Virginia Wins Golf Digest Collegiate

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March 16, 1998

LAS VEGAS, NEV. – The University of Virginia golf team rebounded from two disappointing spring tournaments by winning the 54-hole Golf Digest Collegiate Invitational at the Desert Inn Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nev., today.

The Cavaliers began today’s final round with a 6-stroke lead over Clemson and made the lead stand by firing a 1-over par 289 this afternoon to win by 10 strokes. Virginia was the lone school to finish under par. The Cavaliers fired a 9-under par 855 (283-283-289) and finished 10 strokes ahead of Texas Christian.

Cavalier sophomore James Driscoll won his first collegiate title with a scintillating performance. He finished with a 9-under par 207 (69-64-74), one stroke better than New Mexico’s Doug LaBelle. Driscoll fired a career-low 64 yesterday to tie Tom Kite’s course record.

Freshman Cameron Yancey joined Driscoll in turning in a career-best performance. Yancey finished third, three strokes behind his sophomore teammate. Yancey finished with a 6-under par 210 (68-70-72). His 68 in Friday’s opening round is his collegiate low.

Junior Lewis Chitengwa also turned in a fine performance by finishing 13th with an even-par 216 (73-72-71) for his best finish this spring.

“This win is a very special win for us,” said Virginia head coach Mike Moraghan. “We’ve practiced real hard and all that work clearly paid off on the course the past few days. We put ourselves in good position early and kept the heat up. The Golf Digest Collegiate is a highly regarded event and we’re thrilled to have finished on top.”

“I had a real good tournament,” said individual champion James Driscoll. “Most of all, I’m excited that the team will go back to Virginia with the trophy in our hands. As far as tying the course record goes, I wasn’t giving it much thought. I guess it’s pretty amazing considering the caliber of players who appear here at the Las Vegas Invitational.”

       FINAL TEAM STANDINGS1.      Virginia            283-283-289=8552.      Texas Christian     287-296-282=8653.      UNLV                290-284-293=8674.      Clemson             278-294-298=8705.      Southern Methodist  290-291-292=8736.      Florida             297-290-288=8757.      Arixona State       290-302-291=8838.      Wake Forest         291-296-297=8849.      Houston             298-294-293=885T10.    Oklahoma State      287-309-290=886T10.    East Tennessee St.  288-297-301=88612.     New Mexico          284-304-299=887T13.    Pepperdine          302-286-301=889T13.    Texas               295-301-293=88915.     Southern California 298-294-308=900

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS1. James Driscoll, Virginia 69-64-74=2072. Doug LaBelle, New Mexico 67-70-71=2083. Cameron Yancey, Virginia 68-70-72=2104. J.J. Henry, TCU 70-73-68=2115. Steve Scott, Florida 72-70-70=212T6. Hank Kuehne, SMU 70-72-71=213T6. Jeremy Anderson, UNLV 68-71-74=213T6. Grady Girard, TCU 72-72-69=213T6. Charles Howell, Okla. St. 72-71-70=21310. Jonathan Byrd, Clemson 65-69-80=214

Other Virginia Golfers:T13. Lewis Chitengwa 216 (73-72-71)T39. Andrea Brotto 224 (73-79-72)T73. Mike Mitchell 239 (79-77-83)