LONDON, Ont. -- For the second straight year, the Western Mustangs were crowned champions at the WLU/UW Men's Invitational. And this win may have been even more impressive than the last.
The Mustangs battled cool, rainy and windy conditions to shoot a two-day total of 589, nine strokes ahead of co-host Waterloo. Third-year player Johnny Hall led the way with a combined score of 144 (73, 71).
Full Results
Western got out to a great start on Saturday at Whistle Bear Golf Club (Waterloo's home course), as Hall, Andrew Zanatta (74), Greg Gabel (74) and Charles Fitzsimmons (76) combined for a Day one total of 297 -- four shots ahead of Toronto and six ahead of Waterloo.
Hall led the charge again on Sunday at Rebel creek (Laurier's home course), shooting a one-under-par 71. Fitzsimmons, Western's captain, also shot a 71, and the Western top four posted a tournament-best 297 on Day two to capture the championship.
A two-day total of 144 earned Hall an individual silver medal, behind Waterloo's Simon McInnis, who won the individual championship with a 143 total (71, 72).
Western head coach Jim Waite said his team's performance bodes well for the coming tournaments.
"They played exceptional golf under adverse conditions -- much like what might be expected at the OUA championships in two weeks," Waite said.
But before that, the Mustangs will play a pair of tournaments -- one on Oct. 5 at the Cutten Club in Guelph, and one hosted by McMaster University at Crosswinds in Burlington.
Final Results - WLU/UW Invitational, Oct. 3-4, 2009
Team Standings - Men
1. Western, 589
2. Waterloo, 598
3. Toronto, 604
4. Laurier, 618
5. Laurentian, 619
6. Queen's, 625
7. Waterloo (2), 626
8. McMaster, 637
9. Guelph, 642
10. Carleton, 659
