March 23, 2003
TECH EARNS FIRST-EVER THREE-PEAT IN FURMAN INTERCOLLEGIATE
GREENVILLE, South Carolina -- Virginia Tech kept its cool in the final round of the Furman Intercollegiate on Sunday and became the first team in the 34-year history of the tournament to win three consecutive team titles, beating out the host Paladins by four strokes. In addition, Tech's Chris McKeel hung on to win medalist honors with a 74 on the day and a 211, three-round total.
The Hokies entered the final round with a one-stroke lead over Furman and pieced together a two-over 290 with a 71 from defending champion Brendon de Jonge, a 72 from Scott Wise, a 73 from Ryan Stinnett, and a pair of 74s from Joel Kraner and McKeel. The Paladins 293 on the day gave Furman an 873 tally, while Purdue took third at 877 and Virginia ended up fourth at 883 after posting a 282 - the low round of the tournament by any team.
"It is frustrating to keep coming up a little short," said Furman coach Todd Satterfield. "But I have to admit that I am pleased with how well we played and that we were in the hunt there at the end."
Despite recording his first over-par round of the tournament, McKeel’s five stroke lead entering the day held up and her beat out a gang of four golfers who tied for second at 213: Tom Schupp of Charleston Southern, Geoffrey Harris of Old Dominion, de Jonge of Virginia Tech, and Peter Karmis of Purdue.
Junior Buddy Davis was Furman's top finisher, taking sixth with a 215 total. Rob Langley placed ninth at 218, while T.J. Blandford took 19th at 221, Noble Judy placed 28th at 224, and Shane Birckbichler placed 54th at 229.
The Furman “B” team, consisting of Wyman Whitesides, Hagan Jordan, Thomas Self, Ryan Potter, and Adam Resmini, finished 18th in the 22-team field.
The Paladins are in action again on March 28-29, at the Bradford Creek Intercollegiate in Greenville, N.C.