April 18, 2002

WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army men's golf team will have many advantages heading into this weekend's Patriot League Tournament. Since getting an early jump on the season with trips down south, the Black Knights have capitalized on their strong competition and have shown much improvement. They currently sit among the leaders in the Northeast region and had a strong third place finish at last weekend's Eastern Championships.

Lending a helping hand to the Black Knights quest, the West Point Golf Course will play host to the 2002 championship.

"I think playing at home is an advantage for us. We do not have to travel and it gives Army time to get in a few extra rounds. Playing at home also means we will not miss class and our team will not have to catch up on missed work," says head coach Jimmy Ray Clevenger.

This year's six-man squad will feature senior leadership. With three Black Knights getting ready to graduate, they will be competing in the Patriot League Championship for the final time. They know with a win this weekend their season will be extended and their quest for their first automatic bid to the NCAA Championship in their four years at the Academy will be completed.

Another advantage for the Black Knights is four of their six participants have competed and had impressive finishes at the conference championship in past years. The Black Knight return two-time All-Patriot League selection Ryan Hazelton and one-time selection Pete Mangold to this year's contingent.

With a veteran team on hand, the top five Army averages are separated by only a half a stroke after 14 rounds this spring.

"If Ryan Hazelton, David Crawford, Pete Mangold, Kevin Lee and Scott Manley take their game to the next level, we will be a top contender for the title," says Clevenger.

"Everyday some else steps up. We are a more well-rounded team this year. It takes the pressure off one individual player."

Hazelton, in his past three conference championships, has finished in the top 15 each time. His best finish came in the spring of 2001 when he took eighth place and was the top Army golfer with a 54-hole 229. The last time Hazelton competed on the W.P.G.C., the captain won the West Point/Habecker Invitational, which took place last fall. Among his achievements at Army, Hazelton also holds the best 18-hole score of any Patriot League golfer, 65, set at the Dartmouth Invitational in 1998.

Also a three-time participant at the Patriot League Championship, Mangold has the highest finish of any returning Black Knight golfer. In 2000, Mangold tied for sixth place with a three round 228. The other senior in the mix is two-time participant David Crawford. Last year Crawford just missed an all-league nod with his 12th place 231.

Kevin Lee, a junior, has vastly improved this spring. At his first Patriot League Championship last year, Lee finished 25th out of field of 42.

The newest member to Army's regular five, freshman Scott Manley, has been an instrumental addition to the Black Knight squad. Army golf has been in Manley's blood since he was born. His father Jeff Manley is a 1978 graduate of the Academy and was a four-time letterwinner in golf at Army. The younger Manley looks to follow his father's success and make his own mark in the Black Knight record book.

The final member of the Black Knight squad has yet to be determined. Competing for the final spot are junior Anthony Towne and freshman Jason Owenby. For both it will be the first competition of the spring but both played in the fall. If he was to compete, Towne would be a fifth Black Knight with experience at the conference championship. He took 32nd last season.

In addition, a win at the 2002 Patriot League Championship would also halt archrival Navy's four-year reign of supremacy. The Mids were picked to repeat as champion, according to the 2002 Patriot League preseason golf poll.

"Four teams have a good shot at winning the Patriot League Tournament. Navy is favored and Lehigh is not far behind them. I also think that we (Army) and Colgate are also in the contention," says Clevenger.

"I think it will come down to the team that gets hot and plays well. I am hoping that with our success on the West Point Golf Course in the fall, we will be that team that plays its best golf."