St. John's Takes Home First DIII Men's Golf Title

Johnnies' Clinton Dammann wins individual championship

May 18, 2007

By Ashley Martin

Special to CSTV.com

 

FISHERS, Ind. - St. John's University shot a 52-over-par 1,204 to earn the 2007 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship Friday. Clinton Dammann (72-71-72-72) shot a 1-under par to take home the 2007 individual title and led his team to its first-ever golf national championship.

 

The Johnnies shot a 14-over-par 303 in the final round, their worst of the four-round tournament (300-300-301-303). The team went into championship play with a 16 stroke lead over the University of La Verne and finished the tournament 12 shots ahead of the Leopards.

 


 

 

"There was a little cushion going into this round," Dammann said. "But all week we were saying we had to win each day. Today we had to do what we had been doing all week no matter if it was a 16 stroke lead or a 30 stroke lead."

 

Dammann led the individual field for three straight days and ended with an eight stroke lead Jacob Collinsworth of Huntingdon College and Otterbein College's Andy Miller who tied for second.

 

Dammann started Friday's play with a bogey and was 2-under-par for the round going into the final two holes before hitting consecutive bogies to finish the day even.

 

"During the first four holes I was a little anxious," Dammann said. "I birdied [hole] six and it calmed me down. Then I birdied [hole] seven. I played my best golf all week on the back nine.

 

"The individual title is a bonus," he said of winning two national titles. "It could have been anyone of us. The team win is what's most important."

 

Second place La Verne ended the tournament with a 64-over-par 1,216, shooting its best golf of the week in the championship round (305-311-301-299) with Jordan Talah eagling the 11th hole and finishing with Friday's best score of 2-under-par.

 

Ohio Wesleyan finished third one stroke behind La Verne with a 65-over-par 1,217. Jeff Nieman led the Battling Bishops with an 8-over-par and a fourth place finish in individual scoring.