For Immediate Release
(March 13, 2000)
Contact: Jamie Joss (315) 228-7566

Navy Golf Unanimous Choice for
2000 Patriot League Title

Bethlehem, PA – In a vote of the League’s head coaches, the United States Naval Academy’s Golf team has been selected to win the 2000 Patriot League title.  The Midshipman received a maximum of six first-place votes for a total of 36 points to outdistance Army who earned 27 total points with one first-place nod.  In the No. 3 position is Lehigh with 25 points.  Following in order are Bucknell (20 pts.), Colgate (19), Holy Cross (14), and Lafayette (6).
Navy, the defending Patriot League Champion, will be led by All-Patriot League selection Pete Lauder (Fullerton, CA) who won the 1998 tournament with a score of 218 (75-70-73).  Lauder will be joined by teammates Stuart Usry (Alpharetta, GA) and Joel Almquist (El Cajon, CA) who also earned All-League honors.  Usry shot a 226 (76-77-73-226) for a fourth place finish while Almquist signed his scorecard for a 229 (80-73-76) to finish in the top ten.
Other All-Patriot League selections returning to the links this season are Lehigh’s Brad Ispass (Oceanside, NJ) and Bowen Osborn (Wayzata, MN), Holy Cross’ Chad Rusek (Adams, MA), and Colgate junior Eli Zackheim (Portland, OR). 
The 2000 Patriot League Championship Tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 15-16 at Bucknell University.  The team claiming the title will earn an automatic bid to the 2000 NCAA Regional Tournament.
The Patriot League has move the golf season from the fall to the spring in order to qualify for an automatic bid to the NCAA tournaments.  Last year’s results are from the fall of 1998.

2000 Men’s Golf Preseason Coaches’ Poll

Rank Institution Pts.
1. Navy (6) 36
2. Army (1) 27
3. Lehigh 25
4. Bucknell 20
5. Colgate 19
6. Holy Cross 14
7. Lafayette 6
(#) = First-place votes