Younts holds on for first win, UNCG second at Cavalier Classic

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – UNC Greensboro freshman Drew Younts picked up the first win of his college career Sunday when he carded a tournament total of 214 to win the Cavalier Classic and help the Spartans to a second-place team finish Sunday.

Younts, a native of Stokesville, NC, entered Sunday with an eight-shot lead and needed every bit of it to hold on for the victory. After rounds of 68 and 69 on Saturday, Younts shot a final round 77 on Sunday. However, it was enough for a two-shot victory over VCU’s Lanto Griffin and the rest of the field for his first college win.

As a team, UNCG finished second behind tournament-host Virginia. The Cavaliers shot 868 on their home course, followed by UNCG’s 892 and VCU’s 894. UNCG’s David Heyen shot a 70 on Sunday to help the Spartans to a final day 297. Heyen’s score was the second-best of the day, bettered only by a 69 by VCU’s Rafael Campos.

UNCG’s Nathan Stamey continued a roller coaster tournament and rallied to finish seventh. Stamey was third after the first round, shooting a 71, but dropped to 13th after a second round 78 on Saturday afternoon. However, the junior from Canton, NC, carded a final round 73 to finish tied for seventh and record his third Top 10 finish this season.

UNCG’s J.D. Bass, who won the Southern Conference’s individual title last Tuesday, finished tied for 28th. After having his streak of seven straight Top 20 finishes snapped on Sunday, he will have to wait until next week to find out if he is selected for an NCAA individual at-large bid as UNCG is not expected to be among the 81 teams picked for the tournament. Those selections come on the evening of May 7.

AGATE

TEAM STANDINGS: Virginia 868, UNCG 892, VCU 894, Richmond 898, Maryland 900, William & Mary 914, Central Arkansas 921, Boston College 922, James Madison 927, Belmont 938.

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS

Top 10: 1. Drew Younts (UNCG) 68-69-77=214; 2. Lanto Griffin (VCU) 73-72-71=216; 3. Greg Carlin (Virginia) 74-71-72=217; T-4. Conrad Von Borsig  (Virginia) 73-72-74=219; T-4. Chris Gold (Maryland) 72-75-72=219; 6. Daniel Kefale (Virginia) 78-69=74=221; T-7. Nathan Stamey (UNCG) 71-78-73=222; T-7. Tim Courtney (Richmond) 74-73-75=222; T-7. Eamonn McLoughlin (Virginia) 72-79-71=222; T-10. Jordan Utley (Richmond) 71-78-75=224; T-10. Robert Reed (Boston College) 69-78-77=224; T-10. Matt Schall (Maryland) 73-73-78=224; T-10. Kyle Stough (Virginia) 73-73-78=224; T-10. Ryan Price (William & Mary) 74-71-79=224.

Other UNCG Golfers: T-15. David Heyen 80-76-70=226; T-28. J.D. Bass 76-77-77=230; 52. Will Bowman 83-83-81=247.

- UNCG -