April 29, 2001

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Virginia Tech shot a final round 287 on route to an 875 and a nine-stroke victory at the 2001 BIG EAST Conference Golf Championship Sunday afternoon. The event was played at the par-70, 6,464-yard Metacomet Country Club in East Providence, R.I.

Hokie junior Brian Krusoe fired a five-over-par 215 to tie St. John's Andrew Svoboda and Notre Dame's Steve Ratay for the individual crown. Krusoe, along with teammates sophomore Chris McKeel and junior Johnson Wagner, were named all-conference, and head coach Jay Hardwick was named the BIG EAST Conference Coach of the Year.

Tech's final round 287 was the lowest of the tournament. The championship was Virginia Tech's first BIG EAST title in any sport other than football. The university was granted full BIG EAST membership, beginning with the 2000-2001 academic year.

"We've been a last round team all year and today was no different," Hardwick said. "We were tied entering the last nine holes and our depth really came through for us, especially in the last six-to-seven holes."

McKeel shot 219 and finished in sixth place and Wagner shot 220 and tied for seventh place. Sophomore Brendon de Jonge shot a final round 71 and finished in 12th place with a 223. Tech freshman Ryan Stinnett shot 233 and finished in a tie for 23rd place.

The Hokies, ranked 19th in the Golfweek/Sagarin poll and 24th in the Mastercard poll, entered the event as the top seed. Tech led the six-team event after the first two rounds on Saturday. With the victory, Tech earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Regionals, that begin May 18 in three sites.

St. John's finished second with an 884 and Rutgers was third with an 897. Georgetown was fourth with a 900 and Notre Dame was fifth with a 902. Defending champion Seton Hall was sixth with a 904.

"I'm not only proud that this team has won six tournaments this season, but also that they've put themselves in the position to play in the NCAA Tournament," Hardwick said.

Tech has now won its last three events and a school-record six tournaments this season. This was the first year that the tournament has been played as a 54-hole championship.

FINAL TEAM RESULTS
		1	2	3	Total
1.	Virginia Tech	291	297	287	875
2.	St. John's	304	286	294	884
3.	Rutgers	300	304	293	897
4.	Georgetown	305	296	299	900
5.	Notre Dame	307	305	290	902
6.	Seton Hall	298	300	306	904