Guilford Captures NCAA Division III Championship

 By STEVE WILLIAMS

LINCOLN, Neb. – The agony of a one-stroke loss in 2001 has been replaced by the ecstasy of a national championship for the Guilford College golf team.

The Quakers won their first NCAA Division III title May 16 at Firethorn Golf Club with a stirring fourth-day rally that produced a six-shot win over cross-town rival Greensboro College.

Down two strokes to first-place Methodist College after three rounds, the Quakers shot a final-day score of 300 on the tough Pete Dye design made even more difficult by unrelenting winds.

“The golf course is all you would want,” said Guilford coach Jack Jensen. “Then throw in 30- to 35-mile an hour winds and it was brutal.”

Guilford finished at 1212, Greensboro had 1218 and Methodist 1223.

Guilford avenged a one-stroke loss to Wisconsin-Eau Claire last season in a pressure-packed event that Guilford’s players turned into a learning experience.

“When you come within one, everybody knows they can find a shot – not only the last day but the first three days,” Jensen said. “I really, truly believe that the four players who counted the last day were the four guys along with (graduated) Clint Fields who went through that thing last year. And I think the experience of our guys having played well and being in the heat last year on day-three and day-four served us well.”

Sophomore Dave Patterson was the rock for Guilford this time around. He finished 10th a year ago and placed second to Wesley College’s Chris Noll this year, shooting 74 the final day and 295 for the tournament. Noll came in at 293. Patterson was solid the first three days also, carding 76-74-71.

Senior Andrew Biggadike, a three-time All-American, posted a final day 74 and finished sixth with 299. He stands alongside Chris Haarlow (class of 1991) as Guilford’s only three-time All-Americans.

Senior Savio Nazareth overcame a career-high 85 in the second round to finish 18th at 306. He had 77 the final day.

Guilford’s final-round surge was keyed by senior Andy Eversole of Greensboro, who fired a 75 after struggling the first three days.

“He started out on 17 (a shotgun start because of a third-round rain delay) and made a 20-footer for par,” Jensen said. “That got him going and he kept hanging in there and shot 75. I think there were only 11 scores that day at 75 or under.”

Freshman John Riddle, who hadn’t been a factor much during the season, came through with a couple of crucial scores in the nationals.

“On the second day, when we had to have a score, he shot 76,” Jensen said, noting that was the round Nazareth stumbled. “He saved us. We could not have won without John Riddle.”

Guilford shot 300, 311 and 301 the first three days and trailed Methodist, which has won nine national titles, by two shots. Greensboro was far back in the pack, some 20 shots off the lead and in seventh place, after rounds of 312, 305 and 313.

But while Methodist’s scores soared in the final-round wind to 313, Greensboro went out and posted the tournament’s best round – a 288 that captured second place.

“Our score (300) was terrific. Greensboro’s was unreal,” Jensen said. “Greensboro beat Methodist by 25 shots that last day.”

A final-round 68 by senior Kevin Angle paced the Greensboro surge. He opened with 76-74-81and finished tied for sixth at 299.

Kevin O’Connell had a 72 the final day and tied for third overall at 297. He shot 75-77-73 the first three days.

Greensboro’s other scores were posted by Adam Holowczcak (tied for 20th with 81-76-79-72 – 308), Jonathan Dudley (tied for 63rd with 80-78-80-80), and Brandon White (tied for 70th with 81-78-85-76).

Defending champ Wisconsin-Eau Claire settled for fourth place (1233) behind the three North Carolina teams. Averett University of Danville finished 12th among the 23 teams in the field, shooting 315-300-316-320 – 1251.

The Cougars’ best individual mark was a tie for ninth by Toni Karjalainen at 302 (76-72-74-80).

Methodist’s best score was posted by Greg Hanna, who tied for 10th at 304. Mike Townsend added a tie for 13th at 305 and James Stewart, a sophomore from Advance, tied for 31st at 311 (76-78-80-77).

For Guilford, it was the school’s first national golf title since 1989. Jensen, who completed his 26th year at the helm, has led the Quakers to the NCAA tournament in 10 of 11 years since they joined that level.