Nov. 5, 2006

Complete Results

WINTER GARDEN, Fla.-- Senior co-captain Steve Arnold (Langhorne, Pa.) claimed team medalist honors and Villanova finished in 10th place at the BIG EAST/MAC Challenge this weekend at Orange County National. In their final tournament of the fall season, the Wildcats counted team scores of 293-294-306=893 over 54 holes. Arnold finished with a total of 71-72-77=220 (+4).

Eight teams from the BIG EAST and four teams from the Mid-American Conference went head-to-head in the weekend competition. The eight BIG EAST teams held an aggregate stroke average of 294.42 in the tournament, while the MAC schools were nearly the same with an average of 295.33.

Entering the final round of play on Sunday, Arnold stood in sixth place at one-under-par after carding scores of 71 and 72 on Saturday. He came back with a 77 on Sunday and was the lone Villanova player to finish in the top 20 of the field. The teams played the tournament at the par-72 Orange County National resort and the course measured 7,176 yards from the back tees.

Mid-American member Akron took home the title with a score of 863 before the BIG EAST owned the next three spots. Host team Marquette was in second place, just two strokes behind Akron. The Golden Eagles also produced the individual champion, as Ben Sieg was the lone player in the field of 63 golfers to shoot under par in all three rounds. He came in with a final score of 70-70-69-209 (-7) to beat out Greg Doherty of DePaul by one stroke.

Following Arnold for the Wildcats was sophomore Doug Stadler (Wexford, Pa.) in 44th place. Stadler posted rounds of 76-75-76=227 (+11) for the weekend. In addition, sophomores Brett Bergman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Andrew Alexander (Rochester, Minn.) each tied for 45th place with final scores of 228. Senior co-captain Brock Bergman (Pittsburgh, Pa.) was one stroke back in 49th place with a score of 249.

Villanova led the entire field in par 3 scoring with an average of 3.12 strokes on the four par-3 holes. Alexander and Brett Bergman finished with a 2.92 stroke average (-1) and tied with Doherty for best among individuals on the par 3's. Arnold had an average of 3.00 (E) on the par-3 holes.

This weekend's tournament was the last of six the Wildcats competed in this fall. The team's top finish was a second-place showing at the Rutgers Invitational on September 15-16, a showing that marked a nine-spot improvement from last season. Overall, Villanova had a 27-48-0 record against the competition it faced this fall.

The spring season for the Wildcats opens with the William & Mary Invitational on March 26-27.