George Washington University wins its own tournament–again!
September 29, 2006
Some folks think that being the perfect host while playing golf or other sports requires the ability to lose gracefully.
Not everyone thinks this way, especially the members of the George Washington University golf team.
The Washington, DC’s B team won the sixth annual Rehoboth Beach Fall Invitational on Monday, September 25, at Kings Creek Country Club.
Their 291-294-585 total for the 36-hole contest was just one stroke ahead of the college’s A team, which scored 292 in each round. It marked the third time a GW host team has won the event.
Thirteen college golf squads came to the Cape Region for the contest, held at Kings Creek thanks to Ron and Sue Allen, Kings Creek residents and the parents of PGA Class A professional Scott Allen, GW’s coach.
LaSalle University’s John Lorenzo took medalist honors with a combined 3-under par 139, with a first round score of 68 on the par-71 layout. GW freshman Tyler Wendelken of Washington State came in second at an even-par 142. Another GW freshman, Michael Perlmutter of Philadelphia, tied for third place one stroke back.
Former Cape Henlopen golf standout John Purple, Jr., playing for Division II Wilmington College, tied for 12th place with a 7-0ver par 73-76 149 finish. The college sophomore was the bright spot for his team.
Here’s how all of the teams finished: 1) GW B; 2) GW A; 3) Mount St. Mary’s; 4) Navy A; 5) Army; 6) Navy B; 7) LaSalle; 8) Monmouth; 9) Goldey Beacom College; T10) Iona; T10) Wilmington College; 12) Adelphi; and 13) Wilmington College B.
Coach Allen smiled and said, “What I really like about this course is how it separates the really good players from the rest.”
The target-style design can certainly take its toll. One midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy shot an 84 in the first round, mostly because of the 12 he took on the 542-yard par 5 12th hole. His drive was reportedly fine, but his next two shots flew out of bounds. He bounced back to a one-over par 72 in the second round, but that one hole took him completely out of contention.
In addition to the Allens, at least a dozen Kings Creek members and other volunteers helped cart golfers between some of the longer passages between greens and the next tees, and otherwise assisted head golf professional Ty Mayers and the others running the tournament. Mayers praised the volunteers and said, “The membership has really gotten behind the event. They really look forward to seeing the kids play as well as they do.”
The talent is certainly there. I watched Navy Midshipman John Montemayor, of the Navy B team, hit an approach shot from a fairway bunker on the 428-yard par 4 18th hole onto the green, about 20 feet or so above the hole. He trundled a putt down to tap-in range for an easy par on the course’s No. 2 handicap hole. In the same group, Cole Turner of GW’s B team hit his second shot hole-high in the fringe, less than ten feet from the hole. He hit a beautiful little chip shot that just curled out of the hole, for another easy tap-in.
The members also appreciate how polite the golfers are. Mayers said that every Navy player entered the clubhouse during the post-event reception with their caps in hand, and personally thanked their hosts for the opportunity.
Mayers said that several coaches complimented him on the quality of the Kings Creek greens. “We aerified the greens about ten days before the tournament, and to us the greens were only at about 90 per cent fully recovered. They thought it was great, so maybe that says something about the other places they get to play.”
He also commented on the relative difficulty of the course. “When the top player scores only 3-under par for 36 holes, they didn’t light it up by any means.”
Mayers looks forward to continuing the relationship. “We really enjoy having them play here.”