HPU Men’s Golf Finishes Day One of the Coca-Cola Invitational in Fifth Place

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The High Point University men’s golf team shot an even-par 576 (285-291) through two rounds at the Coca-Cola Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C., to finish in fifth place out of 18 teams after the first day on Monday. Junior Chase Wilson carded a four-under 140 through 36 holes to end the day in a tie for fifth.

“We played really well today,” head coach J.B. White said. The course is in great shape and we did a good job taking advantage of the greens when we had the chance. It is good to see the guys playing as well as they are right before the conference championship. Chase being three-under through two rounds is a great sign. The course will be set up a little harder tomorrow so we will have to be cautious but I think we can be successful if we keep doing the things we are doing.”

Wilson shot a three-under 69 in the first round and followed it with a one-under 71 in the second to post his best two-round score of the spring. Wilson leads teammate Charles Valluzzo by four strokes as the freshman shot 73-71 to finish the day in a tie for 20th with an even-par 144.

Fellow freshman Sam Stewart turned in a two-round score of 145 (70-75), one-over par to finish the day just behind Valluzzo in a tie for 25th place. Senior Curtis Brotherton is in a tie for 38th place with a two-round total of 148 after shooting 74 in both rounds while senior Thomas McLellan carded 36-hole score of 152 (73-79) and is tied for 72nd.

Charleston Southern shot 282-280 to finish the first day of the tournament atop the team standings with a total combined score of 562. The Buccaneers lead by nine strokes over East Tennessee State and Campbell who ended the day in a tie for second with matching scores of 571. Gardner-Webb is currently in fourth, one-stroke ahead of HPU with atwo-round score of 575.

Campbell’s Vaita Guillaume had the best individual score of the day, shooting a 69 in the first round and a tournament-record 64 in the second to finish with an 11-under 133. Stetson’s Sam Ryder sits just one-stroke back of Guillaume with a 36-hole score of 134 (68-66). Charleston Southern’s Jacob Pastor (73-65) and Ross Thompson (69-69) each shot 138 and are tied for third.

The Panthers will return to the Country Club of Spartanburg on Tuesday, April 10 for the third and final round of the Coca-Cola Invitational.