The University of Akron Athletics
Golf Wins MAC/Big East Challenge
November 05 | Men's Golf
The University of Akron men's golf team ended its fall season in
grand fashion, winning the MAC/Big East Challenge on Sunday
afternoon at the Orange County National golf course.
The victory marks the second tournament win for the Zips this
season as they also took top honors at The McLaughlin Tournament on
Sept. 23.
Akron finished two strokes above the host school, Marquette, with
863 (294-282-287) total tallies over the three-round event. The win
is only the third tournament victory for UA since 1997. The Zips
won last season on April 1, 2006 at the Bradford Intercollegiate,
but had not won an event prior to that since finishing first at the
Persimmon Ridger Intercollegiate on Oct. 21, 1997.
Sophomore
Brad Wright (Cambridge,
Ohio/Cambridge HS) posted a team-low round of 69 in the final round
en route to earning a third-place finish and his third top-10
performance of the season. Wright shot rounds of 73 and 70 on day
one of the tournament to finish with 212 total strokes.
Senior
Blake Sattler (New
Philadelphia, Ohio/New Philadelphia HS) finished two shots back of
Wright with 214 (72-70-72) swings, ending the tournament tied for
fifth place.
After tallying an opening round score of 75,
Vaughn Snyder (Massillon,
Ohio/Canton Central Catholic HS) settled down to record his second
best finish of the fall. The sophomore carded in back-to-back
rounds of 71 to finish tied for ninth place with 217 strokes.
Ryan Gutowski (Copley,
Ohio/Copley HS) earned his third top-25 finish of the year,
finishing in 22nd place in the 63-golfer field with 222 (74-73-75)
total tallies.
Junior
Colin Clemente (Hubbard,
Ohio/Warren JFK HS) rounded out the Zips' scorecard with 225
(79-71-75) strokes through the three-round event.
South Florida 870 (292-294-284), St. Johns 878 (297-290-291) and
fellow MAC school Northern Illinois 882 (300-296-286) rounded out
the top-five team finishers in the 12-team event.
Ben Sieg of Marquette completed three rounds on the par-72, 7,176
yard course with 209 (70-70-69) strokes to earn medalist
honors.
The Zips will begin their spring season on March 26, 2007 at the
Colorado-Stevinson Ranch Invitational.
