Golf team ends season with sixth-place finish in A-10s
Tim Schneider, Staff Writer
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Sports
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At the Mission Inn Resort in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla., the Bonnies spent the first two days of the tournament in fourth place but fell to sixth after faltering in the final round.
Coach Andy Whalen said he was content with the result but would have liked to finish in a better spot.
"First and second was probably out of reach, but we didn't take advantage of a big opportunity to finish higher than we did," Whalen said.
Sophomore Chris Stoddard said the team had the chance to finish anywhere in the 12- team field.
"We were predicted to finish eighth, and we knew we could go anywhere from second to 10th," he said. "If we all came together and played how we know we can play, second was in reach."
The Bonnies finished 10 strokes behind Temple for fourth and three shots behind Rhode Island for fifth with a score of 917. Charlotte won with a three-day score of 872, 10 strokes ahead of second-place Xavier.
The usually consistent Brennan Payne, a senior, shot a weekend-worst 85 in the final round of his collegiate career. His first two rounds were 70 and 75, respectively. Payne finished in 23rd place with a three-day score of 230. Stoddard finished one spot behind Payne in a tie for 24th place with a score of 232.
Whalen said Payne might have placed too much pressure on himself.
"It was the last round of his career. It's a unique feeling and a challenge," Whalen said. "He's our stable guy and a huge part of our success. Not having his capable score hurt, but that's the way it goes sometimes."
The poor final round did not prevent Payne from achieving all-conference honors for the second time in as many seasons. Junior Nathan Peck joined him on the team after he finished tied for seventh with a 221.
Although Whalen said he thought his team could have finished higher, he was pleased with the quality of teams that finished ahead of the Bonnies.
"We beat George Washington and Dayton, and they were ranked ahead of us all year," he said. "It would've been nice to clip Rhode Island and Temple as well."
Whalen said his team should improve next year, as Payne will be the only departing senior.
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