HPU Men’s Golf Wins The Joe Agee Invitational

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – The High Point University men’s golf team won the Joe Agee Invitational by one stroke over Radford with a total score of 861 thanks to a combined score of 289 in the third and final round on Tuesday in Williamsburg, Va. Senior Chase Wilson tied his career-low 54-hole score with a seven-under 206 to claim the individual medal.

“The team played absolutely great today,” head coach Greg Flesher. “We had a rough start to the round and it was really impressive the way we were able to battle back. Charles Valluzzo hit a bunch of birdies in the middle of the round to help pull us back and McKay Tye was a great story, shooting a very smooth 71 today. Overall this was a total team effort over the course of the past two day and I couldn’t be more proud.”

The three-round score of 861 by High Point matches the team’s lowest 54-hole total in its Div. I history. HPU previously shot 861 in a fourth-place finish at the 2010 Sea Trail Intercollegiate. The Panthers outshot Radford by one stroke in the final round to finish first among the 11 teams competing in the tournament. HPU was the tournament’s top scorer on Par-4s (+27) and Par-5s (-10) and finished with 50 birdies as a team.

Wilson followed up his back-to-back 67s on Monday with a one-over 72 on Tuesday. The senior matched his own HPU Div. I 54-hole record of 206 for the tournament which he set when he won the individual medal at the 2010 Sea Trail. Wilson finished the tournament with 16 birdies and one eagle and led all competitors with a score of -4 on the Par-4s.

“I am thrilled that Chase was able to win the individual medal,” Flesher said. “He had a tough start to the day and was four-over par after two holes, but he just battled back one stroke at a time. I will tell recruits the story of his round today for years. He really deserved to medal in this tournament.”

Wilson was joined in the top 10 by sophomore Sam Stewart and freshman McKay Tye. Stewart shot a 73 in the third round and finished in sixth with a new career-low score of 216 (71-72-73). The sophomore shaved three strokes off his previous career low of 219. Tye turned in a career-low round of 71 on Tuesday and finished his first collegiate tournament in 10th with a 54-hole score of 219 (74-74-71).

Sophomore Charles Valluzzo carded a 73 in the final round and finished one-stroke back of Tye in a tie for 11th with a three-round score of 220 (75-72-73). Sophomore LJ Georgetti turned in a 79 on the day and finished the tournament in a tie for 32nd with a total score of 229 (75-75-79).

The Panthers finished one-stroke ahead of Radford which finished in second with a score of 862. Host William & Mary finished 12-strokes back in third with a total combined score of 873. Delaware finished fourth with a score of 889 while Elon and Long Island University-Brooklyn tied for fifth with matching scores of 896.

Wilson won the individual medal by one stroke over fellow day-one leader Callum Tarren of Radford after Tarren shot a two-over 73 and finished with a score of 207 (64-70-73). RU’s Weston Eklund finished third in the individual standings with a score of 208 thanks to a one-under 70 on Tuesday.

High Point will return to action on Oct. 15 when the team heads to Morgantown, N.C., to play in the Donald Ross Intercollegiate. The two-day, 54-hole event will be hosted by Appalachian State at the Mimosa Hills Golf Club.