UVa Golfers Have Record-Setting Win at VCU Shootout

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Manakin Sabot, VA – The 21st-ranked Virginia men’s golf team opened its season in impressive fashion, smashing the team tournament scoring record en route to victory at the VCU Shootout. The Cavaliers finished the 54-hole event at the par-72 Hermitage Country Club at 27-under 837 to better runner-up East Carolina by seven shots. Virginia shot 10-under 278 during Tuesday’s final round. The Cavaliers posted scores of 2-under 286 and 15-under 273 during Monday’s opening 36 holes.

“They played great and it is always nice to see that result in a victory,” said Virginia coach Bowen Sargent. “If you told me we were going to win and post a score like this after the first round, I probably would not have believed you. It was great playing from top to bottom over the last two rounds.”

Virginia’s previous best tournament score was 22-under 830 at the par-71 Stanford Golf Course at the Stanford Shootout in October of 1992.

The victory was the 10th by the Cavaliers during Sargent’s eight-year tenure at Virginia.

The Cavaliers were led by the fourth-place finishes of senior Ben Kohles and freshman Denny McCarthy. Both players posted scores of 8-under 208. Kohles carded a 70 during the final round while McCarthy shot even par 72. It was the 18th top-10 finish during Kohles’ career.

“It’s typical of Ben,” Sargent said. “He shows up every week to play and this was just another great performance by him. He had a chance to win it with a couple of holes to play, but it got away from him a little down the stretch.”

McCarthy entered the season listed as one of the top freshmen to watch this season by Golfweek.

“Great start to his career by Denny,” Sargent said. “He has some high goals for himself this year. He would like to be a first-team All-American and that’s the way you have to play each and every week if you are going to do that. He’s capable of doing that every week. He’s a real competitor and wants to win.”

Iowa State’s Scott Fernandez took medalist honors at 11-under 205.

Junior Mac McLaughlin recorded the team’s best round Tuesday. He shot 5-under 67 to move up to a tie for 11th place with teammate Bruce Woodall at 4-under 212. It was McLaughlin’s best round as a Cavalier and his low tournament score. Woodall also bettered his previous best collegiate tourney score by one stroke.

“It was good to see Mac step up and play well,” Sargent said. “He feels like he can play at a high level and this should give him some confidence moving forward.”

Ben Rusch finished 39th at 219, including a 75 Tuesday. Freshman Ji Soo Park, playing as an individual, was 33rd at 2-over 218. Cory Siegfried, also playing as an individual, was 63rd at 223.

The Cavaliers play their second tournament of the season Oct. 14-16 at The Ridges in Johnson City, Tenn.

VCU Shootout
Hermitage Country Club
Manakin Sabot, VA
Par-72, 6,955 yards
Final Results

Team Results
1. Virginia 286-273-278-837
2. East Carolina 283-280-281-844
3. Wichita State 287-279-286-852
4. Iowa State 280-284-290-854
5. Virginia Tech 280-282-293-855
6. Wake Forest 287-284-285-856
7. Charlotte 298-275-290-863
7. Richmond 295-285-283-863
7. UNC Greensboro 280-297-286-863
10. Maryland 294-285-286-865
11. North Carolina 289-282-298-869
12. VCU 295-287-290-872
13. UNC Wilmington 297-292-297-876
14. Old Dominion 301-286-291-878
15. James Madison 297-297-302-896

Individual Leaders
1. Scott Fernandez, Iowa State 66-69-70-205
2. Adam Stephenson, East Carolina 67-71-68-206
3. Harold Varner, East Carolina 69-68-70-207
4. Ben Kohles, Virginia 73-65-70-208
4. Denny McCarthy, Virginia 70-66-72-208
6. Charlie Harrison, Wake Forest 68-71-71-210

Virginia Results
4. Ben Kohles 73-65-70-208
4. Denny McCarthy 70-66-72-208
11. Bruce Woodall 72-71-69-212
11. Mac McLaughlin 74-71-67-212
39. Ben Rusch 71-73-75-219
33. Ji Soo Park* 72-72-74-218
63. Cory Siegfried* 75-74-74-223
* Competing as an individual