GW golf started its spring season on a mediocre note this month, as the team finished in the middle of the pack in two tournaments and dominated a dual meet.
The Colonials finished eighth out of 15 teams in the inaugural GW Invitational March 20-21 at Swan Point Yacht and Country Club in Issue, Md. The team did nothing special but also did nothing to be ashamed of either, head coach Scott Allen said.
American University won the tournament with an overall score of 626 (50 strokes over par), while GW finished at 660 (84-over). St. Joseph’s (658) edged out the Colonials. GW topped the only other A-10 school in the tournament, Duquesne (687).
Freshman Bryan Derdenger had the best overall score for the Colonials, shooting a 74 and 79 in the two rounds. His combined score of 153 (7-over) was good enough for fourth out of 86 golfers and placed him only two strokes behind first-place finisher Wes Gribas of American.
Freshman Tim Blankvoort had the next best score for GW, finishing with a 156. He was followed by Michael Goldman, Ryan Day and Gavin Parsons. GW’s B-team, whose scores do not count in the NCAA standings, finished in fourth place, much higher than the A-team.
During spring break, the Colonials traveled to Bermuda to take on Fordham in a dual meet. GW won easily, shooting a 314 to Fordham’s 357. Sophomore Darren Ressler got his first start of the year and performed well, finishing with a 74. Allen also said walk-on Tohgo Saegusa played well against Fordham, shooting the B-team’s lowest score.
The Colonials finished 16th out of 24 teams in the College of William & Mary Kingsmill Invitational March 8. James Madison won the meet with a score of 297 (13-over), and the Colonials shot a 330 (46-over) in the tournament. Weather hampered play. The second day of the tournament was canceled because of the inclement conditions, and the first day was not much better.
Parsons had the best score for GW, shooting a 78 and finishing in 21st place. He was followed by Day, Blankvoort, Bryan Derdenger and Tim Derdenger.
“I’m a bit disappointed in the way the twins and Blankvoort respond to adversity,” Allen said. “Once they see that they are not going to make their ideal score, they kind of lose their edge. They have to learn to play through the tough times and keep on trying through the whole tournament.”
