Nov. 3, 2008
SAPPHIRE, N.C. — The Vanderbilt men’s golf team wraps up its 2008 fall schedule this week, traveling to the Country Club of Sapphire Valley for the 2008 Hummingbird Intercollegiate, hosted by Western Carolina University.
Head Coach Tom Shaw’s squad will be represented by senior Tyler Matthews, juniors Hudson Johnson and Chris Rockwell, and sophomores Ryan Haselden, Adam Hofmann.
The 36-hole event will begin with tee times starting at 9:30 a.m. on Monday morning, with the final 18 holes slated for Tuesday. There is, however, the potential for frost delays each morning as forecasts call for highs in the lower 60s with low temperatures in the lower 40s / upper 30s over the next three days.
Twelve of this year’s 14 teams are returning from last year’s event. One year ago, battling blustery conditions, Western Carolina built upon its five-stroke opening round edge over Vanderbilt to win by 17 strokes over the Commodores to claim the team title.
This is the third year that WCU has hosted an event at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley. Previously, the WCU Intercollegiate in 2004 was won by Charleston Southern, which carded a six-under, 570, to edge Radford by six strokes.
The Country Club of Sapphire Valley is a private, member-owned club that features a newly renovated valley golf course, new clubhouse, state-of-the-art fitness center and tennis center. The course meanders through the backdrop of a mature hardwood forest and scenic mountains that provide for breath-taking views and a natural setting. The course, which sits on a level valley floor despite its mountainous surroundings, was originally designed by George Cobb and recently updated by Bill Bergin.
Results and recaps from the Hummingbird Intercollegiate will be posted at www.CatamountSports.com following each round of the two-day event.
