Read Leads the Way as Flyers Prep for Another National Title Bid in June
Sandhills Community College sophomore Ben Read birdied the 36th hole early Saturday morning to draw even and then parred the first playoff hole to repeat as the individual champion of the Mercyhurst Spring Break Shootout held at the Foxfire Resort and Golf Club.
In a bid to repeat as the team champion in a field that included 11 four-year college teams, Coach Gus Ulrich's squad finished in second place, three strokes behind Mount Olive College.
Read finished at 5-under par (71-68-139) on the Foxfire Red Course. Also in the top 10 for the Flyers in the field of 67 golfers were freshman Austin May, fifth place (71-72-143) and sophomore Fifa Chankarn, eighth place (72-73-145).
Coming off a promising fall season, this tournament is the first of four spring events the Flyers will use to prepare for the opportunity to win a fourth NJCAA DIII National Championship in a row at Chautauqua Golf Club in Chautauqua, NY on June 4-7.
The tournament hosted by Mercyhurst University of Erie, PA, was set up for 18 holes to be played on both Friday and Saturday, but with an all-day rain forecast for Saturday it was decided to try to squeeze all 36 holes into one day.
Read, who is from Banchory, Scotland, was one of seven golfers unable to complete their rounds with three holes to play due to darkness. Starting on the 16th hole at 8 a.m. on Saturday, he and Chankarn were among those playing through mid-50's temperatures and a steady windblown rain.
"I guess I'm used to playing in this weather so maybe it gave me an advantage," a thoroughly soaked Read said afterward. "I'm definitely used to playing in the rain."
First round leader Rasmus Ronnberg of Mount Olive led Read by two strokes, going to the 18th and final hole on Saturday morning. The Mount Olive golfer made a bogey and Read drained about a 12-foot putt for birdie, tying him for the top spot.
Upon the return to the clubhouse, the tournament director gave the two players the option of sharing the individual title or playing extra holes to determine an outright champion. Both bravely opted to continue playing in spite of barely playable conditions.
Each reached the par four first hole in regulation. Read knocked a 20-foot putt through standing water to three feet and got up and down for a par while Ronnberg three-putted, ending the match.
"It was a good start to our spring season for sure," Ulrich said afterward. "Coming out today, Ben and Fifa played six holes in one-under par, not only in the pouring rain, but tough windy conditions.
"Good for Ben, grinding it out. He's really solid and I think the other guys on the team see that and can learn from him. He's an inspiration to all of us."
Also for the Flyers, sophomore Daniel Aitken (75-71-146) and freshman Landon Cabingas (73-73-146) tied for 11th place, freshman Liam Harris (74-74-148) tied for 18th and freshman Randy Hanna (76-81-157) tied for 36th.
"I'm super-proud of the team and it's good to see the guys playing good golf," Read said. "The team looks strong this year and it's deep. We'll be going to Chautauqua with one thing in mind."
Based upon the fall tournaments and early spring results, there will be plenty of competition for playing spots in the upcoming tournaments. Next is the Sandhills Invitational at Longleaf Golf and Family Club on March 18-19.
"It's going to be another tough intrasquad deal to see who is going to be in the top five each week," Ulrich said. "We definitely have a goal at the end of the season to get our fourth in a row. Obviously it would be a great feat, but we're just trying to focus on the present and work toward that."
Team scores:1. Mount Olive 283-292-575; 2. Sandhills 292-286-578; 3. Livingstone 290-299-589; 4. Mercyhurst A 308-289-597; 5. Dominican (NY) 296-308-604; 6. UVA Wise 307-298-605; 7. Shepherd 310-298-608; 8. Columbia Int'l 309-309-618; 9. Clarion 318-306-624; 10. Mercyhurst B 347-320-667; 11. Johnson C. Smith 341-336-677; 12. Elizabeth City 420-395-815.
C. Bergmann