Van Sickle Wins Playoff To Capture Title


Van Sickle Outlasts Leon In Six-Hole Playoff To Win

Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic

 

Mike Van Sickle
Mike Van Sickle won on the sixth extra hole to claim medalist honors. (Brian Kanof Photo)

EL PASO, Texas (November 25, 2008) - It took two final round charges and a six hole playoff to decide a winner at the 34th Annual Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic on Tuesday at the par-71, 6,842-yard El Paso Country Club.

Marquette's Mike Van Sickle sank a seven foot birdie on the sixth playoff hole to capture the title.

Van Sickle used a stellar round of 63 on Tuesday to punch his way from 11th place to second place at six-under for the tournament. His 63 was one off the tournament record. Then the waiting game began.

Oklahoma State's Trent Leon began the day in sixth position at one-under par, but a pair of eagles and four birdies helped the senior from Dallas jump out to eight-under with four holes to play. Bogies on 15, 16 and 17 brought Leon back to the field. He putted for par on 18 to force a playoff with Van Sickle.

It was the 10th playoff in tournament history. The two battled stroke for stroke through the first five playoff holes, but on the sixth playoff hole, Van Sickle sank a his birdie put to take the title. In the end, it was the longest playoff in tournament history.

In all, 12 of the 27 golfers finished par or better in the tournament. The field averaged a 71.4 stroke average for the tournament, as the weather played a factor in the tournament.

Heading into the day all eyes were on the final group of Charlotte's Corey Nagy, Clemson's Kyle Stanley and Sonoma State's Jarin Todd. But the trio never really got in a groove on Tuesday. Nagy finished tied for fourth and Todd tied for sixth, while Stanley fell into a tie for 13th.

Indiana's Jorge Campillo and USC's Matthew Giles each started the day tied for 11th, but added stellar third rounds to finish third and fourth, respectively.

Each university that has a player participating in the tournament will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Over the past 33 years, the Sun Bowl Association has donated over $625,000 to collegiate golf through this scholarship program.

 

Final Results

 

 

Pl. Player School R1 R2 R3
Total Par
*1. Mike Van Sickle Marquette 74 70 63 — 207 -6
2. Trent Leon Oklahoma State 73 68 66 — 207 -6
3. Jorge Campillo Indiana 71 73 64 — 208 -5
T4. Matthew Giles USC 74 70 65 — 209 -4
  Corey Nagy Charlotte 67 71 71 — 209 -4
T6. Kevin Foley Penn State 72 69 70 — 211 -2
  Charlie Holland Texas 71 69 71 — 211 -2
  Jarin Todd Sonoma State 69 71 71 — 211 -2
9. Henrik Norlander Augusta State 72 72 68 — 212 -1
T10. Andrew Putnam Pepperdine 73 69 71 — 213 E
  Erik Flores UCLA 75 67 71 — 213 E
  Zack Sucher UAB 72 72 69 — 213 E
T13. Jesper Kennegard Arizona State 71 71 72 — 214 1
  Kyle Stanley Clemson 71 68 75 — 214 1
15. Jonathan Hodge Chattanooga 68 76 71 — 215 2
T16. Rickie Fowler Oklahoma State 72 72 72 — 216 3
  Nick Taylor Washington 70 73 73 — 216 3
  Russell Henley Georgia 75 70 71 — 216 3
  Chesson Hadley Georgia Tech 73 74 69 — 216 3
T20. Matt Hill NC State 76 74 68 — 218 5
  Kevin O'Connell North Carolina 72 74 72 — 218 5
T22. Billy Horschel Florida 76 74 69 — 219 6
  Andrew Landry Arkansas 76 74 69 — 219 6
  Jason Millard Middle Tennessee 75 69 75 — 219 6
T25. Matthew Swan Alabama 76 74 70 — 220 7
  Adam Mitchell Georgia 71 77 72 — 220 7
27. Tim Sluiter USC 78 73 72 — 223 10

 

 * – Won on the sixth playoff hole.