March 11, 2009

RAMS CAPTURE PALMAS DEL MAR CHAMPIONSHIP
Jargren finishes as individual runner-up

HUMACAO, PUERTO RICO – Virginia Commonwealth University golf coach Matt Ball got a positive answer on Wednesday about how well his team would handle being front-runners.

The Rams handled things quite well.

VCU went into the final day of the 54-hole Palmas Del Mar Intercollegiate tournament with a two-shot lead.  The Rams finished the event with a six-shot lead and their first team championship in two years.  Sophomore Mark Jargren (Helsingborg, Sweden) shot a 72 in the final round for a 3-under 213 total and finished as tournament runner-up.

“This is really nice and should give us a boost for the rest of the year,” Ball said.  “Under the gun, playing for the win, I thought we did a very admirable job.”

VCU shot an aggregate 3-over-par 291 on the 6,931-yard Flamboyan course in the final round for a six-over-total of 870.  That was six shots better than runner-up Notre Dame.  UNC Greensboro (+16) was third, followed by Johnson and Wales-Florida (+21), Santa Clara (+23), St. John’s and Bowling Green (+29), Old Dominion (+36), George Mason (+48) and St. Thomas Aquinas (+74).

VCU was +11 after one round of this tournament. The Rams made up 17 shots on first-day leader UNC Greensboro during the second round.

The Rams’ last team victory came Feb. 26, 27, 2007, at the Argonaut Invitational in Pensacola, Fla.

Jargren finished two shots back of winner Will Bowman of UNC Greensboro. His previous best finish was a sixth at last season's CAA Championship.

“This was a great tournament for Mark,” Ball said. “He stepped up today, was solid the whole tournament.  Par or better every day is great.   This is a guy who had been our fourth guy traditionally and it is terrific for him to lead the way.

“It’s just so nice to see all the work he’s done pay off.  He didn’t hit it pure all the time but his misses are getting much better, which keeps him in the game.  I’m really proud of Mark, really happy for him.”

VCU junior Rafael Campos (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico), playing 30 minutes from home, shot a 73 Wednesday for a 1-under total of 215.  That put him in a tie for fourth.  Junior Lanto Griffin (Blacksburg, Va.) also shot a 73 and finished in a tie for ninth at 2-over 218.

Freshman Evan Boyer (Raleigh, N.C.) was VCU’s fourth and final scorer in the final round.  He also had a 73 and finished tied for 38th at 14-over-par 230.

Junior Vincent Nadeau (Penhook, Va.) closed his tournament with a 77 and finished tied for 30th at 12-over-par 228.

“Kudos to Evan for coming in and shooting a 73. He was our first guy out and came in with a solid round,” Ball said.  “We had a 72 and three 73s as our counting scores in the final round.  In the wind of Puerto Rico, that as good enough.”

VCU leaves Puerto Rico on Thursday but not before watching Campos compete as an amateur in a PGA Tour event there.  The Rams’ next tournament is the Pinehurst Intercollegiate, which runs Sunday-Tuesday in Pinehurst, N.C.

Full results from the Palmas Del Mar Intercollegiate are available at http://www.golfstat.com/live/final/DM3544.htm