CARY, N.C. – One day after setting a school and course single-round record,
Ray Kraivixien of Campbell University claimed his second outright tournament championship this season. Sunday's triumph in the Stitch Intercollegiate at MacGregor Downs Country Club also carries a sponsor's exemption into the Web.com Tour Rex Hospital Open next month.
Kraivixien shot a one-under-par 71 Sunday and finished the 54-hole event at 13-under 203 (71-61-71) to finish three strokes ahead of a trio of golfers, all from top-30 ranked programs.
As a team Campbell was 10-under on the day and tied for fourth place with UAB and East Carolina at 17-under-par 847 (293-276-278—847). No.-29 Duke won team honors at 36-under 828 (284-270-274), six shots in front of No.-28 Wake Forest (282-283-269—834). No.-35 NC State (282-282-280—844) finished third in the 12-school field.
As a team, the Camels made five eagles, including three on Sunday, to share the lead. CU played the par-5 holes at 26-under, including 7-under as a team on the par-five 17th.
"It's just an unbelievable feeling to get accepted to a Web.com Tour event, it's a huge confidence booster," said Kraivixien. "I knew the situation well, but I knew I had to play the easiest game possible, hit the fairway, hit the green, either make a putt or make a par as much as possible, and I executed that plan well."
Kraivixien won the Old Dominion OBX Collegiate last fall and tied for the individual title Apr. 3 at the ECU Intercollegiate before falling on the second playoff hole. His school and course record 61 Saturday is second only to Steven Fisk of Georgia Southern's 60 among all collegiate golfers this year. Hayden Buckley of Missouri and Hurly Long of Texas Tech also have shot 61s in 2017-18.
He led the field in par-4 scoring (-7) and tied with Wake Forest's Eric Bae with 19 birdies.
Campbell freshman
Pontus Nyholm turned in a bogey-free, 5-under 67 Sunday and tied for 11th at 7-under 209 (72-70-67) in the 68-golfer field. After a rocky start in the first nine holes Friday, Nyholm played his final 45 holes at 13-under. He tied for first in the event in par-3 scoring (-2) and tied for fourth in birdies (16).
Junior
Jesper Svensson (75-73-70—218) and sophomore
Brett McLamb (76-72-70—218) tied for 32nd at two-over par. Sophomore
Max Theodorakis (75-75-72—222) tied for 44th.
Campbell finished among the top four teams for the sixth time in its last seven tournaments. The Camels will look to defend their conference title this weekend (Apr. 20-22) in the Big South Championship at The Patriot Golf Club in Ninety Six, S.C.
Stitch Intercollegiate
Cary, N.C. / MacGregor Downs CC
Apr. 13-15, 2018 / Par 72, 6973 Yards
Final Team Results: 1. Duke 284-270-274—828, 2. Wake Forest 282-283-269—834, 3. NC State 282-282-280—844,
T4. Campbell 293-276-278—847, T4. UAB 283-289-275—847, T4. East Carolina 286-279-282—847, 7. College of Charleston 292-290-282—864, 8. Virginia Tech 299-285-281—865, 9. Maryland 293-282-298—873, 10. Appalachian State 305-283-301—889, 11. Richmond 304-302-296—901, 12. Ohio 299-309-303—911.
Final Individual Leaders: 1. Ray Kraivixien (Campbell) 71-61-71—203, T2. Cameron Young (Wake Forest) 71-69-66—206, T2. Alex Smalley (Duke) 73-65-68—206, T2. Eric Bae (Wake Forest) 71-71-64—206, T5. Blake Taylor (ECU) 72-65-70—207, T5. Evan Katz (Duke) 71-67-69—207, T5. Justin Hood (NC State) 69-70-68—207.
Other Campbell Individuals: T11.
Pontus Nyholm 72-70-67—209, T32.
Jesper Svensson 75-73-70—218, T32.
Brett McLamb 76-72-70—218, T44.
Max Theodorakis 75-75-72—222.
