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Hokies extend NCAA streak to 10 years
Replacing players such as Scott Vincent and Trevor Cone, both two-
time All-Americans and No. 1 and 2 respectively on the all-time Virginia
Tech scoring list, can be a daunting task for any team. However, it is also
an opportunity for younger players to increase playing time and continue to
develop throughout the season. That was certainly the case for junior co-
captain Joey Lane. He had an outstanding year and received an individual bid
to the NCAA Franklin Regional, contested at the Legends Club in Franklin,
Tenn. This was the Hokies’ 10th straight appearance and marks the 14th time
in the last 16 years that Tech has participated in postseason play. To finish off
a terrific year, Lane won the 2016 Virginia State Amateur Championship at the
team’s home course, the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech, joining Billy
Hurley, Lanny Wadkins, Vinny Giles, Wynsol Spencer, and Chandler Harper
as the only players in the 103 years of the tournament to earn medalist honors
and go on to win the championship. This was the second year in a row that a
Virginia Tech player has won the Virginia State Amateur, as senior co-captain
Maclain Huge won the title in 2015.
Another highlight of the season was having four players named as All-
American Scholars. Huge, junior Drew Johnson, Lane, and junior Ryan
Mondy all received this honor, which is a tribute to their hard work both in the
classroom and on the golf course. Huge joins former players Drew Weaver
and Bryce Chalkley as two-time winners of this award for the Hokies. When
you consider that Virginia Tech has had nine players earn All-American Scholar
status in the past, having four in one season is quite an accomplishment.
The team’s lone senior, Huge played well again to end a solid career at
Virginia Tech. He played in the lineup in every event during his four years and
finished 11th on the all-time scoring list with a 73.97 average. Lane posted
career-best fourth place finishes at the Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate and
the Kiawah Classic, and added three other Top 10 finishes, including a seventh
place finish at the ACC championship, where he shot a 67 in the final round. He
led the team in scoring with a 72.23 average, as well as “Crunch Time” scoring
with a final round average of 72.55, and posted 16 rounds at par-or-better. Lane
earned the team’s Player of the Year award and was also selected as the Most
Improved Player by his teammates. As a testament to his fine play throughout the
year, he was named to the Virginia Collegiate All-State second team. Lane was
once again elected captain by his teammates for the 2016-17 season.
Mondy was named the team’s strength and conditioning award winner for
the second straight year. He competed in all the events except one during
2015-2016
REVIEW
Joey Lane, 2016 Virginia State Amateur Champion.