Oct. 25, 2004

LEESBURG, Va. - Freshman Patrick Murphy (Chicago, Ill.) was even par in the final round of the Georgetown Hoya Invitational on Monday afternoon, shooting a 72 to tie for 12th place among 64 golfers in the field. Overall, the Wildcats registered rounds of 309 and 316 for a two-day total of 625, good for 11th place among 12 teams. The tournament marked the conclusion of Villanova's Fall schedule.

The weather at the 6,815-yard Lansdowne Resort turned colder and more windy following Sunday's opening round, and seven of the 12 participating teams had a higher second round score. Murphy was one of just two Wildcats to card a round in the 70's on Monday at the par-72 course. He finished the tournament with marks of 74-72=146.

Sophomore Brock Bergman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) tied for 50th in the field after scores of 78-79=157. He was followed by classmate Brian Feeney (Pelham, N.Y.) and junior Jonathan Hewett (Sioux Falls, S.D.), who each had final scores of 162. Feeney followed his first round of 5-over-77 with an 85 on Monday, while Hewett came in with rounds of 80 and 82. Junior Henry Watson (Pittsburgh, Pa.) rounded out the group of Wildcats in the tournament, shooting 80-83=163.

Eastern Michigan took the team title with a team score of 3-under-569. The Eagles had the low team score in both rounds, and produced the tournament individual medalist in Korey Mahoney. Mahoney followed his 2-under-par 70 on Sunday with a 68 on Monday to finish four strokes ahead of the rest of the field. Maryland, William & Mary, Richmond and Towson rounded out the top five of the field.

Murphy took team medalist honors for the third time in the four tournaments he has played in. Murphy played 10 rounds during the Fall and led the team with a 74.20 stroke average. Bergman was the team's most consistent golfer, as well as the lone Wildcat to play in all five Fall tournaments. He was third on the team with a 76.42 stroke average, and was the only team member who posted all of his rounds in the 70's. All 12 of Bergman's scores fell in a range between 73 and 79.

Hewett was second on the squad with a stroke average of 75.00. He also played 10 rounds, and had a ninth place finish at the St. John's/McLaughlin. Senior captain Charlie Nettleton (Lisle, Ill.) had a 78.60 stroke average in 10 rounds. When the spring season begins, Villanova will welcome back teammate Colin Mahon (Rhinebeck, N.Y.). The junior studied abroad during the Fall 2004 semester but will return to play the spring season.

Villanova's spring schedule gets underway during spring break on March 12-13. The Wildcats will participate in the St. John's Treasure Coast Classic in Port St. Lucie, Fla.