Ben Kohles, VirginiaThe junior from Cary, N.C., shot a final-round 67 at the John Burns Intercollegiate claim a spot in a three-way playoff with Texas A&M's John Hurley and California's Max Homa at 10-under 206. He then won the title with a six-foot birdie on the second playoff hole to claim his fifth career victory, tying the Cavaliers' school record set by Simon Cooke in 1996.
Kohles was one of four UVa players to post rounds in the 60s over the last 18 at Hawaii's Turtle Bay Resort, helping the team break the school's 14-plus year 18-hole scoring mark with a 19-under 269. The final round performance vaulted Virginia into third place behind victorious California and Texas A&M.
Virginia's next event is the Cleveland Golf/Palmetto Intercollegiate, where Kohles claimed medalist honors a year ago.
WOMEN
Teresa Puga, MinnesotaWith a career-best 66 in the final round of the UCF Challenge, the senior from Spain tied the Golden Gophers' 18-hole scoring mark and earned a share of medalist honors with Kentucky's Ashleigh Albrecht at Red Tail GC outside of Orlando. The two players finished the tournament with eight-under 208 totals. In winning her first college title, Puga also became the first Minnesota women's golfer to win a tournament since 2007.
Last fall Puga set the school's record for low fall stroke average (73.25) and Puga already holds the mark for best career average (75.51).
