St. Andrews Golfers Compete against Hollins and Franklin & Marshall
Driggers and Gissurarson lead Knights Women's & Men's Squads

March 16, 2009

Men's Results
Women's Results
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WAGRAM, N.C.—The St. Andrews men’s and women’s golf teams battled some of the most difficult weather conditions they will ever compete in during Sunday’s one-day match against Hollins University and Franklin & Marshall College at the Deercroft Golf & Country Club.

All three competing scores braved the wet and chilly elements that including temperatures in the 40’s and a constant rain fall that nearly reached a half inch by the end of the day.

The SAPC men’s “A” team won the men’s division with a 309 total. Franklin & Marshall had two teams compete in the men’s tourney taking second and third place followed by the Knights “B” team in fourth place with a 378.

The Lady Knights golf team took third place in the women’s division. Hollins won the women’s team title with Franklin & Marshall claiming the runner-up spot.

“St. Andrews is made up of competitors,” said SAPC second year head coach Lisa Becka. “They don't complain about the weather, they just play. Their attitudes on the course suggest they are simply enjoying a little liquid sunshine.”

Junior Thordur Gissurarson (Reykjavik, Iceland) had the most success on the rain-soaked Deercroft Golf Club Sunday with the lowest score out of 19 competitors playing from the men’s tee-markers that measured 6,573-yards. Gissurarson fired a two-over par 74 to win the individual title by two strokes over the Diplomats’ Andrew Woods. Gissurarson started the tournament with a double-bogie on the first hole but played the final 17 holes at even par thanks to a team-high four birdies on the day.

“It was like hitting a ball in a swimming pool,” commented Gissurarson.

Senior Dwight Meeker (Clermont, Fla.) and sophomore Jack McClelland (Guilford, Surrey, England) tied for third place with matching rounds of six-over par 78. Meeker and McClelland both highlighted their rounds with an eagle on the par-five 11th.

"Bad weather can hurt or help you in golf, depends on how you choose to use it," added Meeker.

Sophomore Rafael Garcia (Puebla, Mexico) was the fourth Knight to break 80 in the difficult conditions with birdie on the last hole for a seven-over par 79. Freshman Matt Tanea (Newark, N.Y.) wrapped up play for the Knights ‘A’ squad with an 86.

Freshman Eric Hartstein (Nappanee, Ind.) paced the four Knights golfers that made up the “B” team with an 80. Freshman Christopher Abt (Sterling, Va.) tied Tanea with an 86; sophomore Joshua McGuire (Houlton, Maine) added a 92; and sophomore Bradley Martin (Fayetteville, N.C.) completed play with a 120.

On the women’s side, sophomore Amy Driggers (Wallace, S.C.) finished third out of 13 golfers to lead the Lady Knights with an 89. After carding a 47 on the front side, Driggers moved up the leader board with a 42 on the back side that included birdies on holes 11 and 13.

"I now know what it feels like to be a duck,” expressed Driggers. “I'm not sure if I played golf today or paddled around in a pond; but either way, I had fun!"

Sophomore Mariann Stark (Virginia Beach, Va.) was the next lowest Lady Knight on the women’s layout that measured 5,865-yards. Stark signed for a round of 99. Sophomores Sam Frazer (Goldsboro, N.C.) and Lindsey Gates (Santa Taula, Calif.) completed tournament scoring for the St. Andrews women’s team.