WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point golf team secured its fourth-consecutive Star match victory with a 7-4 win at the West Point Golf Course as part of the Army-Navy Star Series, presented by USAA.
The Firstie class finishes their careers with a perfect 4-0 record against Navy in match play.
The Black Knights really ground out the victory on Sunday with momentum swinging both ways during the seven matches.
Navy was able to get two points back with victories in the first two groups of the day, but Tom Katenes settled the Black Knights down with a win in his paring at 5-and-3. Katsenes got out to a lead and never relinquished it as he ended his match on the 15th green.
With Army still in the lead at 4.5-2.5, Keegan Shreves won his match with James McKee at 1-up on the 18th green, so the match was still in the balance.
In the final group that teed off, Marshall Daniel won his match 3-and-2 to give Army some breathing room again at 5.5-2.5. Daniel has gone undefeated in both his singles and four-ball matches during his first two years at Army.
That setup the dramatics on the 18th green with Sam McGee on the green in two on a par-5. Needing a two-putt to win his match and secure the Star for Army, McGee stepped up and sunk a long putt to win the match and get Army to the six points needed to claim the victory.
Dragon Theam and Ward Wilkinson played out their final hole after McGee's putt and settled for a half a point after a hard-fought match.
Next up for Army is the Patriot League Championships at the Naval Academy on May 1-2.
Army 7, Navy 4
Singles
Nick Klock (N) def. Gary Bulland (A), 1-up
Charlie Musto (N) def. James Earl Ballato (A), 3 & 2
Keegan Shreves (N) def. James McKee (A), 1-up
Tom Katsenes (A) def. Mickey Brennan Jr. (N), 5 & 3
Sam McGee (A) def. David Mitchell (N), 1-up
Dragon Theam (A) vs. Ward Wilkinson (N), halved
Marshall Daniel (A) def. Chad Deegan (N), 3 & 2
Four-ball matches
James McKee / Sam McGee (A) vs. Ward Wilkinson / Nicholas Klock (N), halved
Gary Bullard / Lake Kim (A) def. Mickey Brennan Jr. / Keegan Shreves (N), 1-up
Tom Katsenes / Jame Ballato (A) def. Chad Deegan / Will Meshad (N), 4&3
Dragon Theam / Marshall Daniel A) def. Charlie Musto / David Miccoli (N), 2-up
