Men's Golf Releases (2005-06) - Guilford's Clark Finishes Fourth in Long Drive Contest - Guilford College

• LEMKE, VAN der WALT WIN ON SUNDAY TO OPEN PLAY AT THE WESTERN REFINING COLLEGE ALL-AMERICA GOLF CLASSIC

 

      EL PASO, TX (11/20/05) -- Arizona State's Niklas Lemke put on a show at the Titleist Long Drive Contest and Lamar University's Dawie Van Der Walt aced the final hole of the Ping Putting Contest to take the title at the 2005 Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic held at El Paso Country Club on Sunday.

 

      Each year the Golf Classic opens with these two events, followed by a sponsors round at the El Paso Country Club.

 

      Lemke, a native of Linköping, Sweden, launched two impressive drives to begin his series, but it was his third try that went a record 358 yards to win the driving event. Oklahoma's Anthony Kim finished second with a drive of 351 yards, while East Tennessee State's Rhys Davies was a distant third with a drive of 336 yards.

 

      Kim's 351-yard drive broke the event's record of 346 set in 2003 by Arizona's Chris Nallen, but his record did not hold up as Lemke went 358 yards four contestants later.

 

      In the Ping Putting Contest, Van der Walt, a native of Paarl, South Africa, aced the final hole of the event to card a 20 on the nine-hole course. His ace put the South African one shot ahead of Cal Poly's Travis Bertoni, who fired a 21. Florida's Matt Every and Duke's Nathan Smith tied for third with rounds of 22.

 

      The 31st Annual Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic begins play Monday at 7:30 a.m. (MT) at the El Paso Country Club. 

 

      The tournament, hosted by the Sun Bowl Association, is played at the Par-71, 6,817-yard El Paso Country Club. 

 

      Throughout the years, many Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic competitors have gone on to pursue successful careers in the Professional Golfers' Association of America and on the PGA Tour. Some of the past champions include Ricky Barnes (2000), Notah Begay (1994), David Duval (1991), Matt Kuchar (1999), Davis Love III (1984), Chris Nallen (2003), Jerry Pate (1974) and Tiger Woods (1995). 

 

      Each university is awarded a $1,000 scholarship if a golfer from that school competes in the tournament.

 

      The tournament is open to the public, and there is no admission charge.

 

 

Titleist Longest Drive Contest

Ping Putting Contest

1. Niklas Lemke (Arizona State), 358 yards 2. Anthony Kim (Oklahoma), 351 yards 3. Rhys Davies (East Tennessee State), 336 yards 4. Ryan Blaum (Duke), 334 yards 4. Colin Clark (Guilford), 334 yards 4. Bronson La'Cassie (Minnesota), 334 yards 7. Dustin Johnson (Coastal Carolina), 333 yards 8. Richard Scott (Georgia), 331 yards 9. Tyler Leon (Oklahoma State), 329 yards 10. Oscar Alvarez (BYU), 324 yards.

1. Dawie Van der Walt (Lamar), 20 2. Travis Bertoni (Cal Poly), 21 3. Matt Every (Florida), 22 3. Nathan Smith (Duke), 22 5. Ryan Blaum (Duke), 24 5. Henry Liaw (Arizona), 24 7. Oscar Alvarez (BYU), 25 7. Dustin Johnson (Coastal Carolina), 25 7. Chris Kirk (Georgia), 25 7. Matthew Rosenfeld (Texas), 25.