Cavalier Classic

The spring of 2011 saw Virginia host the event for the 24th time.

Host Virginia has won its own classic eight times in the 24-year history of the event.

In 2011 Virginia won its second consecutive title behind the record-setting performance of freshman medalist Ben Rusch. After shooting 2-under 70 during his opening round, Rusch posted a tourney record 7-under 65 in the afternoon to win at 9-under 135. His second round score and total for 36 holes were both Cavalier Classic records for Birdwood Golf Course.

It was UVa’s fourth title over a five-year period.

In 2010 Virginia ran away with a 20-shot victory led by Ben Kohles, who took medalist honors by two strokes.

In 2008 UVa won by three shots over second-place Augusta State in a 36-hole format. It marked the first time the Cavaliers claimed back-to-back titles at the Cavalier Classic. In 2007. UVa cruised to a 24-shot win over second-place UNCG in the 10-team field.

In 1994, Cavalier All-American Simon Cooke took home medalist honors for the home team for the first time with an eight-under 208, besting the previous tournament record by two strokes.

In 2006 Brad Tilley became the second UVa player to win the tournament in a dramatic fashion that may never be repeated. Tilley was tied with Maryland’s Blaine Peffley and NC State’s Stephen Lewton after 54 holes of stroke play. Lewton and his Wolfpack teammates had already departed for the return trip to Raleigh, leaving just Tilley and Peffley to battle for the medalist trophy. And what a battle it was.

Both players made par on their first six playoff holes before Tilley finally won on the seventh hole with a par to Peffley’s bogie.

The 1999 tournament saw Wake Forest place three players among the top five and earn coach Jerry Haas his first coaching victory. The Demon Deacons jumped out to a 13-stroke lead after two rounds, but Virginia stormed back and closed within three shots, behind the play of James Driscoll and Cameron Yancey, before settling for second-place honors. Wake Forest’s Jay Morgan claimed individual honors in 1999 with a six-under 210.

In 1997, freshman Mike Mitchell, playing in the first collegiate event, worked his way into the individual lead after 36 holes with a remarkable five-under par performance, which included a hole-in-one in the second round. Mitchell’s 69-68 effort, along with Andrea Brotto’s 68-71 and Lewis Chitengwa’s 71-69, helped forge an eight-stroke lead for the Cavaliers. With the final round played in high winds, the rookie Mitchell faltered, but veterans Chitengwa and James Driscoll fired 71 and 69, respectively, and the Cavs’ eight-shot lead became an eight-shot victory. The win marked Virginia’s fourth Cavalier Classic title, and its first win at the Keswick Club.

In 1995 at Birdwood, Virginia trailed Southern Methodist by one stroke entering the final round. Led by Cole Kelly, who birdied the first three holes and made a hole-in-one on the 12th hole, the Cavaliers produced a nine-under par team score to tie SMU. The win marked Virginia’s first Cavalier Classic title since 1990, when Tim Dunlavey, Fred Widicus, and Bill Bierman led UVa to an 11-shot victory over Georgia Tech.

Former Cavalier Andrea Signor took medalist honors in 2004 while competing for the Italian National Team.

Most notable among the past individuals winners is current PGA star David Duval, who claimed medalist honors in 1992 and 1993.

Cavalier Classic Team Champions

Team Champions

Year Tourney Winner Score Field

1986 Furman 301-311-307-919 (+55) 15

1987 NC State 309-291-299-899 (+35) 14

1988 Virginia 292-295-296-883 (+19) 9

1989 East Tennessee St. 298-285-298-881 (+17) 14

1990 Virginia 296-286-285-867 (+3) 17

1991 Georgia Tech 292-290-281-863 (-1) 17

1992 Georgia Tech 289-294-285-868 (+4) 18

1993 Georgia Tech 294-290-291-875 (+11) 18

1994 Georgia Tech 279-284-296-859 (-5) 15

1995 NC State 288-296-288-872 (+8) 17

1995 Virginia 291-295-279-865 (+1) 12

So. Methodist 296-289-280-865 (+1)

1996 $ North Carolina 285-283-277-845 (-7) 14

1997 $ Virginia 281-278-295-856 (+4) 13

1998 $ North Carolina 274-277-280-831 (-21) 14

1999 Wake Forest 285-280-292-857 (-7) 15

2001 East Tennessee St. 288-294-582 (+6) 4

2004 UNC Wilmington 287-290-293-870 (+6) 11

2005 William & Mary 293-299-300-892 (+28) 12

2006 Maryland 295-281-295-871 (+7) 10

2007 Virginia 292-285-291-868 (+4) 10

2008 Virginia 282-293-575 (-1) 21

2009 South Carolina 286 (-2) 18

2010 Virginia 291-294-575 (-1) 11
2011 Virginia 295-279-574 (-2) 9

Cavalier Classic Medalists

1986 M. Warton-Palmer, Centenary 73-74-73-220 (+4)

1987 John Hughes, North Carolina 70-70-77-217 (+1)

1988 Roger Rowland, Augusta State 72-73-70-215 (-1)

1989 Tee Burton, North Carolina 71-70-73-214 (-2)

1990 Tee Burton, North Carolina 70-71-69-210 (-6)

1991 Jon Hurst, Old Dominion* 68-71-71-210 (-6)

Steve Isley, NC State 68-71-71-210 (-6)

1992 David Duval, Georgia Tech* 68-75-70-213 (-3)

Neil Connolly, UT Chatt. 70-72-71-213 (-3)

1993 David Duval, Georgia Tech 73-69-72-214 (-2)

1994 Simon Cooke, Virginia 69-69-70-208 (-8)

1995 John McCann, UNC Green. 73-66#-72-211 (-5)

1995 Rob Bradley, North Carolina 68-72-140 (-4)

1996 Jason Buha, Duke$ 67-69-68-204 (-9)

1997 Chad Wellhausen, Miss. St.$ 68-70-68-206 (-7)

1998 Brad Hyler, North Carolina$ 65-67-70-202 (-11)

1999 Jay Morgan, Wake Forest 70-68-72-210 (-6)

2001 Mark Donaldson, Florida State 70-71-141 (-3)

2004 Andrea Signor, Italian Nat’l • 68-71-74-213 (-3)

Dustin Bray, North Carolina 70-70-73-213 (-3)

2005 Gary Barton, Wm. & Mary• 74-73-71-218 (+2)

Taylor Crosby, NC State 71-73-74-218 (+2)

2006 Brad Tilley, Virginia• 72-73-71-216 (E)

Blaine Peffley, Maryland 73-68-75-216 (E)

Stephen Lewton, NC State 73-71-72-216 (E)

2007 Drew Younts, UNCG 68-69-77-214 (-2)

2008 Henrik Norlander, Augusta St. 71-68-139 (-5)

2009 Josh Brock, UNC Wilmington 67 (-5)

2010 Ben Kohles, Virginia 72-68-140 (-4)
2011 Ben Rusch, Virginia 70-65-135 (-9)

Cavalier Classic Records

Low 18-Hole Score:

2011 Ben Rusch, Virginia 65 (-7)
1998 $ Max Harris, North Carolina 64 (-7)

1998 $ Brad Hyler, North Carolina 65 (-6)

1995 John McCann, UNC Greensboro 66 (-6) #

1993 Jason Widener, Duke 66 (-6) #

Low 36-Hole Score:
2011 Ben Rusch 70-65-135 (-9)

1998 $ Brad Hyler, North Carolina 65-67-132 (-10)

1994 Simon Cooke, Virginia 69-69-138 (-6)

Low 54-Hole Score:

1998 $ Brad Hyler, North Carolina 65-67-70-202 (-11)

1994 Simon Cooke, Virginia