October 28, 2008

CAMPOS’ CROWN EARNS HIM MCDONALD’S RAM OF THE WEEK HONORS
Junior captures individual title at the Landfall Tradition

RICHMOND, Va. – Who said you can’t win in golf without your clubs?

Junior Rafael Campos (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico) proved that theory incorrect as he marched to the individual title at the Landfall Tradition this past weekend, the first win for the third-year standout since his freshman season. His outstanding weekend earned him high honors as he has been named McDonald’s Ram of the Week.

The story of the weekend may not have been his play even as the junior bested the 60-player field without his own clubs, which were lost on his flight back from Australia, where he was playing for his native Puerto Rico in the World Amateur Team Championships.

Campos shot a 1-under-par in the final round on the Nicklaus Course (Marsh and Ocean nines) at the Country Club of Landfall to give him a 54-hole total of 1-over-ar 217 and a two-shot victory.

He led his Ram teammates to a third-place overall finish as the Black and Gold moved up a spot in the team standings after each day of the tournament.

Campos’ birdied the eighth hole in the final round – his 17th – to take a two-shot lead. He played a solid 18th hole, leaving himself with a very short tap-in to secure the victory.

“Rafa is such a great ball striker and the course played into his hands. And he made some key putts. He had a long putt to save par on his 16th and then that putt on his 17th put him in control. It was exciting,” said Head Coach Matt Ball.

Campos said he got some bad information. Someone told him he was one shot down on his 17th rather than one shot up. So he thought he had to make the putt to tie for the lead. He was confident standing over the putt. He birdied the hole all three rounds. But he was also “pretty nervous. I really wanted to knock it in and I got pretty pumped when I made it.

“It has been a long time since I’ve won one and it was good to have those nerves again.”

Campos and the Rams are done for the fall season as they will take some time off, before hitting the links again in late February for the start of the spring campaign.