Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The University of North Carolina Wilmington Club Golf team won the National Collegiate Club Golf Association (NCCGA) National Championship at the Independence Golf Club in Richmond, Va., Nov. 7-8. UNCW was one of 13 teams from eight states that qualified for the championship tournament. Other competitors included East Carolina University, UNC Chapel Hill and Virginia Tech.

Four of the UNCW club team's competing players made the NCCGA All Tournament Team, made up of the top eight players in the tournament. Alex Harris, who placed first overall, finished with a total score of 146 (scoring a 71 on the first day and 75 on the second day). Other UNCW members of the All Tournament Team are Chris Faulkner, Clint Azor and Erik Ehlert.

UNCW Club Golf president Matt Faulkner, brother of Chris, said he has been amazed by the transformation of the club from its establishment in 2004, when they had difficulty getting enough players to field a competitive team, to reaching championship level this year.

"This is by far the best semester we have had for participation, motivation and success," he said. "Throughout this semester, our club meshed together extremely well. We were successful in our mission of giving UNCW students the opportunity to compete in club golf at the collegiate level. It was definitely a semester to remember, with two first place finishes and one second place finish for the team, as well as two individual winners at each of our team victories.

"We've had great support from family, friends, the UNCW administration and the whole campus community," he added.

UNCW qualified for the NCCGA National Championship through strong performances at the Fall 2009 North Carolina Open in Greenville, N.C., as well as the Fall 2009 South Carolina Open in Monroe, S.C. UNCW placed first at the South Carolina Open, but fell short behind Coastal Carolina University, which took first place in the North Carolina Open.

The UNCW Sport Club Program is made up of student-run organizations administered by the Department of Campus Recreation. There are currently 26 active clubs in the Sport Club Council.

The NCCGA is the governing body for collegiate club golf teams in the U.S., coordinating and regulating competition between teams within the association. The NCCGA is made up of more than 30 collegiate members, from Massachusetts to Georgia, who interact and compete on a national level.

The NCCGA National Championship marks the end of club golf competition for the fall semester. UNCW Club Golf will be back in action in the spring.

Media Contact:
Dana Fischetti, media relations manager, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu