Golf: Garnet Fourth at Centennial Championships
PEACH BOTTOM, Pa. - Junior Eric Zwick and senior Michael Cullinan finished in a tie for fifth place as the Swarthmore golf team was fourth at the 2006 Centennial Conference Championships held at par-72 Pilgrim's Oak Golf Course in central Pennsylvania this past weekend. The Garnet carded a team total of 988 (329-335-324) to earn the best CC finish in school history.
McDaniel registered a 54-hole total of 952 to outdistance runner-up Franklin & Marshall (972) by 20 shots. Gettysburg (978) was third, followed by Swarthmore (988), Muhlenberg (990), Dickiinson (999), Ursinus (1,005) and Haverford (1,033). It is the second straight title for McDaniel and equals the four Centennial championships won by Gettysburg for most in the 13-year history of the Conference.
McDaniel senior Steve Perrone captured individual medalist honors, shooting a five-over-par 77 for a three-day total of 227.
Zwick shot a team-best 79 on day one, including an eagle on the par-5 sixth and two birdies to finish day one tied for sixth place. He slipped to seventh on day two with an 83 with a birdie and eight pars, and then dropped in three more birdies on the final day to card an 80 for a final score of 242.
Cullinan recorded two birdies and eight pars on day one for an 80, posted an 85 on day two, and then roared up the leader board with an even par 36 (including four birdies) on the back nine of day three to card a 77 for total score of 242. The 36 tied two other golfers for the best back nine the tournament.
Zwick and Cullinan were named First Team All-Centennial for their performances, becoming the third and fourth Swarthmore golfers to earn the honor. The two took care of business on the par 3s, finishing tied for second with an average score of 3.33 on the shorties and tied for fifth with a total of six birdies over three days. As a team, the Garnet led the tournament with an average score of 3.62 on the par 3s.
All five Swarthmore golfers finished in the top 30; freshman David Lau (84-84-86) tied for 26th with a 254, junior Zach Moody (90-84-81) tied for 28th with a 255, and junior Ed Goldstein (86-84-86) was 30th with a 256.