May 2, 2010

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. - Senior Corey Nagy captured the Atlantic 10 individual title for the second consecutive year in leading Charlotte to its league record-tying fifth-straight Men's Golf Championship following Sunday's final round at Mission Inn Resort & Club.

The 49ers finished 11-over par for the 54-hole competition, including 10-over on Sunday as they joined Penn State (1986-91) as the lone programs in A-10 history to win five consecutive golf titles.

"Winning when you're supposed to win is never easy and not something you take for granted. The guys did a really good job in their approach," said Charlotte head coach Adam Pry.

"I'm really proud of Corey [Nagy] and it's a great way to end for him. Certainly well-earned."

Richmond (+29) placed second overall - its highest finish in program annals - while Xavier (+40) came in third as it matched the 49ers for the lowest team score of the day. Dayton (+57) finished fourth, followed by George Washington (+65), St. Bonaventure (+75), Rhode Island (+77), Fordham (+89), Saint Joseph's (+95), Temple (+100), Duquesne (+129) and La Salle (+168).

"The guys put a lot of hard work in throughout the year. We're excited about the finish but the goal was to win so it gives us a lot of motivation," said Richmond's Adam Decker, who was named the 2010 Atlantic Coach of the Year.

"Really happy with the efforts of the guys and looking forward to next year."

Nagy (-4) shot an even-par 71 on Sunday and finished two strokes ahead of teammate Olafur Loftsson to become just the fifth player in league history to win consecutive A-10 individual titles and first since Xavier's Steve Dixon (1998-99). It marked his fourth top-three finish at the Championship, while his final round of 71 was his 11th round of 71 or better in 12 overall rounds at the A-10 Championship. Charlotte has had the top two overall finishers in three of the last four years.

"I was very consistent today and really just stayed patient. I knew if I could just keep hitting fairways and greens and giving myself chances, I would be okay," said Nagy, who was recently named to the U.S. Palmer Cup Team roster.

"Anytime you can defend your title, which is so difficult to do, gives me a lot of confidence for the future."

Richmond's Daniel Walker (+2) finished third overall after posting a final round of 74 and was tabbed the program's first-ever Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Rookie Performer. In addition, his third-place finish was the highest finish by an A-10 freshman at the Championship since Virginia Tech's Matt Hollerbach placed second overall in 2000.

"This honor means a lot and now I have something to build on and improve upon over the next three years at Richmond," said Walker.

Xavier junior Peter O'Neill fired the low round of the day with a one-under 70, followed by Nagy and Loftsson at even par. Dayton freshman Sam Keating and Robert Lindstrom of Richmond tied for fourth overall at the Championship at five-over, while George Washington senior Cole Turner (+7) placed sixth.

Joining Nagy on the 10-member All-Conference team are Loftsson and Andy Sajevic of Charlotte; Walker, Lindstrom and Sam Beach of Richmond; Temple's Andrew Mason; Alan Glynn of Xavier; Dayton's Sam Keating; and Nathan Peck of St. Bonaventure.