JMU Men's Golf to Compete in the Cavalier Classic

Saturday, April 30

Birdwood Golf Course

TBA

James Madison University

CAVALIER CLASSIC

4/29/2011 2:58:00 PM | Men's Golf

CAVALIER CLASSIC: The James Madison men's golf team will have their closest tournament of the season Saturday, April 30 when they participate in the Cavalier Classic. It will be a two-round, 36-hole tournament played at the Birdwood Golf Course (Par 72/6,875 yards) in Charlottesville, Va., hosted by the University of Virginia. This is the 24th-annual Cavalier Classic, with eight teams competing as well as individual competitors from other universities. The host Cavaliers won the tournament last year and the Dukes came in eighth out of the 11-team field and fourth out of 18 teams in 2009. Chris Wellde has competed in the tournament twice and Rich Leeper, Mike Smith, and Chad Mozingo all competed last season for the first time.

CAA CHAMPIONSHIP: This year at the CAA Championship, the James Madison men's golf team placed fourth out of the 11 teams. The Dukes finished the tournament with rounds of 296-308-298 for a total of 38-over 902. The 2011 CAA Golf Championship, held April 22-24 in Pinehurst, N.C., was played on the Pinehurst #8 course (Par 72/7,092 yards).

UNFORESEEN ISSUE: Competing with five players allows the teams to use the lowest four for the team score. After the first round, the Dukes were down to four players when Chad Mozingo had a re-occurrence of his shoulder injury from the Rutherford Intercollegiate. With four players, the Dukes were unable to drop their highest individual rounds for the second and third round.

COACHES REACTION: "The guys played well this week but we ran into some bad luck the second and third day with Chad's injury," Head Coach Jeff Forbes said. "I thought the team battled really well considering we were only playing with four. I am excited about next season, with everyone from this lineup returning. I think we will have a good shot at winning the CAA title next year."

HOW THEY DID: The Dukes fought valiantly as they played with only four players after first round tournament co-leader junior Chad Mozingo had to withdraw in the second round due to a recurring shoulder injury from the Penn State tournament. Madison stepped up in the final round and posted a 10-over 298 for a 38-over 902 score. Sophomore Ryan Vince led the Dukes as he tied for seventh after a 2-over 74 in the final round put him at 5-over 221 for the tournament. Junior Mike Smith moved up to a tie for 11th after his third-straight 3-over 75 put him at 9-over 225. Junior Chris Wellde shot a 4-over 76 to place 24th at 14-over 230. Sophomore Rich Leeper cut 10 shots off his second round score and had the best final round for JMU with a 1-over 73 to tie for 30th at 17-over 233. Opening-round co-leader Josh Brock of UNC Wilmington shot his second consecutive 1-under 71 to take home medalist honors at 2-under 214, three shots ahead of Rocky Khara of VCU as the runner-up at 1-over 217.

THIS YEAR AT THE RUTHERFORD: The Dukes moved up one spot in the final round of the 2011 Rutherford Intercollegiate to f