Oct. 19, 2005

SCARSDALE, N.Y. - In its fifth tournament of the fall season, Villanova carded identical rounds of 301-301=602 to finish in second place at The Tillinghast on Monday and Tuesday at the Fenway Golf Club. The Wildcats finish in the team standings was their best of the season as the squad trailed tournament host and winner St. John's by just 11 strokes.

Strong play throughout the lineup led Villanova to a strong showing in the field of nine teams, which also included Big East rival Cincinnati. Senior Colin Mahon (Rhinebeck, N.Y.) led the way for the Wildcats with consecutive scores of 75 and tied for ninth place in the field of 46 golfers. Mahon was one stroke ahead of freshman Andrew Alexander (Rochester, Minn.), who carded scores of 75-76=151 and tied for 12th place.

Freshman Doug Stadler (Wexford, Pa.) and junior Steve Arnold (Langhorne, Pa.) each finished in a tie for 15th place with a two-day total of 153. Stadler posted rounds of 80-73 while Arnold shot 76 and 77 in the tournament. Stadler's round of 73 on Tuesday was the lowest of the 10 Wildcat scores at the event. Senior captain Jonathan Hewett (Sioux Falls, S.D.) was tied for 31st place after shooting 75-84=159.

After playing in two consecutive tournaments in a span of four days, Villanova will now have two weeks off before finishing the fall season at the Big East / MAC Challenge. That tournament will be hosted by Marquette University on November 5-6 in Winter Garden, Fla.

NOTES: Arnold leads the Wildcats this fall with a 72.85 stroke average ... Alexander is second on the team with a 73.15 stroke average ... All seven of the golfers that have played in the first five tournaments have a stroke average under 76, while the team's average round is 292.38.