Jacksonville, Boston College, Campbell Come Away Winners at Golfweek Program Challenge

September 13, 2016

Golfweek Program Challenge Winners Myrtle Beach Golf[MEN'S RESULTS; WOMEN'S RESULTS]

On the men’s side, Jacksonville University won the Myrtle Beach golf tournament for the second consecutive year, besting Campbell by two strokes with a -32 under par team score of 832 at True Blue. The Dolphins played excellent all week – 13 of the team’s 15 rounds were under par – highlighted by the performance of senior David Wicks, who won medalist honors for the second straight year as well. 

Wicks played sterling golf, shooting rounds of 69-66-68, finishing 13-under par, two strokes clear of teammate Raul Pereda and Jacksonville State’s Camilo Aguado. The victory was Wicks’ fifth at Jacksonville and his 14th as a collegian (he played two years of junior college golf). 

On the women’s side, Boston College and Campbell entered the final round tied and remained that way until the Myrtle Beach golf tournament’s final hole. BC’s Lois Kaye Go capped her third round 71 with a par on Caledonia’s memorable 18th hole, which gave the Eagles the team crown after Campbell’s Nadine White made bogey playing alongside her in the final group. 

The victory for BC, which starts two freshmen, two sophomores and a junior, was its second in as many starts, announcing to the nation the Eagles could be a player on the national scene. 

Speaking of national relevance, Moorhead State’s Anna Magnusson appears poised to make some noise after winning medalist honors with a 54-hole total of 3-under par, three shots better than Jacksonville State’s Valentina Giraldo. 

The win was sweet redemption for Magnusson, who fired a course record 64 at Caledonia last year, only to shoot a final round 78 and finish six strokes off the pace. 

BC’s win denied Campbell’s quest to repeat as champions on the women’s side, but by virtue of finishing second in both the men’s and women’s competition, the Camels easily won the program challenge for the fourth time.

The team competition is what makes the 32-team Golfweek Program Challenge unique as it awards a trophy to the program with the lowest combined men’s and women’s score. Playing two of America’s top 100 public courses is also a powerful draw for an event that attracted program’s from both sides of the Mississippi River. 

“These two courses are always in such great shape,” said Lance Ringler, who runs the event for Golfweek. “They are both attractive (venues) and people talk about it.”