Air Force Academy

Sept. 16, 2009

The Air Force golf team returns to action this weekend, Sept. 19-20, as it hosts the 41st-annual Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, held at the par-72, 7,301-yard Eisenhower Golf Club-Blue Course. The 54-hole tournament is slated to begin with two rounds on Saturday, followed by the final round on Sunday. Both days will begin with an 8:15 a.m. shotgun start.

About the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational...
This fall, the Falcon Invitational enters its 41st season. Formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Invitational and the Pikes Peak Invitational, the event was named the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational in 2003, in honor of the legendary coach who headed up the Air Force program for 25 years.

Last Time Out...
The Air Force golf team opened its season last weekend, Sept. 11-12, at the 55th-annual William H. Tucker Invitational, hosted by conference rival New Mexico. The Falcons finished 14th as a team with a three-round score of 908.

Meanwhile, senior Tom Whitney was the top performer for the Falcons at the Tucker Invitational, tying for third with a score of 210 (-6). His mark is tied for 11th on the list of lowest individual tournament scores in school history.

The Field...
Nineteen teams are slated to compete in this year's invitational. A full list of this year's field follows: Air Force, Air Force JV, Colorado, Colorado State, Denver, Nevada, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, San Diego, Southern Utah, UAB, UCCS, UNLV, Utah, Utah State, Utah Valley, Washington State, Weber State and Wyoming.

Last Year at the Falcon Invitational...
With a three-round score of 872, the Air Force golf team placed sixth at its own event in 2008. Colorado State won the team title with a tournament-record 837 (-27), while the Rams' Bryce Hanstad captured medalist honors at 205 (-11).

In the Record Books...
With his performance at the season-opening William H. Tucker Invitational last weekend, senior Tom Whitney added yet another entry into the Air Force record books. His score of 210 currently ranks tied for the 11th-lowest individual tournament score in school history.

Whitney now owns 10 of the 26 lowest individual scores in Air Force history--the second-most represented name on the list is 2007 graduate Tyler Goulding with five. In addition, Whitney has fired a 214 or lower in a 54-hole tournament 15 times, surpassing Goulding's mark of 13.

At the Tucker Invitational, Whitney also posted a top-three finish for the sixth time in his career, tying with Goulding for second-most in school history. Ben Leestma, a 2002 graduate, holds the Academy record for most career top-three finishes with nine, including seven individual titles.

Up Next...
Next on the schedule for the Falcons is the Service Academy Golf Classic, being held Oct. 5-6 at Andrews AFB, Md. Air Force has won 12 consecutive titles at the SAGC, which returns after a two-year hiatus.

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