May 18, 2002

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Army golf team finished its 2001-02 season with a 26th place finish at the 2002 NCAA Central Regional at the Pleasant Valley Golf Course in Little Rock, Ark. Saturday.

Captain Ryan Hazelton shot the best round of any Army golfer this weekend in the final 18-holes with a two-over-par 72. Hazelton concluded his collegiate career at his first NCAA Regional, shooting a three-round 237 (85-85-72). He tied for 117th place.

Freshman Scott Manley took Army's highest finish tying for 108th place. In the final round, the Patriot League "Player of the Year" shot an 81. Manley shot a 54-hole aggregate of 234 (76-77-81-234).

Kevin Lee followed as the third Army golfer tied for 127th place with a three-day 243. Lee tied Manley for the best score in the second round with a 77. Lee shot an 85 in the first round and a 83 in the final 18-holes.

Pete Mangold and David Crawford headed into the final 18-holes after shooting matching 80s in the first round and matching 84s in the second. In the final round, Mangold shot an 80 to finish 130th with a stroke total of 244. Crawford shot an 88 in the final 18-holes for 136th place.

The Black Knights began the day finishing the final six holes of the second round. Friday's second round featured two rain delays before being called for darkness.

Finishing tied for first place at the 2002 Central Regional were Oklahoma State and Purdue with a 54-hole total of 865. Purdue's Lee Williamson took home the medallist honors with a 209 (70-67-72).

The top 10 teams advancing to the NCAA Championship are Oklahoma State, Purdue, Tulsa, Illinois, North Carolina State, Toledo, Baylor, TCU, Virginia Tech, Colorado and Kansas. The 2002 championship will be help at the Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio May 29-June 1. Ohio State will host collegiate golf's biggest event. The NCAA Championship will be determined after 72 holes of play. The NCAA will award the top four-team finishes and the top 15 individuals.

All three regionals produced co-champions today: Oklahoma State and Purdue at the Central; Clemson and Georgia Tech in the East; and New Mexico and Washington in the West.

Army also participated in the East Regional in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1995 and the NCAA Championship in 1986. The Black Knight's highest finish of 16th was in 1992 at the East Regional held at Colgate. Army took 31st place at the NCAA Championship in 1986.

The Black Knights received the Patriot League's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. Army won the league championship by an impressive 29 strokes ending Navy's four-year reign as champion.

With Army's 26th place finish, it concluded a very successful season. The Black Knights won both the West Point/Habecker Invitational and the Patriot League Championship. Army's Hazelton won the individual honors at the West Point/Habecker Invitational. Manley won the league championship and was later named Patriot League "Player of the Year." Joining Manley on the all-Patriot League Team was Lee, Mangold, Hazelton and Crawford. Jimmy Clevenger was also named Patriot League "Coach of the Year."

TOP FIVE STANDINGS/ARMY
1.  Oklahoma State	287	281	297	865
    Purdue      	290	279	296	865
3.  Tulsa       	296	283	297	876
4.  Illinois    	293	290	296	879
5.  NC State    	294	286	300	880
26. Army        	319	318	316	953

ARMY GOLFERS
T108.	Scott Manley	76	77	81	234
T117.	Ryan Hazelton	85	80	72	237
T127.	Kevin Lee	83	77	83	243
130.	Pete Mangold	80	84	80	244
136.	David Crawford	80	84	88	252