A long time coming

All-Marine Corps men win 1^st Armed Forces Golf Championship; All-Army women take home the gold

By Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Calvert

U.S. Army News Service

PARRIS ISLAND, South Carolina – This year’s Armed Forces Golf Championship came to a close Feb. 28 with the All-Marine Corps men’s golf team leaving as champions in the men’s contest and the All-Army women’s team securing the gold in the women’s team championship.

Brig. Gen. Ahmed T. Williamson, Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Eastern Recruiting Region, welcomed competitors to the Legends Golf Course at Parris Island, S.C., during an opening ceremony earlier this week.
“To the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard, I’ve got to let you know you’re on hallowed grounds for us,” Williamson said. “And if things get a little challenging, just know that that’s the standard set by the Marines. And for the Marines: you better freaking win.”

And win they did, where Marines are made. The All-Marine men’s team won the championship for the first time ever within earshot of the rifle range where many of the devil dogs first began their journey in uniform.

The All-Air Force, All-Army and All-Marine teams exchanged the top spot on the leaderboard across the course of the week until the Marines took control of the top of the leaderboard after the third round. The All-Marine men’s team clinched victory on the final day after the back-and-forth clash.

Marine Corps Capt. Nick Brediger, 1st Lt. Benjamin Schlottman, Staff Sgt. David Banks, Capt. Donald Koomar, Maj. David Cook, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Zachary Selvig recorded a gross score of 1,459 and celebrated in earnest after the awards ceremony with their coaches, service representatives, and family members.

Marine Corps golf coach Andy Hinson has coached the All-Marine Corps men’s golf team for 17 years. After several last place finishes and middling performances, he found it hard to immediately put into words what the win meant for him and Marine Corps golf.

“I will tell you this, we knew coming into this event that we had, on paper, an absolutely strong team, but no championship is ever won on paper,” Hinson said. “They went out there and did it, and I’m just so excited right now, I can’t even tell you.”

The Army women’s team ended their week with a championship of their own on the Marine Corps’ turf. Cpt. Lauren Theilen, Cpt. Carleen Schumacher, Sgt. Hansol Koo, and Sgt. Brittany Lindesmith combined for a gross score of 606 to clinch the championship. They wouldn’t be the only Soldiers walking away with gold.

Army Capt. Patrick Kim finished with a total score of six under par to win the men’s competition after a fierce battle with second-place finisher Brediger and third-place finisher Schlottman from the Marine Corps team.

In the women’s competition, Air Force Lt. Col Linda Jeffery shot a 76 on the first day of competition and held onto her lead through the rest of the tournament, finishing in first. The Army’s Thielen took home the silver, and Navy Ensign Angelina Carey earned the bronze.

The top six men and top three women were named to the U.S. Armed Forces Golf Team, which will compete at the 16th edition of the Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) World Military Golf Championship at the Diamond Leisure Beach & Golf Resort, Kwale, Kenya from June 22 through 29.

CISM seeks to promote sport in armed forces across the world, foster confidence and cohesion amongst service members internationally, and contribute to the fitness and motivation of service members.

Armed Forces Golf Championship Results

At Legends Club, Parris Island

WOMEN

Team Scores

1. Army 606; 2. Navy 631; 3. USAF 648; 4. USMC 705; 5. USCG 712.

Individual Standings

*won by sudden death playoff

MEN

Team Standings

1. USMC 1,459; 2. Army 1,464; 3. USAF 1,474; 4. Navy 1,547; 5. USCG 1,607.

Individual Standings