ANNAPOLIS, Md. (October 19, 2015) -- After entering the individuals round of the Army-Navy Star Match all-square, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point golf team defeated the U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen by a score of 6.5-4.5 to earn its fourth-straight Star over Navy, Oct. 16-17.
"I am so proud of the team, the guys played great today," said head coach Brian Watts. "They stayed patient and focused on their own game, and were not distracted by anything that was going on around them. They had to battle hard, but they hung on. It was one of the best team efforts I have witnessed in an Army-Navy Star Match, it was incredible.
"We knew the hole locations were going to be extremely difficult today. We discussed staying patient and that every hole would be a new opportunity. Our guys did a great job, played with heart and had a great overall attitude, while never getting down. The team got off to a good start and through nine holes we were very close, either all-square or up. On holes 10-13 we struggled a bit, but our guys hit some clutch shots and putts coming down the stretch to earn the win."
Cadet Eric Peng clinched for the Black Knights on the seventeenth hole and brings the all-time series within seven at 41-34-1, in favor of the Midshipmen. This is the fifth victory for Army in the rival's last seven meetings.
"On hole 15, Eric was 1 up and the Navy shot close to the pin," explained Watts. "Eric was in the rough about 100 yards out and knocked the shot inside and they both halved. That was a huge momentum boost for us going into the last three holes. And on hole 17, Peng made a four-footer to win his game, which sealed the match for us."
Four Ball Results:
1. Cadets Peter Kim and Nick Turner def. Midshipmen Connor Tallman and Paul Mauer, 2 up
2. Midshipmen David Won and Ben Allen def. Cadets Justin Pagila and Parker Harris, 4-and-3
3. Cadets Matt Plunkett and Dean Sakata def. Midshipmen Eric Terminello and Griffin Peters, 1 up
4. Midshipmen Thomas Fricke and Devin Terry def. Cadets Marcus Plunkett and Eric Peng, 2-up
Individual Results:
1. Midshipman Griffin Peters def. Cadet Justin Pagila, 2-and-1
2. Cadet Matthew Plunkett def. Midshipman Ben Allen, 2-and-1
3. Cadet Dean Sakata def. Midshipman Eric Terminello, 1 up
4. Midshipman David Won halved Cadet Nick Turner
5. Cadet Eric Peng def. Midshipman Connor Tallman, 2-and-1
6. Cadet Peter Kim def. Midshipman Thomas Fricke, 4-and-2
7. Midshipman Devin Terry def. Cadet Marcus Plunkett, 2-and-1
Navy holds a 41-33-1 advantage over the Black Knights in the all-time series, but Army has won four of the last six meetings with the Midshipmen.
Army increased its winning streak over Navy to three-straight with a historic 10-1 victory over the Mids at the West Point Golf Course last fall. The nine point difference was the largest margin of victory in the history of the rivalry.
The 18-hole Naval Academy course features 6,611 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71. The course rating is 71.7 and it has a slope rating of 128.
Related Links:
Army West Point Athletics website
U.S. Military Academy at West Point website
U.S. Army Garrison West Point website
Army West Point Athletics Facebook
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