WILLIAMSBURG, VA - Virginia Commonwealth University matched the second lowest single day team score in the 18-year history of the CAA Tournament to come from five strokes off the pace and win its sixth consecutive conference golf Championship. The Rams (297-301-285 = 885) posted a final round score of three-under par to beat second day leader Old Dominion University (302-291-291 = 884) by a single stroke.
VCU got sub-par rounds from three players as nine of the tournament's 30 golfers shot par or better on the final day on the 6,885-yard Colonial Golf Course. Playing out of the #5 slot, VCU was led by sophomore Jeff Crowe (Kingston, Ontario) who fired a final round 68 which was one of only two sub-70 rounds at the championship. Crowe bogeyed two of his first three holes but managed to play the final 14 at six-under par. Sophomore Ted Brown (Peterborough, Ontario), the 2000 CAA tournament runner-up, and freshman Steven Jenkins (Chesterfield, Va./Manchester) also finished in the red (71s) while junior Ryan Zylstra (Kitchener, Ontario) added a 75.
"We had 68 in the barn which is an awesome start," said VCU Coach Matt Ball. "That made it a little easier on everybody else."
George Mason University senior Carlos Rosario (Dorado, Puerto Rico) rolled in a tournament record nine birdies en route to a six-under par 66 and captured the individual title (78-71-66 = 215) by three strokes over UNC Wilmington sophomore Adam Gee (Surrey, England). Rosario, the only player to finish under par at the three-day event, birdied six of his first 10 holes in tying for the second lowest round ever posted in CAA Tournament play (-6). Second day leader Geoff Harris (Reading, England), a sophomore from ODU, shot a closing 75 to finish in third.
With the victory, VCU receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Regional play is scheduled for May 17-19 with the Rams hosting the East Regional at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club.
CAA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPAT THE PIONEER SPRING SPORTS FESTIVAL
FINAL RESULTS - SUNDAY, APRIL 22
The Colonial Golf Course
Williamsburg, Virginia
PAR 72, 6,885 YARDS
Team Results
1.Va. Commonwealth 297-301-285=883
2.Old Dominion 302-291-291=884
3.UNC Wilmington 296-299-290-885
4.George Mason 301-301-298=900
5.James Madison 303-296-308=907
6. William & Mary 304-306-313=923
Individual Results
1. Carlos Rosario, GMU 78-71-66=215
2. Adam Gee, UNCW 73-73-72=218
3. Geoff Harris, ODU 74-70-75=219
4. Steven Jenkins, VCU 77-72-71=220
- Chris Piercy, ODU 75-73-72=220
- Mark Urbanek, W&M 71-74-75=220
7. Ryan Zylstra, VCU 71-75-75=221
8. John Calarco, UNCW 74-74-74=222
- Michael Hospodar, ODU 77-74-71=222
- Brent Parrish, UNCW 78-72-72=222
11. Ted Brown, VCU 74-78-71=223
- Bobby Fournier, ODU 76-74-73=223
- Chris Lilly, JMU 76-71-76=223
- Craig Mason, GMU 73-73-77=223
15. Ben Adlard, GMU 72-76-77=225
- Jeff Crowe, VCU 81-76-68=225
17. Sean Dougherty, UNCW 74-80-72=226
18. Justin Hoagland, W&M 75-75-77=227
19. Mike Gooden, JMU 75-79-74=228
20. Derek Brown, UNCW 75-80-75=230
21. John Scott Rattan, JMU 80-75-77=232
22. Kirk Straughn, VCU 75-79-79=233
- Jay Woodson, JMU 77-75-81=233
24. Jeff Forcino, JMU 75-75-85=235
25. Ryan Roberts, W&M 76-78-82=236
26. Chris Barr, GMU 78-81-78=237
27. Gary Harper, ODU 82-76-80=238
28. Patrick McDuff, W&M 82-79-79-240
29. Tom Long, W&M 82-80-83-245
30. Brian Marfori, GMU 83-85-85-253
CAA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPAT THE PIONEER SPRING SPORTS FESTIVAL
FINAL RESULTS
The Colonial Golf Course
Williamsburg, Virginia
PAR 72, 6,885 YARDS
Totals
VA. COMMONWEALTH Rams (297-301-285=883)
Head Coach: Matt Ball
Jeff Crowe, VCU SO, Kingston, Ontario 81-76-68=225
Kirk Straughn, VCUSO, Harrisonburg, VA/Harrisonburg 75-79-79=233
Ted Brown, VCUSO, Peterborough, Ontario 74-78-71=223
Ryan Zylstra, VCUJR-T, Kitchener, Ontario 71-75-75=221
Steven Jenkins, , VCUFR, Chesterfield, VA/Manchester 77-72-71=220
OLD DOMINION Monarchs (302-291-291=884)
Head Coach: Murray Rudisill
Chris Piercy, ODUSO, Reading, England75-73-72=220
Gary Harper, ODUSR, Sidmouth, England82-76-80=238
Bobby Fournier, ODUFR, E. Greenwich, RI/Bishop Hendricken76-74-73=223
Geoff Harris, ODUSO, Reading, England74-70-75=219
Michael Hospodar, ODUJR, Ontario, Canada77-74-71=222
UNC WILMINGTON Seahawks (296-299-290=885)
Head Coach: Grant Robbins
John Calarco, UNCWJR, Hampstead, NC/Topsail74-74-74=222
Derek Brown, UNCWFR, Walnut Cove, NC/South Stokes75-80-75=230
Adam Gee, UNCWSO, Surrey, England73-73-72=218
Brent Parrish, UNCWSR, Clinton, NC/Clinton78-72-72=222
Sean Dougherty, UNCWSR, Suffolk, VA/Nansemond-Suffolk74-80-72=226
GEORGE MASON Patriots (301-301-298=900)
Head Coach: Linda Gaudi
Brian Marfori, GMUSO, Fairfax Station, VA/Bishop O'Connell83-85-85=253
Chris Barr, GMUSO, Springfield, VA/West Springfield78-81-78=237
Craig Mason, GMUFR, Lorton, VA/Hayfield73-73-77=223
Ben Adlard, GMUSO, Cape Town, South Africa72-76-77=225
Carlos Rosario, GMUSR, Dorado, Puerto Rico78-71-66=215
JAMES MADISON Dukes (303-296-308=907)
Head Coach: Paul Gooden
Chris Lilly, , JMUSO, Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin76-71-76=223
Geoff Forcino, JMUSO, Malvern, Pa./Malvern Prep75-75-85=235
Jay Woodson, JMUFR, Powhatan, Va./Powhatan77-75-81=233
John Scott Rattan, JMUFR, Montgomery Village, MD/Watkins Mill80-75-77=232
Mike Gooden, JMUSR, Staunton, Va./Robert E. Lee75-79-74=228
WILLIAM & MARY Tribe (304-306-313=923)
Head Coach: Scott King
Ryan Roberts, W&MJR, Johnstown, PA/Westmont Hilltop76-78-82=236
Patrick McDuff, W&MSO, Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge82-79-79=240
Tom Long, W&MSR, Stuart, Fla./Port St. Lucie82-80-83=245
Justin Hoagland, W&MJR, Palmetto, FL/St. Stephen's75-75-77=227
Mark Urbanek, W&MSR, Princeton, NJ/W-Windsor-Plainsboro71-74-75=220
(Low four of five rounds comprise daily team score.)