MOOSIC, PA- First-round leader Maryland played just well enough in the second round to hold off Central Connecticut, Princeton and Georgetown and win the 13-team Temple Invitational Golf Tournament, which concluded today at Glenmaura National Golf Club.
Coach Tom Hanna's Terrapins were paced by freshman Jeff Spradlin, who finished with a two-round total of 145 (69-76) to finish among four players tied for fourth in the medalist competition. Maryland had two other players finish among the top 20, including sophomore Bobby MacWhinnie (tied for ninth at 146) and senior John Moheyer (19th at 149). Second-place Central Connecticut's top finished was junior Bobby Myles, who tied for fourth in the individual scoring with a two-round total of 145.
In the individual competition, three players were tied at 144 at the end of 36 holes, including freshman Andrew Gallo of George Washington, junior Nick Cook of Georgetown and freshman Jason Gerken of Princeton. Gallo and Gerken scored par on the first playoff hole to eliminate Cook, who saw his five-foot par attempt slide to the left of the hole. On the second playoff hole, Gerken left his second shot in the water hazard protecting the 358-yard, par-four 18th green. On his approach that followed, Gallo flew the green, but received a fortunate bounce off a footbridge to have a playable lie for his third shot. Gallo won it with a tap-in bogey five.
The final team standings (two-round totals): 1. Maryland (588), 2. Central Connecticut State (591), 3. Princeton and Georgetown (592), 5. the host Temple Owls (596), 6. Lehigh and Saint Joseph's (602), 8. George Washington (603), 9. Duquesne (623), 10. Rutgers (626), 11. Villanova (627), 12. St. Bonaventure (631) and 13. Drexel (634).
