Berry, Runas take top college honors

__By Ryan Herrington

GOLF WORLD COLLEGE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Sept. 24-30

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__[#image: /photos/55ad755badd713143b4266b2]|||Tom Berry head shot.jpeg|||

Tom Berry, San Diego State

The senior from England entered the final round atop the leader board at the Ping/Golfweek Preview on the Capital City Club's Crabapple course, then handled the pressure of playing against the toughest field of the fall, posting a closing two-over 72 to win medalist honors with a two-under 208. It was his first college victory, set up by an opening round 67 and a second-round 69 on the course that will host the NCAA Championship next spring. Berry was the only player in the field that broke par for 54 holes, beating a group of eight that finished at even-par 210.

"I know I'll take a lot of positives out of this week," Berry said. "And hopefully we'll be coming back here in May [for the NCAA Championship] so this would be a big confidence boost for me."

__Honorable mention:

Kirby Pettitt__, Colorado State—A final-round 64 at Colorado National from the redshirt senior gave him the individual title by three strokes at the Mark Simpson Invitational.

__WOMEN

__[#image: /photos/55ad755bb01eefe207f6b80c]|||Demi Runas head shot.jpeg|||

Demi Runas, UC Davis

With a three-shot victory over Pepperdine's Grace Na and UT-San Antonio's Fabiola Arriaga, the senior from Torrance, Calif., claimed her third career college title at the Golfweek Conference Challenge. A second-round 67 at Red Sky GC in Vail, Colo., allowed her to cruise to victory with a closing 71.

"Demi's individual win and three consecutive under-par rounds really set the bar for the team," said first-year coach Anna Temple.

Runas' play helped the Aggies finish runner-up to Pepperdine in the team competition.

__Honorable mention:

Kristen Rue__, Washington State—With a 68 in the final round of her home tournament, one of jsut two sub-70 rounds posted over the final 18 holes, the sophomore claimed her first college win at the WSU Cougar Cup.