April 27, 2012

Live Scoring

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Returning to the same course that saw the Midshipmen win their second Patriot League title in 2000, the Navy golf team will travel to Lewisburg, Pa. this weekend where it will begin its quest to win the 2012 Patriot League Golf Championship. Army is the defending Patriot League champion, however, four different teams have won the crown in the last four seasons.

The individual medalist earns the Patriot League Most Outstanding Player award, while the highest-finishing freshman is named the Rookie of the Year. A 10-member All-Patriot League Team is also determined by championship finish, with the top five on the first team and the next five as second-team recipients.

The par-70 Bucknell Golf Course will serve as the backdrop for the two-day, 54-hole Patriot League Championship which is set to begin on Saturday with 36 holes of play beginning at 8:00 am, followed by the final round on Sunday at 8:30 am. Each team will field six players, with the top four scores in each round counted for the team score. The winner of the event receives an automatic bid to one of the six NCAA Regionals, held May 17-19.

The Bucknell Golf Course is playing host to the Patriot League Championship for the fifth time, and first since the host Bison won the crown in 2007 with a score of 883. Army won the title with a score of 860 in 2005, while Navy carded a 911 to win it all in 2000 and Army finished with a 938 while capturing the crown in 1994. Navy has traditionally performed well at this course, winning the crown in 2000, placing second in 1994 (fall) and 2007 and finishing fourth in 2005.

Seven of last year's 10 All-Patriot League performers return to the links this weekend, including four first-team honorees. Navy's David Hall (Huntersville, N.C.), the 2011 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, and Lafayette's Carter Rufe tied for second place last year, while Army's Anthony Kim and Holy Cross' Steve Zychowski shared fourth at the 2011 Patriot League Championship. Navy team captain Tim Shield (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.), Lehigh's Doug Marcincin and Lafayette's Rob Robertson were all second-team selections, and Robertson also won the Patriot League individual title while leading the Leopards to the team crown in 2010.

Behind a final-round 70 and individual title from senior Matt Krembel, Army held off Navy by four strokes to win the 2011 Patriot League Golf Championship at Naval Academy Golf Course. The Black Knights, who have won a league-best 10 Patriot League golf titles, came into the day six shots ahead of Navy after 36 holes of play, and held off a strong effort from the Mids.

Although Navy came up just short in last spring's league championship, the Mids have claimed the tournament title five times since 1998, including back-to-back-to-back titles in 1998 (fall), 2000 and 2001. In addition, six different Midshipmen have won the individual title.

Five of the six players who represented Navy at last year's Patriot League Championship will compete in this year's tournament, including All-Patriot League performers Peter Reilly (Merrimack, N.H.), Hall and Shield. A two-time Second-Team All-Patriot League finisher, Reilly is also a former winner of the league's rookie-of-the-year citation, winning it in 2009. Reilly placed sixth at the league championship as a freshman and turned in a 10th-place performance in 2010. He just missed All-Patriot League honors a year ago, placing 12th. He owns a 75.9 career average, including the team's low stroke average at 75.3 this season.

Hall put together a sensational effort in last year's event to take rookie-of-the-year honors with a 2-over par 215, edging out Army's Anthony Kim who finished just a stroke behind. Hall boasts a 75.6 stroke average this season.

Shield, meanwhile, picked up All-Patriot League recognition a year ago for the first time in his career with a 4-over par 217 to place sixth at the championship. Shield, who has played in 10 tournaments this season, owns a 77.0 stroke average.

The final three spots in the lineup will be occupied by senior Tyler Kuhn (Louisville, Ky.), sophomore Drew Selby (Charlotte, N.C.) and August Jonas (Jacksonville, Fla.), who will make a run at Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors this weekend. Jonas made a quick name for himself last September by claiming medalist honors at the Navy Fall Classic, his first collegiate event. He has competed in 10 events year and holds the Mids' third-lowest stroke average at 76.4

Also posting a 76.4 stroke average heading into the weekend is Selby, who is coming off a fourth-place finish at last weekend's Navy Spring Invitational. Selby placed 20th at last year's Patriot League Championship with a 16-over par 229.

Kuhn, meanwhile, will make his third appearance at the Patriot League Championship where he hopes to gain all-league kudos for the first time in his career. As a sophomore, he finished in 19th, while a year ago he posted a 26th-place finish with a 19-over par 232.

For tee times, spectator rules, information on each team, directions to Bucknell Golf Course and more, visit the Patriot League Golf Championship page.

### Go Navy ###