In this weekend's gusting wind and unseasonably cold weather, the top squad of the Virginia men's golf team finished tied for second place in the 18th Cavalier Classic at the University's own Birdwood Golf Course.
Virginia shot a team 893 (+29) to finish even with North Carolina State on Sunday. The score was just one shot off the lead of the first-place finisher, William & Mary (+28).
The second-place Virginia squad was one of two Cavalier teams participating in the event. Despite the fact that the Orange squad tied N.C. State and the Blue squad finished fifth behind Maryland with a score of 919, the Cavaliers were not satisfied with the result.
"We did not play great today," fourth-year Kevin O'Connell said. "It was a tough day, and William & Mary had a little extra to beat us by one. It was a long day -- cold and windy."
The conditions did affect team play as the Classic progressed. By Saturday afternoon, during the second round, the wind and temperature were affecting the balls.
"I think it affected us big time," O'Connell said. "It is always difficult to play in the wind, especially the cold. The ball does not travel as far. So I think it affected the whole field -- the scores were a lot higher than usual."
Despite the difficult playing conditions, both Virginia squads' performances proved to be bright spots.
"I think our guys did well today for the most part," coach Bowen Sargent said. "We had two guys that played real well but our fourth and fifth scorers did not play as well as I would have liked."
Individually, Gary Barton of William & Mary finished first in the field of 62 competitors. Barton and Taylor Crosby of N.C. State finished tied for first with a score of 218 after three rounds of play. In a one-hole playoff, Barton shot par to win the top individual spot for the Classic.
Virginia sophomore Dan Gabel was the highest-finishing Cavalier. His 219 (+3) earned him a three-way tie for third place. He was followed by junior Brad Tilley (+4) and freshman Greg Carlin (+7). Rounding out the top-20 players were O'Connell (+13) and junior Carter Henderson (+15).
"I just did not have it this week," O'Connell said. "It is not anything in particular, but I was not sharp."
With the second-place finish in the 2005 Cavalier Classic, Virginia hopes to improve its chances of qualifying for the NCAA Regionals in May.
"It would have been nice to win," O'Connell said. "I would not say that we helped our chances for Regionals, but I would not say that we hurt them that drastically."
Sargent said he expects some "sleepless nights" as the time approaches.
"I think that we will have a better idea when another Regional vote occurs. I will feel better if we can get the right position [in the district] -- we were ninth in the previous District vote," he said.
As the teams for the NCAA Regionals are set, the Cavaliers hope they will have the chance to participate.
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