Air Force Academy

Sept. 2, 2008

The Air Force golf team opens the 2008 fall season this weekend, Sept. 6-7, by hosting the 40th-annual Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, held at the Eisenhower Golf Club--Blue Course. The 54-hole tournament is slated to begin with two rounds on Saturday starting at 8:15 a.m., while the final round will begin Sunday at 8:15 a.m.

Scouting the Falcons...
Eight Air Force golfers from the 2007-08 season return to the team this year, accompanied by five newcomers. Among the top returners this season are senior Shaun O'Bryant, who led Air Force in two events last year, and junior Tom Whitney, who was the Falcons' top performer in eight tournaments during the 2007-08 season.

Air Force's other senior is Andrew Gibson, who led the team at last year's Falcon Invitational, while the junior class is rounded out by Peter Guzowski, Alex Horrell and Josh McFarland. Sophomores Kyle Bailey and Aaron White round out the returning players.

Head Coach George Koury...
Air Force head coach George Koury enters his seventh season at the helm of the Falcons' golf program. After serving three seasons as an assistant under legendary coach Gene Miranda, Koury took over the program at the start of the 2002-03 season.

Koury, a 1993 Academy graduate and former team captain and MVP, has helped the Falcons continue their dominance at the Service Academy Golf Classic, winning 12 straight seasons. In addition, he helped lead Air Force to the team title at the 2005 Falcon Invitational, marking the first time since the inaugural event in 1969 that the team won its own tournament outright.

Last Year at the Falcon Invitational...
With a three-round score of 885, the Air Force golf team placed 11th at the season-opening Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational in 2007. Wichita State defeated Iowa State in a play-off, as both teams finished at 852 (-12). The Shockers' Ryan Spears captured medalist honors with a tournament-record 203 (-13).

Leading the way for the Falcons was junior Andrew Gibson, who tied for 19th place in the individual standings at 218 (+2).

Up Next...
Next on the schedule for the Falcons is the Ron Moore Fall Invitational, Sept. 15-16, hosted by Denver.

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