Golf Wins Patriot League Title

Sunday, May 1

Annapolis, MD

9 AM

Army West Point

Patriot League Championship

Golf Wins Patriot League Title

May 01, 2016 | Men's Golf

FINAL RESULTS

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – With a 22 stroke advantage, the Army West Point golf team won the Patriot League title Sunday afternoon with sophomore Dean Sakata clinching the individual title by nine strokes. Three Black Knights placed in the top five and all six Cadets finished in the top-30. Army not only wins the league title, but also qualifies for the NCAA Regional Tournament.

"We got off to a nice start and that was key to early in the round," said head coach Brian Watts. "We talked about hole locations and being patient heading into today as we knew par was going to be a good number. I am extremely proud of how the team fought through the elements and stayed patient. They didn't allow anything to keep them from what was in front of them and that was the next shot."

Today's win marks the 11th Patriot League title for the Army golf program and the second under head coach Watts' tenure. Watts was named the Coach of the Year for the second time of his career at Army. Sakata is the 10th Black Knight in program history to bear the Men's Golfer of the Year title.

As a team the Black Knights totaled 284-284-282—850 (-2) to outpace the field by 22 strokes. Navy was the next-best finisher with a 20-over score with Loyola rounding out the top-three with 876 strokes.

Army's team score of 850 was the second-lowest under the current scoring format at the Patriot League Championship, topped only by the Black Knights' mark of 847 in 2002. The 22-stroke victory was the fourth-biggest in League Championship history, and widest margin since Navy won by 31 strokes in 2003.

The Black Knights won the title in part because of an outstanding individual effort by sophomore Dean Sakata, who ran away from the field to claim first place and Golfer of the Year distinction with an 11-under 202, the lowest score in the history of the Patriot League Championship. Sakata shot 66-69-67, and had the best round in the field in both Saturday morning's session and again on Sunday. No other golfer in the field shot under 70 in more than one round.

"Dean was phenomenal all weekend long," said Watts. "Mentally he has been in a great place and it was nice to see him put three great rounds of golf together. Overall, it has been a great team effort all year and I know everyone couldn't play in the championships, but everyone who is a part of the team played a vital role in the success of the program."

Peter Kim was Army's next-best finisher in the fourth position with 212 (-2) strokes at one-over par. Marcus Plunkett finished the weekend in the tied for fifth spot with rounds of 74-71-70—215 (-1). Sakata, Kim and Plunkett all achieved first team All-Patriot League honors.

Eric Peng finished tied for 17th with an eight-over score of 226, while Justin Pagila (229) and Matt Plunkett (232) placed tied for 21st and tied for 28th, respectively.

Sakata led the field in par-four and par-five chances as well as birdies with 15. Kim averaged 2.78 strokes on par-three holes to lead the competition and also added 11 birdies.

The team champion receives the Patriot League's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals and the date and location will be announced at a later date.

"Our goal this year was to make it to the NCAA's, and it is great to see the hard work and commitment to our mission pay off," Watts added. "We look forward to finding out where we will be going for the regionals."

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