Sept. 11, 2005

In their first tournament of the season, the Patriots golf squad won the the36-hole Navy Fall Golf Invitational. The Patriots won the 15-team tournament that took place at the par 71, 6,611 yard US Naval Golf Course by 17 strokes over second-place finishers George Washington and Towson.

Mason was tied with Sienna College after the first round on Saturday, shooting a 293 led by a one-under par 70 by senior Mike Kirby. They bested that mark by eight strokes with a 285, the second-best 18-hole mark in Mason history. The 578 two-day total beat the previous record 579 shot at the JMU Invitational in the fall of 2001.

All the Patriot golfers finished in the Top 20 led by junior Nick DeSimone, finishing eighth overall with a three over par 145 (73-72). Sophomore JJ Amoruso finished 10th overall, shooting a 75 in round one but came back with a par 71 on Sunday. Two Patriots finished tied for 14th were Dan Hurley and Ryan Younger with two day totals of 148. Senior Mike Kirby finished 18th with a 70-79=149.

The team carded 34 birdies in the two days, 14 more than the next several opponents. Amoruso led the team with nine and Kirby and Younger each scored eight birdies. Amoruso also led all players scoring an average of 2.83 from the par threes.

The golfers travel to Musket Ridge Golf Course to play in the Towson Invitational on Monday and Tuesday September 19-20.

George Mason 293-285=578
T8 Nick DeSimone 73-72=145
T10 JJ Amoruso 75-71=146
T14 Dan Hurley 75-73=148
T14 Ryan Younger 79-69=148
T18 Mike Kirby 70-79=149