The Hokies’ home — Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech VIRGINIA TECH GOLF From the outstanding golf team complex at the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech, to the challenging and beautiful layout along the New River (bottom), the Virginia Tech golf program is first-class all the way in helping to prepare young men to excel. Former Hokies Win on Tour Johnson Wagner won the PGA Tour’s 2008 Shell Houston Open, and 2008 Nationwide Tour Player of the Year Brendon de Jonge won the Xerox Classic. Winning is an expectation, not a desire ... 2010 OUTLOOK Young Hokies Look to Make Their Mark In collegiate athletics, graduation means a coach is consistently faced with replacing senior leadership. This past fall was no exception for a team that lost not only one of the top players in the nation, but also two other contributors to the starting lineup. On the other hand graduation also means opportunity, Virginia Tech Quick Facts and head coach Jay Virginia Polytechnic Insitute and State University Hardwick’s task has been Location: Blacksburg, Va. to develop the younger Founded: 1872 players while identifying Enrollment: 30,000 and encouraging new President: Dr. Charles W. Steger leadership. Director of Athletics: Jim Weaver The fall 2009 season Nickname: Hokies featured one of the nation’s Conference: Atlantic Coast most demanding schedules, Colors: Chicago maroon and burnt orange and the four events were Head Golf Coach: Jay Hardwick (27th season) ranked 6th, 7th, 10th, and Associate Head Coach: Brian Sharp (7th season) 16th nationally for strength Golf Office Phone: (540) 231-6435 of field in the Golfweek/ Golf Mailing Address: Sagarin ratings. The first Virginia Tech Golf Course tournament was contested 1 Duck Pond Drive close to home, at the VCU Blacksburg, VA 24061 Shootout in Richmond, and Athletics Communications Contact: the Hokies played steadily Bill Dyer - (540) 231-8852 all three rounds to finish Website: www.hokiesports.com/golf fourth against a diverse and talented group of What is a Hokie? teams. The strongest field The answer leads all the way back to 1896 of the season gathered in when Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical Macon, GA for the Brickyard College changed its name to Virginia Polytechnic Collegiate, which included Institute. With the change came the necessity 11 teams ranked inside the for writing a new cheer and a contest for such a top 50 in the country. With purpose was held by the student body. the final round cancelled Senior O.M. Stull won first prize for his “Hokie” due to inclement weather, yell, which is still used today. Later, when Tech did not have the asked if “Hokie” had any special meaning, Stull opportunity to improve explained the word was solely the product of his upon their seventh place imagination and was used only as an attention- standing after the first two getter for his yell. It soon became a nickname for rounds. all Tech teams and for those people loyal to Tech continued athletics. 2009-2010 Virginia Tech Golf Media Guide 2010 Outlook ................................................................ 1, 2 The Virginia Tech 2009-2010 Tournament Schedule ..............................3 golf media guide 2009-2010 Roster .............................................................3 is a publication Head Coach Jay Hardwick .........................................4-9 of the Virginia Honors and Awards in the Hardwick Era ....... 10, 11 Tech Athletics Associate Head Coach Brian Sharp .................. 12, 13 Communications Player Profiles ............................................................14-24 Office. This year’s Blacksburg, Virginia ...................................................... 25 guide was developed This Is Virginia Tech ................................................ 26, 27 by Associate Academic Support/Community Service ........ 28, 29 Director of Athletics Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech ........... 30, 31 Communications Bill Hokie Golf Facilities ............................................... 32, 33 Dyer and the golf Hokies’ Home Courses .......................................... 34, 35 coaching staff. David 2008-2009 Review & Awards ...............................36-38 Knachel contributed 2009 All-American Drew Weaver ............................. 39 photography, design 2009 Results and Statistics .................................. 40, 41 and composition. Virginia Tech Golf History & NCAAs .................. 42, 43 The guide was All-Time Scoring Leaders ............................................ 44 printed by Southern The Atlantic Coast Conference ................................. 45 Printing Co., of Hokies on the PGA Tour ....................................... 46, 47 Blacksburg, Va. Virginia Tech Golf Supporters ........................... 48-IBC 1 OUTLOOK continued After being unable to defend their title due to a change in tournament dates last year, the Hokies returned to the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at The Ridges. With three players finishing in the top-11 individually, including posting seven rounds of par-or-better, the team played solidly each day and finished fourth. The fall season concluded the following week at a new event on the schedule, the UNCG Bridgestone Intercollegiate, which was contested at Forest Oaks Country Club, site of the PGA Tour’s Greater Greensboro Open for 30 years. The team managed difficult weather conditions well and went on to finish seventh, providing some momentum to build upon for the spring. This year’s team is one of the youngest in recent years, with no seniors, three juniors, one sophomore and three freshmen. After qualifying for the US Amateur for the second time in three years, junior Marshall Bailey continued his consistent play throughout the fall season. Having competed in every tournament during his career at Tech, he recorded 7 of 11 rounds at par-or-better and compiled a 72.0 stroke average, finishing 21st or better in all four events. Bailey has now moved into fourth place on the all-time scoring list for the Hokies. Fellow junior Garland Green also played in every one of the fall events. He led the team and recorded a career-best runner-up finish at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at The Ridges, posting three consecutive rounds of one-under-par 71. Green was second on the team in scoring for the fall with a 72.8 average. Another junior, Aaron Eckstein, was voted Captain of this year’s team and played in all four tournaments. The Hokies’ younger players have made quite an impact. Sophomore Blake Redmond posted a career-best fourth-place finish in the opening event and remained in the lineup throughout the fall, finishing fourth in scoring on the team. Many believe that freshman Mikey Moyers is the next top player at Virginia Tech based on his progress thus far. Moyers competed in every tournament and led the team in only his second event, the Brickyard Collegiate, where he finished 15th after sharing the individual lead following the opening round. He also had a top 5 finish at the Bank of Tennessee at The Ridges Intercollegiate and was third on the team in scoring for the fall season with a 73.0 average. Another freshman, Jacob Everts, qualified for the first tournament and gained valuable experience while competing as an individual in two additional events. Freshman Marc MacDonald was the only player not to see action in the fall. The coaching staff would like to red-shirt MacDonald this season, but are confident in his ability and would not hesitate to put him in the lineup if needed. These are the players that will determine the team’s success throughout the spring and in the years to come. Under the guidance of Hall of Fame head coach Jay Hardwick and 2009 NCAA Assistant Coach of the Year Brian Sharp, this talented group is determined to continue their success in the always-demanding ACC. The spring season will once again begin in Puerto Rico, and with the number of outstanding tournaments that will follow, the Hokies will certainly be well prepared for the ACC Championship and a return to NCAA postseason play. Coach Jay Hardwick with team captain Aaron Eckstein. 2 09-10 TOURNAMENTS Mon.-Tue. Sept. 28-29 VCU Shootout Hermitage Country Club - Manakin Course Manakin-Sabot, Va. Sat.-Mon. Oct. 10-12 Brickyard Collegiate Golf Championship Brickyard at Riverside Macon, Ga. Fri.-Sun. Oct. 16-18 Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate at the Ridges The Ridges Golf and Country Club Johnson City, Tenn. Sat.-Sun. Oct. 24-25 UNCG Bridgestone Invitational Forest Oaks Golf Club Greensboro, N.C. Sun.-Tue. Feb. 21-23 Puerto Rico Classic Rio Mar Country Club - River Course San Juan, Puerto Rico Fri.-Sun. Mar. 12-14 Pinehurst Intercollegiate by Gatorade Pinehurst Country Club – Course #8 Pinehurst, N.C. Fri.-Sun. Mar. 19-21 Furman Intercollegiate Furman University Golf Course Greenville, S.C. Sat.-Sun. Apr. 3-4 Administaff/Augusta State Invitational Forest Hills Golf Club Augusta, Ga. Fri.-Sat. Apr. 9-10 Wolfpack Intercollegiate Lonnie Poole Golf Club Raleigh, N.C. Fri.-Sun. Apr. 23-25 Atlantic Coast Conference Golf Championship Old North State Golf Club Baden Lake, N.C. Thur.-Sat. May 20-22 NCAA Regional: East Region Yale University Golf Course New Haven, Conn. (Host: Yale) Tue.-Sun. June 1-6 NCAA Golf Championship The Honors Course Chattanooga, Tenn. (Host: UT-Chattanooga) VIRGINIA TECH ROSTER Name Cl. Hometown Home Course Marshall Bailey** Jr. Fincastle, Va. Botetourt C.C. Aaron Eckstein** Jr. Salem, Va. Hidden Valley C.C. Jaacob Everts Fr. Ooltewah, Tenn. The Champions Club Garland Green* Jr. Tazewell, Va. Fincastle C.C. Marc MacDonald Fr. Harare, Zimbabwe Chapman G.C. Mikey Moyers Fr. Stanardsville, Va. Greene Hills Club Blake Redmond* So. Sugar Land, Texas Shadow Hawk C.C. Head Coach: Jay Hardwick (27th season) Associate Head Coach: Brian Sharp (7th season) * – letters earned 3 HEAD COACH JAY HARDWICK Jay Hardwick with his wife, Celia. Jay Hardwick is in his 27th season at Virginia Tech. During that time, Hardwick has developed the Hokie golf program into one that not only wins, but does so the right way. Academic integrity, solid fundamentals and a sense of right are trademarks of this program. The Hokies don’t just win, they achieve.