[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 69 (Friday, May 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E906]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             GUILFORD COLLEGE CELEBRATES GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 2002

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I will admit to being biased, but I think it 
is important that we congratulate my alma mater--Guilford College in 
Greensboro, North Carolina--for winning its first-ever NCAA team 
championship. On May 16, 2002, the Quakers captured the NCAA Division 
III men's golf championship conducted at Firethorn Golf Club in 
Lincoln, Nebraska.
  What made winning the championship even more special for those of us 
who live in the Sixth District of North Carolina, Guilford College 
edged out cross-town rival Greensboro College to win the title. The two 
schools, which are just a few miles apart, traveled halfway across the 
country to duel for Division III's top golf crown. Even the third-place 
team was from North Carolina--Meredith College in Raleigh. Guilford 
College shot a 300 on the fourth and final day of the tournament to 
rally past third-day leader Meredith. Greensboro scored a tournament-
best 288 on the last day to vault from seventh place to second. Is 
there any doubt that North Carolina is the golf capital of the world?
  Guilford finished second in the national championship last year, and 
Head Coach Jack Jensen did not want a repeat in 2002. ``It feels so 
good,'' Jensen told the (Greensboro) News & Record. ``We came so close 
last year. I really had this feeling before we went out that we would 
win today. Last year, we had a one-shot lead with one day to go. Every 
player on the team looked back to one shot and felt like he lost it, 
and in golf, you can always find one shot.''
  In fact, Guilford has qualified for the Division III golf 
championships in 10 of its 11 years of NCAA play. This year, Jensen's 
Quakers were not to be denied. This was Jensen's and Guilford's first-
ever NCAA title, but the coach and school are no strangers to winning 
national championships. Jack Jensen and Guilford College captured the 
NAIA national men's basketball championship in 1973 and the NAIA men's 
golf title in 1989. Guilford joined the NCAA Division III athletic 
program in 1991.
  In addition, Guilford College almost collected the individual player 
title in Nebraska. Sophomore Dave Patterson finished with a four-day 
total of 293, two shots off the lead. Patterson had a lot of 
assistance, however, in leading Guilford to its NCAA team crown. 
Joining him at Firethorn were Andrew Eversole, Savio Nazareth, Andrew 
Biggadike, and John Riddle. (Another reason we are slightly prejudiced 
in favor of the Quakers is that John Riddle is the nephew of Nancy 
Mazza who operates our district office in High Point, North Carolina.)
  Congratulations are in order for every member of the Quaker golf team 
including Harrison Pinnix, Head Coach Jack Jensen, outgoing athletic 
director Mike Ketchum, incoming athletic director Marion Kirby and 
everyone associated with Guilford College. I am proud to be an alumnus 
of the school and proud that it is located in our congressional 
district.

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