PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. – Tahnia Ravnjak won the women's individual crown and Campbell sophomores Mikko Lehtovuori, Jeremy Milton and Alvaro Veiga played their final hole 4-under par as Campbell claimed a one-stroke victory Tuesday in the Golfweek Program Challenge.
Campbell won the event for the third-straight year, thanks to a 17-stroke victory in the ladies team standings and a strong finish by the men. Campbell's women finished the 54-hole event at 10-over-par at the par-71, 6038-yard Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, while the men were 15-over on the par-72, 6940-yard True Blue Golf Club.
"Our girls played really well and our guys finished well," said head coach John Crooks, whose program won the 2011 title in a one-hole playoff then earned a 24-stroke victory in 2012. "It just goes to show that every shot makes somebody happy."
The 54-hole event matches men's and women's teams from 12 schools from around the country. The combined men's and women's scores from each program are added at the end of the event to determine the overall champion.
On the men's side, Milton and Veiga birdied the par-5 ninth hole, then Lehtovuori made eagle to help the men finish ninth in the team standings at 15-over 879 (297-291-291) at True Blue Golf Club.
Senior Amanjyot Singh was Campbell's low individual in a tie for 11th place at even-par 216 (70-74-72). Lehtovuori, who made 16 pars Tuesday plus the overall title-clinching eagle, tied for 28th (75-74-71—220), while Milton finished in a tie for 39th (80-70-74—224). Veiga (76-76-74—226) and junior Grant Houser (76-73-77—226) tied for 49th.
J.T. Poston of Western Carolina won the men's event at 11-under 205 (66-69-70), four strokes ahead of Akron's J.B. Williams (68-69-72—209). Akron claimed the men's team crown at 8-under 856 (285-286-285), five strokes clear of runner-up IUPUI (285-280-296—861).
Campbell returns to action Sept. 23-24 at the Mark Simpson Invitational at Colorado National GC in Erie, Colo.
Golfweek Program Challenge (Combined Final Men's and Women's Standings)
1. Campbell +25 (Men +15, Women +10), 2. Jacksonville State +26 (Men -1, Women +27), 3. James Madison +32 (Men +1, Women +31), 4. Old Dominion +39 (Men +1, Women +38), 5. Western Carolina +46 (Men +1, Women +45), 6. Akron (Men -8, Women +65), 7. Northern Iowa +71 (Men +12, Women +59), 8. Gardner-Webb +76 (Men -1, Women +77), 9. Stetson +86 (Men +51, Women +35), 10. Boston College +89 (Men +18, Women +71), 11. Valparaiso +134 (Men +15, Women +119), 12. IUPUI +170 (Men -3, Women +173).
Golfweek Program Challenge (Men)
True Blue GC / Pawley's Island, S.C.
Sept. 8-10, 2013 / Par 72, 6940 yards
Final Team Standings: 1. Akron 285-286-285—856, 2. IUPUI 285-280-296—861, T3. Jacksonville State 286-288-289—863, T3. Gardner-Webb 292-289-282—863, T5. Old Dominion 293-282-290—865, T5. Western Carolina 290-288-287—865, T5. James Madison 280-284-301—865, 8. Northern Iowa 284-295-297—876, T9. Valparaiso 295-283-301—879, T9. Campbell 297-291-291—879, 11. Boston College 300-289-293—882, 12. Stetson 298-309-308—915.
Final Individual Leaders: T1. J.T. Poston (Western Carolina) 66-69-70—205, 2. J.B. Williams (Akron) 68-69-72—209, T3. Fanco Grillo (Jacksonville State) 73-68-70—211, T3. Jose Pablo Segurola (IUPUI) 71-69-71—211, T3. Carr Vernon (Akron) 73-70-68—211, T3. Peter Webb (Valparaiso) 67-68-76—211.
Campbell Individuals: T11. Amanjyot Singh 70-74-72—216, T28. Mikko Lehtovuori 75-74-71—220, T39. Jeremy Milton 80-70-74—224, T49. Grant Houser 76-73-77—226, T49. Alvaro Veiga 76-76-74—226.
