Sept. 25, 2005

Complete Results

BETHPAGE, N.Y. - Freshman Andrew Alexander (Rochester, Minn.) opened the tournament with a three-under-par 67 in the first round and went on to a 54-hole total of 67-72-75=214 (+4) to earn team medalist honors at the St. John's/McLaughlin tournament on Friday and Saturday. Villanova finished in a tie for sixth place out of 14 teams at the two-day event, held on the Red Course at Bethpage State Park.

Alexander was tied for 16th place overall in the field of 76 golfers, thanks in part to a sizzling first round where he posted the first below-par round of his young collegiate career. Alexander was in a three-way tie for third place after the opening round, and responded with a 2-over 72 during the second 18 holes on Friday. He then carded a 75 on Saturday to finish at 214 for the tournament.

Behind Alexander, the Wildcats received strong play from senior Colin Mahon (Rhinebeck, N.Y.) and junior Steve Arnold (Langhorne, Pa.). The pair each finished with a three-round total of 217 (+7) and were tied for 25th place. Arnold opened the tournament with consecutive scores of even-par 70 before checking in with a 77 in the final round. Mahon played at two-over-par for the final two rounds to cement his place in the individual standings.

Freshman Doug Stadler (Wexford, Pa.) carded a 70 on Saturday and was tied for 44th place with a final score of 222. He was one stroke ahead of junior Brock Bergman (Pittsburgh, Pa.), who tied for 48th place after shooting 223 over 54 holes.

Also playing in the tournament was senior captain Jonathan Hewett (Sioux Falls, S.D.), who competed as an individual. Hewett accompanied teammates Mahon and Arnold in tying for 25th place in the field. He opened on Friday with a one-under-par 69 before following up with scores of 77 and 71 over the final two rounds. He had the low score among the six players competing as individuals.

Host St. John's and Winthrop University tied for the team title with a score of 847. The Red Storm shot a 286 in the final round to make up a six-stroke deficit and surge to the top of the standings. Drexel was in third place just one stroke back, and the Dragons' Keith Snyder tied with Paul Selvaggio of Iona as individual champions. The players each shot a 207 to finish at three-under-par for the event.

Villanova had a respectful showing among four Big East schools at the tournament, finishing second behind St. John's. Connecticut (8th, 869) and Seton Hall (11th, 890) were also competing in The McLaughlin.

The Wildcats next compete in the James Madison Invitational on October 10-11 in Harrisonburg, Va.

NOTES: Villanova's team score at The McLaughlin was 25 fewer strokes than the squad's total of 888 in last year's event ... Alexander's score relative to par (+4) for the tournament was lower than that of any Wildcat in a 54-hole tournament during the entire 2004-05 season ... Head coaches Jake and Joe Moran used essentially the same lineup as the one that opened the season at the Rutgers Invitational last weekend ... In that tournament, Mahon competed as an individual while Hewett was a member of the five-man lineup ... Five of the six Wildcats who have seen action in the first two tournaments have at least one round of even par or better.