy player to finish among the top 10, placing ninth. Rookie Ben Hayes (Carmichael, Calif.) got off to a rocky start with a 10-over par 82 in the opening round, however, he came back to shoot 1-over par in the second round and shot par in the shortened final round. He recorded an 11-over par 191 to finish in a tie for 22nd. Junior David Miller (Chillicothe, Ohio) turned in Navy's low round on Friday with a 5-over par 77, but fell back on Saturday with an 11-over par 83 over the second 18 holes. Miller, though, covered the final nine holes with a stingy 4-under par 36 to place 29th, just a stroke behind Hayes.

Team captain Chris Renninger (Darnestown, Md.) had a disastrous first day of competition, putting himself in a hole with a 15-over par 87. The veteran came back to shoot 1-under par in the second round and was 1-under over the final nine holes of action to finish 36th, one stroke behind Miller and two behind Hayes. Finishing just a shot behind Renninger was rookie Josh Ziska (Camarillo, Calif.) who produced a 14-over par 194. Ziska opened the spring with a 6-over par 78 and followed up with an 8-over par 80 before closing out the invitational by shooting par.

The Mids return to action next Saturday and Sunday when they compete in the Lacrosse Homes Invitational played in nearby Grasonville, Md. at the Prospect Bay Country Club.

### Go Navy ###

 Coach Niumatalolo Press Conf., 10/4
 Shinego Interview, 10/4
 Harmon Interview, 10/4
 Middleton Interview, 10/4
 Kettani Interview, 10/4
 Doyle Interview, 10/4