WESTOVER, Md.--Sophomore Jeff Campbell won medalist honors as he led the University of Hartford to its first America East Golf Championship since 1995 at the Great Hope Golf Course. Campbell fired a 76 today for a three-day 221 (74-71-76), six strokes ahead of teammate Miroslav Holub (76-75-76) and Josh Upton (76-75-76) of Towson University. The Hawks shot a team total of 900, 36 strokes ahead of second-place Towson (317-310-309), which had won each of the past two America East titles and four of the last five.
Each of the five Hartford golfers finished among the top seven in the 54-hole championship as Greg Folsom (77-73-79) was fourth with a 299, while Chris Holmes (76-79-75) tied for fifth with a 230 and Dean Carrigan (78-81-72) tied for seventh with a 231. Campbell shot a two-over-par 74 to lead all golfers after Sunday's first round. His 71 yesterday was the top round of the tournament. Carrigan was one of three golfers to card an even-par 72 for today's best round.
Hartford led by 14 stokes over Towson after the first round Sunday when the Hawks posted a 303. Hartford increased the lead to 23 strokes over the Tigers following a 298 yesterday.
Upton and Greg Cote (75-74-81), the medalist at the 2000 America East Championship, paced Towson. University of Delaware (323-306-313) was third at 942, followed by Hofstra University (312-312-321) at 945, Drexel University (318-318-311) at 947, University of Vermont (320-320-323) at 964, University of Maine (321-326-326) at 973, and Boston University (332-323-328) at 983.
America East utilized a 54-hole format for the first time after using a 36-hole format in each of the previous 12 years of the annual championship. America East also announced its all-conference team in golf. Named to the first team were: Jeff Campbell, Miroslav Holub, Greg Folsom and Chris Holmes of Hartford; and Josh Upton and Greg Cote of Towson. The second-team consisted of Dean Carrigan of Hartford, Ryan Yelen and David Hirschhorn of Drexel; Tom Coakley of Vermont and Mike Hoffman of Delaware. Jim Pinto of Hartford was the Coach of the Year.