PAUMA VALLEY, Calif. - The Army golf team opened its spring season
with an 11th place finish at the Triumph at Pauma Valley at the Pauma Valley
Country Club, Tuesday in California.
The 54-hole, two-day event
was played at the par-71, 7,077-yard Pauma Valley Country Club and the length
of the course extended the time needed to complete rounds.
Army was competing in its
first event this spring and finished 11th in the 12-team field by shooting
rounds of 321-323-324-968.
"It was a great challenge to
start the season on such a tough course with a tough field like this," said
interim head golf coach Lt. Col. Robert Kewley. "We learned some lessons and we
need to take that into our next event."
Central Arkansas won the tournament
with an 889, five strokes in front of host San Francisco and six better than
Long Beach State. Air Force's Tom Whitney won medalist honors with a
three-round total of 211, two-under-par.
William Park led the way for
the Black Knights with a two-day total of 235 to finish in a tie for 33rd. Park
shot two rounds of 77 during Monday's 36-hole session. Matt Krembel finished
47th with rounds of 80-80-82 while Matt Philie tied for 56th with a 246 on 18s
of 84-79-83. James Raymond was 62nd with a 249 while Wes Carver shot a 252.
Army made the trek to
California with seven golfers and Eric Park and Austin Rhymer competed as
individuals. Park shot 84-77-79 to finish at 240 and in 43 rd place while
Rhymer came in 70th with a 270.
William and Eric Park each
shot 77s, the best rounds of the tournament for the Black Knights, who will
play a practice round tomorrow before a brief break for spring break.
The Black Knights were
playing on a Robert Trent Jones-designed course with a little bit of home
cooking. Margaret Groves, who along with her husband Richard, a 1958 West Point
graduate, generously supported the indoor facility at West Point, a
5,000-square foot complex that allows the team to work on all aspect of its
game, regardless of the weather, is a member of Pauma Valley.
"The hospitality showed by
all the members of Pauma Valley Country Club was unbelievable," said Kewley.
"We are extremely grateful for our hosts and the chance to play such a gem of a
course."
Army will return to action
March 22-23 at the CNF Bank Intercollegiate in Kingsmill, Va.
"We need to get a little more
consistent around the greens," said Kewley. "We're just trying to be a little
more consistent so we can score better."
Triumph at Pauma Valley
Pauma Valley Country Club
Par-71, 7.077 yards
11. ARMY (321-323-324--968)
T33. William Park 77-77-81-235
47. Matt Krembel 80-80-82-242
T56. Matt Philie 84-79-83-246
62. James Raymond 83-88-78-249
T63. Wes Carver 81-87-84-252
Individuals
43. Eric Park 84-77-79-240
70. Austin Rhymer 97-80-93-270
Courtesy: Army Athletic Communications
