WEST POINT, N.Y. // Navy earned victories in three of the seven singles matches on Saturday, but it would not be enough to overcome Friday’s deficit as the Mids dropped a 7-4 decision in the annual Army-Navy men’s golf Star Match played at the West Point Golf Club.

The Black Knights used the momentum gained from their 3-1 advantage in the four-ball matches to propel them to their fourth-consecutive Star Match victory against the Mids at West Point. Additionally, Army now holds a 3-1 lead in this year’s Army-Navy Star Series presented by USAA.

Four-Ball Matches

Army secured the opening point in the match with John Heckel Jr. and Drew Jeffords pairing up to defeat the Mids’ Jack Tarzy (Jr / Medford, N.J.) and rookie Ed Scott (Lemont, Ill.), 7&6. The Black Knights won the first five holes and six of the opening seven en route to the victory. A veteran player, Heckel Jr. is 2-1-1 in four-ball action against the Mids.

Navy evened the match when seniors Benjamin Valdez (Sr / Stevenson Ranch, Calif.) and Owen Huntington (Sr / Camas, Wash.) teamed up to take down Lake Kim and Dragon Theam 4&3. The Navy pair led virtually the entire match and were rock solid. It’s the first time Valdez, Navy’s team captain has not played with teammate Noah Nuez (Sr / Laveen, Ariz.) in the annual tournament, meanwhile, Huntington is now 3-0 in four-ball matches against the Black Knights over his four years.

Army took a 2-1 advantage in the match when Rob Ferris and Josh Rooker pushed past the Navy combo of Luke Lombardo (So / Severna Park, Md.) and Danny Auffant (So / Bellevue, Wash.). Ferris and Rooker, who went up on the third hole, were 2-up through the first nine holes and then extended the lead to 3-up through 12 holes. 

The final match of the day ended in favor of Army’s Josh Kim and Tyson Sparks over the Mids’ Chip Deegan (Jr / Newport Beach, Calif.) and Kaden Ausen (Fr / Puyallup, Wash.). The Army pair was 3-up through 12 holes, but Deegan and Ausen pushed back and the deficit going into the 15th. The tandems halved the next two holes before Sparks drained a putt to seal the 3&1 win on the 17th.

Singles

Army claimed the first-two wins of the day in singles action as John Heckel Jr. picked up an 8&6 victory over Navy newcomer Ed Scott, while Drew Jeffords gave Army a 5-1 advantage by way of his 5&3 win over the Mids’ Luke Lombardo.

Navy muscled its way back into the competition thanks to victories by Chip Deegan and Owen Huntington. Deegan claimed a 4&2 win over Tyson Sparks to improve to 2-0 all-time in singles action against Army, while Owen Huntington scored a 6&5 victory over Rob Ferris. In three appearances over four years, Huntington was undefeated in single action (3-0) and was also 3-0 in four-ball matches.

Army clinched the Star by way of a birdie putt on the 18th by Joshua Kim to claim a 1-up victory over Jack Tarzy. The Black Knights tacked on an additional point when Lake Kim a 3&1 win against Navy freshman Kaden Ausen. 

Benjamin Valdez claimed victory in the final match of the day, as the Mids’ captain pushed past Army’s Dragon Theam 1-up. Valdez and Huntington, both seniors, went 2-0 for the Mids over the weekend.

Oct. 4, 2024 | West Point, N.Y.

Army 7 | Navy 4

Four-Ball Matches

Benjamin Valdez / Owen Huntington (N) def. Lake Kim / Dragon Theam (A) / 4&3

Rob Ferris / Josh Rooker (A) def. Luke Lombardo / Danny Auffant (N) / 3&2

Josh Kim / Tyson Sparks (A) def. Chip Deegan / Kaden Ausen (N) / 3&1

John Heckel Jr. / Drew Jeffords (A) def. Jack Tarzy / Ed Scott (N) / 7&6

Singles Matches

Drew Jeffords (A) def. Luke Lombardo (N) 5&3

Chip Deegan (N) def. Tyson Sparks (A) 4&2

John Heckel Jr. (A) def. Ed Scott (N) 8&6

Owen Huntington (N) def. Rob Ferris (A) 6&5

Josh Kim (A) def. Jack Tarzy (N) 1-Up

Benjamin Valdez (N) def. Dragon Theam (A) 1-Up

Lake Kim (A) def. Kaden Ausen (N) 3&1

### Go Navy ###