Oilers, Lakers Win 2024 Folds of Honor Challenge
ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Findlay women and Grand Valley State men captured victories at the 2024 Folds of Honor Challenge on Tuesday at The Meadows at Grand Valley State University. The Oilers and Lakers earned automatic bids into the 2025 Folds of Honor Collegiate, to be held September 8-10 at American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, Mich., with their wins.
Recording the field’s lowest team rounds during both Round 2 and the final round, Findlay used a tournament-best six-over 290 on Tuesday to climb ahead of 18 and 36-hole leaders Grand Valley State and win the inaugural women’s championship.
“We were down the whole tournament,” head coach Dominic Guarnieri said. “We didn’t play very well at all in the first round but fought back to be down one going into today. As much as I hate to admit it, I watch the leaderboard all the time. I try not to, but I don’t think we had the lead until the 20 minutes of the day.”
Findlay’s Mary Kelly Mulcahy, who went back and forth atop the individual leaderboard with Grand Valley State’s Olivia Stoll throughout the week, recorded five birdies and a two-under 69 to collect her 11th collegiate win at even-par 213 (73-71-69). She received an exemption into the 2024 Patriot All-America Invitational, to be held December 29-31 at Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield Park, Ariz., with the win.
“This is a testament to staying focused and committed to what I’m doing,” said Mulcahy. “I was telling myself all day to control the controllables, which I believe are attitude, commitment, confidence, and focus. I knew that if I did that, it would be pretty cool to win this one, and it was good enough at the end of the day.”
The Oilers got contributions from their entire lineup en route to their first victory of the season.
“Our girls just kept fighting,” Guarnieri said. “Avery Thompson, one of our freshmen, came up huge today. She finished her last four holes one-under, and then Mary Kelly chipped in on the last hole for birdie to win individually and propel us to get to play in the big event next year.”
That 2025 Folds of Honor Collegiate automatic bid has been on the Findlay program’s mind for some time.
“We talked about what this would mean all summer,” said Guarnieri. “This is the first time the women’s side has had a chance, and that was something that we really wanted to achieve. We don’t really stress results in the fall, but having the ability to win this event and get into Folds of Honor Collegiate next year at an unbelievable golf course is so huge for our program in the years to come. The aura of it, in a big Division I field, I’m super excited and grateful for everybody that puts on that event and the Folds of Honor for everything they do.”
Mulcahy will be out of collegiate eligibility after this season, but the senior from Lima, Ohio, echoed how important gaining that invitation is for the Oilers.
“I’m bummed that I can’t play next year, but it is a really big deal for our school and golf program to be able to play in this event,” she said. “It’s what everyone here wants to do and I am really happy for them.”
In the men’s field, Grand Valley State took their first lead of the tournament during the back nine of Tuesday’s final round while recording the field’s only under-par round before clinching their third consecutive Folds of Honor Challenge title.
“Today was a big day for this program,” said head coach Gareth Lappin. “After yesterday’s round, we knew we had a chance going into today but we all needed to step up and play the golf we know we are capable of playing. It didn’t start great with three players making double bogeys early in their round, but the resilience to overcome a poor start and play almost flawless golf over the last nine holes when it mattered most was a testament to this group's grit. Credit Aurora and MGCCC (Mississippi Gulf Coast) for pushing us all the way to the wire. They played some great golf over the three days.”
“It also showed me how much they wanted to get that spot for next year,” Lappin continued. “Having been a part of the event for the last three years, it’s something we all look forward to. Having the opportunity to measure ourselves against the best is something we appreciate and don’t take for granted. If we didn’t get over the line today, it would’ve been hard to take knowing that the Folds of Honor Collegiate wasn’t going to be on the schedule for 2025.”
Already a winner at their season-opening Andrews Collegiate Am on September 8, Odessa’s Adam Bresnu took the individual lead during Monday’s second round and didn’t look back while earning medalist honors on Tuesday. The sophomore from Rabat, Morocco, carded nine of his 19 tournament birdies during his final round six-under 65 to win the Folds of Honor Challenge by eight shots.
“It was a really good day,” said Bresnu. “I started on fire with three birdies in a row but had a mean double bogey on 15. Like yesterday, I was like, ‘be patient; It’s going to pay.’ I was patient and I finished with five birdies in the last six holes, so I’m really proud of myself and what my coach and I are doing right now. It means that the hard work is paying and it’s only the beginning.”
With the win, Bresnu received an exemption into the 2024 Patriot All-America Invitational, to be held December 29-31 at Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield Park, Ariz.
“I didn’t know that that was going to happen, so I’m really happy to play it,” he said. “It’s a big tournament where a lot of great players play, so it’s going to be fun to play against the best in our sport.”
About Folds of Honor
Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of US military service members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving our country and communities. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded over 52,000 scholarships totaling about $244 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45 percent are minorities. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on Candid. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment 1, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org.
About The Meadows at Grand Valley State University
The Meadows has been the host of nine NCAA National Championships, including the NCAA Division II Women's National Championships in 1996, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2011, and 2015, as well as NCAA Division II Men's National Championship in 2001, 2007, and 2014. Please visit www.gvsu.edu/meadows for more information.
About Golf Coaches Association of America
Established in 1958, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) is the professional organization of men's collegiate golf coaches. The GCAA's mission is to support its member coaches from six divisions, including the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA, by creating educational opportunities, providing resources, and promoting its members with the purpose of enhancing their overall performance as coaches, mentors, and teachers. The GCAA also recognizes the excellence and achievements of its members and their student-athletes in academic, athletic and civic endeavors.