Oct. 18, 2005
Mason's Mike Kirby was the leader to start the third and final round at the first annual Frank Landrey Intercollegiate Invitational and he didn't falter, winning his second straight tournament and catapulting Mason to a second-place finish. Kirby shot a one-over-par 73 on the 7,059 yard Poplar Grove Golf Course to edge out Towson's Jeff Castle (215), who shot the best round on the final day with a two-under-par 70 to fall one stroke behind Kirby (214).
The senior had a second-best 14 birdies during the 54-hole tournament and was second on par 4 scoring, averaging 3.97 (-1). In five tournaments this fall, Kirby is averaging a career-best 70.7 strokes per round, including 69.3 stroke average in the last three tournaments alone.
Host school Liberty had a 12 stroke lead heading into today's competition, but the lead proved insurmountable as the Flames won the inaugural tournament by 10 strokes. George Mason began today's round in fourth place, only four strokes off second-place Maryland. The Patriots (300-296-293=889) shot their best round of the tournament, a 293, and cut into Maryland four-stroke lead to finish in a tie for second with the Terps (304-288-297=889).
Dan Hurley shot his best round of the tournament, a one-under-par 71 to finish tied for 12th with a 225 (81-73-71). He finished tied for seventh in pars with 32. Junior Nick DeSimone had an even-par final round to finish tied for 16th, moving up 16 spots in the individual standings on the day, finishing with a 227 (75-80-72). The Patriots Mike Cavanagh recorded 11 birdies for the tournament, but only one on the final round to finish tied for 27th carding a 232 (78-72-82). David Murnane shot a five-over-par 77 and finished with a 241 (77-87-77).
The Patriots finished with one of the best fall seasons in school history with two tournament wins and two second place finishes. The only other time the Patriots won two tournaments in a season was during the 2000-01 season.
Fin. School Scores
1 Liberty University 289 291 299 879
2 George Mason Univ. 300 296 293 889
Univ. of Maryland 304 288 297 889
4 Towson University 304 308 288 900
5 Longwood University 310 293 303 906
Liberty - B 298 300 308 906
7 James Madison Univ. 303 291 313 907
8 Detroit Mercy, U. of 309 299 305 913
9 Rutgers University 300 305 317 922
10 Temple University 318 321 315 954
George Mason
1 Mike Kirby 70 71 73 214(-2)
T12 Dan Hurley 81 73 71 225(+9)
T16 Nick DeSimone 75 80 72 227(+11)
T27 Mike Cavanagh 78 72 82 232(+16)
T45 David Murnane 77 87 77 241(+25)
