FLOURTOWN, Pa. - Campbell junior Zak Drescher fired a final round 73 to win the individual title, and the Camels came from four shots back to claim the team title at the Big Five Invitational just outside of Philadelphia, on Sunday afternoon.
Drescher followed up his first round 67 with a two-over par round on the final day to claim the individual title at two-under par (67-73-140). He was the only player in the 90-player field to finish the event in red numbers. The win was the first of his collegiate career as his previous best was a third place finish at the Seascape Collegiate last season.
Campbell (297-290-587) and Yale trailed first round leader Richmond by four shots heading into the final round, but the Camels fired a tournament best team score of 290 to claim the tournament by four strokes over Richmond in the 17-team field.
Matt Moot fired the best round of the day for the Camels with an even-par 71 on the 6,827 yard Par-71, Philadelphia Cricket Club layout, to finish in a tie for 16th (78-71-149). Moot, a junior from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, recorded three birdies and three bogeys on Sunday.
Victor Hielte continued his solid play on the season as he fired his second straight 74 to finish in a tie for 11th (74-74-148). Vaita Guillaume also improved on the final day as he fired a one-over par 72, to finish in a tie for 21st (78-72-150).
Mark Ballo of St. John's finished in second at one-over par (72-71-143) and Robert Cronheim of Cornell finished in third (73-71-144).
The victory was the first of the season for the Camels through three events. Their best finish previously was a fourth place finish at the Sea Trail Intercollegiate, just two weeks ago. It was their first team victory since the Atlantic Sun Championships just last spring.
Campbell returns to action October 19-20 as they will participate in the Georgetown Intercollegiate.
The Big Five Invitational
Wissahickon Course at the Philadelphia Cricket Club / Flourtown, Pennsylvania
October 10-11, 2009 / Par 71, 6,827 Yards
Final Team Results: 1. Campbell 297-290-587, 2. Richmond 293-298-591, 3. Yale 297-297-594, T4. Pennsylvania 309-291-600, T4. Binghamton 306-294-600, 6. Harvard 301-300-601, 7. West Florida 299-309-608, 8. Cornell 298-311-609, 9. Villanova 311-302-613, 10. St. Johns 308-306-614, T11. Boston College 309-306-615, T11. Navy 308-307-615, T13. Temple 304-312-616, T13. Princeton 303-313-616, 15. Drexel 304-316-620, 16. St. Joseph's 319-309-628, 17. La Salle 354-351-705
Final Individual Leaders: 1. Zak Drescher (Campbell) 67-73-140, 2. Mark Ballo (St. John's) 72-71-143, 3. Robert Cronheim (Cornell) 73-71-144, T4. Eric Plisko (Temple) 70-75-145, T4. Daniel Walker (Richmond) 72-73-145, 6. Evan Beirne (St. John's) 72-74-146, T7. Andrew Marler (Binghamton) 74-73-147, T7. Colin St. Maxens (Penn) 82-65-147, T7. Mark Pollack (Harvard) 74-73-147, T7. Ben Wescoe (Yale) 71-76-147
Other Campbell Individuals: T11. Victor Hielte 74-74-148, T16. Matt Moot 78-71-149, T21. Vaita Guillaume 78-72-150, T59. Mitch Gray 80-77-157
Courtesy: Will Bratton