ANNAPOLIS, MD -- The University of Delaware golf team opened its 2006 fall season with a ninth place finish at the U.S. Naval Academy Fall Golf Tournament Sunday at the USNA Golf Club.

Delaware shot a team total of 597 to tie with Birmingham Southern for ninth place in the 18-team field. Loyola captured the team title with a two-day, 36-hole score of 576, two strokes better than runner-up Winthrop and Pennsylvania. St. Bonaventure was fifth at 583 followed by Towson (584), Saint Joseph’s (589), George Washington (591), Delaware, and Birmingham Southern in the top 10.

The Blue Hens were in fifth place after the first round Saturday with a team score of 291 and followed that with a team score of 306 on Sunday.

Delaware senior Joe McLister (at right), a first team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection as a junior in 2005-06, led the Blue Hens once again, placing 11th overall with a score of 73 and 72 for a 145 over the par 71, 6,611-yard course. McLister has now led Delaware 22 times in tournament during his career.

Sophomore Tommy Ellison was the second leading finisher for the Hens, shooting scores of 72 and 75 for a score of 157. Sophomore Jeff Griest shot 74-79=153 to place 54th, freshman Dan Rexon shot scores of 72 and 83 (155) to place 68th, and senior Josh Williamowsky placed 87th with scores of 81 and 80 for a 161.

North Dakota State’s Eric Johnson captured medalist honors with a score of 67-71=138, downing Loyola’s Blake Ferguson in a playoff.

Delaware will continue action Sept. 15-16 at the Rutgers Invitational.

AGATE:

Final Team Standings: 1. Loyola - 576; 2. Winthrop, Pennsylvania - 578; 4. Navy - 579; 5. St. Bonaventure - 583; 6. Towson - 584; 7. Saint Joseph’s - 589; 8. George Washington A - 591; 9. Delaware, Birmingham Southern - 597; 11. North Dakota State - 598; 12. Iona - 601; 13. Siena - 606; 14. Temple - 607; 15. Duquesne, George Washington B - 611; 17. Navy Gold - 612; 18. Navy Blue - 626.

Top 10 Individuals: 1. Eric Johnson (North Dakota State), 67-71=138 (won in playoff); 2. Blake Ferguson (Loyola), 69-69=138; 3. Chris Reedman (Saint Joseph’s), 71-70=141; 4. Kelly Manders (Winthrop), 72-71=143, Pete Alminas (Winthrop), 72-71=143, Chris Renninger (Navy), 72-71=143; 7. J.T. Clendenin (Birmingham Southern), 71-73=144, Michael Blodgett (Penn), 71-73=144, Brennan Payne (St. Bonaventure), 70-74=144, Cole Wilcox (Saint Joseph’s), 71-73=144.

Delaware Finishers: 11. Joe McLister, 73-72=145; 25. Tommy Ellison, 72-75=157; 54. Jeff Griest, 74-79=153; 68. Dan Rexon, 72-83=155; 87. Josh Williamowsky, 81-80=161.