CALLAWASSIE ISLAND, S.C. – Georgetown placed three golfers in the top five places on its way to winning the 2016 BIG EAST Men’s Golf Championship Presented by Jeep. The Hoyas won by a comfortable margin, outdistancing second-place Xavier by 27 strokes. The Hoyas shot a team score of even-par 864 and led after each day of the 54-hole event at Callawassie Island Golf Club.
As the BIG EAST champion, Georgetown earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship. Individually, junior Lloyd Jefferson Go of Seton Hall set a course record with a seven-under-par 65 in the second round and won the individual title with a six-under-par 210. With his victory, Go earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Championship as an individual.
The Hoya trio of Sam Madsen, Cole Berman and Harrison Rhoades helped Georgetown nail down the title. Madsen, a sophomore from Madison, Wis., finished three strokes behind Go at 213 (70-70-73). Berman, a sophomore from Philadelphia, tied for third at 214 (72-71-71). Freshman Harrison Rhoades, a native of Raleigh, N.C., tied for fifth at 219 (73-73-73).
The men’s golf crown was Georgetown’s third as a BIG EAST member and its first since 2010. The other title was in 1998. Tommy Hunter has been the Hoya head coach for all three championships.
“We really have a young group, but they stayed positive throughout the tournament,” said Hunter. “They had to battle through a lot. We had the weather delay at the end of the second round, but they came out strong early today. I thought that’s where we won the tournament. We chipped and putted well and that’s what you need to do at Callawassie.”
Go, a junior from Guadalupe Cebu City, Phillippines, owned the course in the second round with his record score, even though his day ended at the 17
th hole when the inclement weather ended the competition for the day. He played 17 and 18 early Tuesday morning. Go set the stage for his outstanding round with birdies on five of the first six holes.
“I feel great,” said Go after winning the title. “It was my best score ever. I love this course. It’s in great shape. And my teammates gave me great support, as always.” Go tied for third at last year’s Championship, also at Callawassie.
Xavier (891) was led by sophomore Jose Montaño, who tied Berman for third at 214 (69-70-75). Third-place DePaul (896) was led by sophomore Freddy Thomas, who tied for fifth at 219 (77-71-71).
Marquette took fourth place with a score of 898. The Golden Eagles’ leader was senior Nick Nelson, who shot 222 for the three rounds, six over par. St. John’s (899) was fifth, anchored by freshman Seung Yub Baek, who finished eighth at 221, five over par. Butler and Seton Hall tied for sixth at 901. Butler’s top finisher was junior Joey Arcuri, was seventh at 220. Only 10 strokes separated runner-up Xavier and the Butler-Seton Hall tie. Villanova (926) was eighth and Creighton (946) finished ninth.
Team Scores – Final
1. Georgetown 290-285-289--8642.
2. Xavier 299-291-301--891
3. DePaul 300-301-295--896
4. Marquette 299-293-306--898
5. St. John’s 311-294-294--899
T6. Butler 305-292-304--901
T6. Seton Hall 305-294-302--901
8. Villanova 311-305-310--926
9. Creighton 308-312-326--946
Top Individual Scores – Final
1. Lloyd Jefferson Go, Seton Hall 70-65-75--210
2. Sam Madsen, Georgetown 70-70-73--213
T3. Cole Berman, Georgetown 72-71-71--214
T3. Jose Montaño, Xavier 69-70-75--214
T5. Freddy Thomas, DePaul 77-71-71--219
T5. Harrison Rhoades, Georgetown 73-73-73--219
7. Joey Arcuri, Butler 73-71-76--220
8. Seung Yub Baek, St. John’s 74-74-73--221
T9. Jack Musgrave, Georgetown 75-71-76--222
T9. Troy Evans, St. John’s 78-72-72--222
T9. Michael Conforti, St. John’s 75-74-73--222
T9. Nick Nelson, Marquette 74-72-76--222