NINETY SIX, S.C. – For the second-straight day, Campbell rallied on the back nine and claimed a share of the Big South Conference men's golf stroke play championship Tuesday at The Patriot Golf Course at Grand Harbor.
The top-seeded Camels, Radford and Longwood all finished at four-under par 848, while Gardner-Webb (852) edged Charleston Southern (853) by one stroke to advance to Wednesday's four-team match play.
Campbell and Gardner-Webb will start from the first tee Wednesday at 8:00 a.m., while second-seeded Radford and Longwood will tee off from number 10. Semifinal winners will meet Wednesday afternoon in the championship match with the winner earning the Big South's automatic berth in the NCAA Regionals. Live scoring is available at Golfstat.com.
"Today was a matter of survival," said Campbell head coach
John Crooks. "Our golf today was good enough to put us in a favorable position. It wasn't championship golf; and we've got to do better to get an opportunity to advance further. There were five teams within five shots on a golf course that could easily be said that one hole determined the outcome."
As a team, the Camels made the turn at 11-over, but played the final nine holes even to advance to the knock out phase. Led by
Pontus Nyholm, who tied for 7th (69-70-73—212) at one-under par, all five Camels finished among the top 18 individuals.
Josh Hetherington finished T14 (70-72-72—214) on the temporary par-71 layout, while
Henrik Lilja was T16 (72-70-73—215).
Edwin Blomander (69-75-72—216) and
Romain Lanteri (74-66-76—216) tied for 18th.
Only five players in the 45-golfer field shot below par Tuesday, led by individual medalist Hunter Fry of USC Upstate (70-67-67—204), who earned an individual berth in the NCAA regionals.
Nyholm was three-over after four holes, but eagled the par-5 fifth and finished the day two over par. His 73 ended a string of 11-consecutive rounds below par, but the nation's 13th-ranked player logged his sixth top-10 finish in seven outings this spring.
Lilja started five over through his first three holes, but played the final 15 holes bogey free while making three birdies. Blomander was two-over through five, but strung together 10-straight pars before finishing birdie, par, par. Hetherington's day included four birdies. Lanteri posted his best finish on the collegiate campaign.
Big South Championship
The Patriot GC at Grand Harbor / Ninety Six, S.C.
Par 71, 6923 Yards / Apr. 18-21, 2021
Final Stroke Play Team Results (Top Four Advance to Match Play): T1. Campbell 280-278-290—848, T1. Radford 282-277-289—848, T1. Longwood 285-282-281—848, 4. Gardner-Webb 285-281-286—852, 5. Charleston Southern 280-283-290—853, T6. Winthrop 285-291-292—868, T6. USC Upstate 291-291-286—868, 8. Presbyterian 290-287-292—869, 9. High Point 294-295-288—877.
Final Stroke Play Individual Leaders (Top 5 All-Championship Team): 1. Hunter Fry (USC Upstate) 70-67-67—204, T2. Hunter Duncan (Radford) 69-64-73—206, T2. Brandon Weaver (Longwood) 68-70-68—206, 4. Ryan Tattan (Winthrop) 68-69-71—208, 5. Jake Scruggs (Gardner-Webb) 70-68-71—209.
Campbell Individuals: T7.
Pontus Nyholm 69-70-73—212, T14.
Josh Hetherington 70-72-72—214, T16.
Henrik Lilja 72-70-73—215, T18.
Edwin Blomander 69-75-72—216, T18.
Romain Lanteri 74-66-76—216.
