STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Daemen College may be a new member in the USCAA, but they have made their presence known at their first USCAA National Championship. The Wildcats pulled away from the field during Tuesday's final round of the 2012 USCAA Golf National Championships at the Penn State Blue Course, carding a team tournament low 13-over 301 on the second day of competition to take the championship by 15 strokes. Daemen's two-day total was 605.
Daemen also claimed the championship medalist, as Kyle Kapturowski came from a stroke back after the first day to win the individual title by three strokes over Apprentice School's Ben Hunter. Kapturowski fired a 3-under 69 on the final day to finish at even par 144 over the two day tournament.
Defending team champion Lindenwood-Belleville made a charge in round two, but could not repeat despite jumping up one spot to finish as the runner-up.
Hunter, the 2010 Champion and 2011 third-place finisher, shot the only other under par round of the tournament, grabbing a 2-under 70 on day two to finish solely in second.
But the day belonged to Kapturowski. Starting one stroke back of first round leader and teammate Eli Cobti, Kapturowski carded a tournament best seven birdies over two days. Cobti fell off on day two, but still finished in the top 20 in a tie for 17th after a final round 85. Lindenwood-Belleville's Justin Robinson finished in third with a two-day 5-over 149, and Apprentice School's Kyle Mutter grabbed fourth at 151. Penn State New Kensington's Adam Stawski and NHTI's Andy Levins rounded out the top 5 with an 8-over par 152.
The 2013 USCAA Golf National Championships will return to the Penn State Blue Course.
SKILLS CONTEST CHAMPIONS
For the first time in USCAA history, the Golf National Championships held a Skills Competition after the completion of round one. One player from each team was chosen to participate in one of three events, the longest drive, birdie ball chipping and putting.
Your 2012 Inaugural Skills Competition winners are:
LONG DRIVE - Anthony Batchelder, University of Maine-Presque Isle
CHIPPING/BIRDIE BALL - Eric Johnston, Apprentice School
PUTTING - Tyler Brensinger, Penn State Schuylkill
