BLACKSBURG—Christopher
Newport University rallied from an 11-stroke deficit to catch the University of
Lynchburg in the Virginia State Golf Association Intercollegiate Championship
on Tuesday at Blacksburg Country Club, then won a one-hole playoff to claim the
title.
Both the Captains and Hornets finished with two-day
aggregate totals of 580. CNU won the playoff hole on No. 17, giving the
Captains their second Intercollegiate title in the last four years.
It was CNU’s sixth title overall, with the others coming in and
1991, 1992, 1994, 2001, 2016.
Averett University’s Elias Haavisto earned individual
medalist honors, posting 67-69 for a two-day, 8-under 136 to finish one shot
clear of Lynchburg’s Harry Hodgert. Haavisto won by limiting damage during his
round. He finished with five birdies and two bogeys. Hodgert carded seven
birdies but also struggled to five bogeys on Tuesday.
Haavisto was the first Averett golfer to win an individual
title since Andy Thorne in 2014.
CNU got a huge boost from Robb Kinder, who made an eagle on
the par-3 3rd hole on Tuesday—his final hole of the day—to get the
Captains into the playoff. On Tuesday, Kevin Quinto led the way for the
Captains with a 70, followed by Alex Price at 71, Will Snyder at 72 and Kinder
at 73. In Monday’s first round, Joey Corlett paced CNU with a 71, followed by
Price (73), Snyder (74) and Quinto (75).
Hodgert (67-70) led the Hornets on both days. Lynchburg
built a nine-stroke lead over Averett—which finished third at 584—on the first
day behind Hodgert, Carter Old (71), Noah Siman (72) and Steven Walsh (72). On
Tuesday, Old posted a 74, and Chase Petri and Noah Siman shot 77.
The University of Mary Washington returned a two-day 585 to
finish fourth, with Virginia Union and Washington tying for fifth at 596.