Sam Stewart and Chase Wilson Excel For HPU Men’s Golf At The Donald Ross Intercollegiate

MORGANTON, N.C. – Sophomore Sam Stewart set a new 18-hole record and senior Chase Wilson secured his second-consecutive individual medal as the High Point University men’s golf team finished in fourth place out of 17 teams at the Donald Ross Intercollegiate in Morganton, N.C., on Tuesday. High Point shot a one-under 279 in the final round to finish with a total of 867.

“Today was just a great day all around,” head coach Greg Flesher said. “Sam had a record round and Chase managed to clinch his victory with some clutch shots down the stretch. We have to be very excited with the way we played today. Everyone performed well and it was a total team effort. Now we have to keep it going on and off the course. If we can do that I believe good things are on the horizon for us.”

The Panthers’ score of 279 marks a new Div. I low for the team while the one-under par finish at the Par-70 Mimosa Hills Golf & Country Club is High Point’s third-best finish under par. HPU has twice shot a three-under 285 on a Par-72 course, first at the 2012 Coca-Cola Invitational and then again last week at the 2012 Joe Agee Invitational. HPU was led on the day by Stewart who carded a five-under 65, the lowest 18-hole score in High Point’s Div. I era. Stewart finished the day in the red thanks to five birdies and 13 pars.

Wilson entered the final round in second, two-strokes behind Casey Komline of Appalachian State, after turning in a one-under 69 in the first round and two-under 68 in the second. The senior struggled at the start of the third round and entered the turn at four-over but bounced back with three birdies in his final nine holes to card a one-over 71 and finish with a 54-hole score of 208 (69-68-71). Wilson won his second individual medal of the season by one stroke over Komline, who shot a four-over 74 in the final round.

After posting scores of 73 and 78 in the first two rounds, Stewart’s third-round 65 propelled him into a tie for 16th with a score of 216 (73-78-65). Fellow sophomore Charles Valluzzo shot a three-over 73 for the second-consecutive round and ended the tournament in a tie for 39th with a score of 221 (75-73-73).

Freshman McKay Tye carded an even-par 70 in the final round and finished in a tie for 42nd with a total score of 222 (75-77-70). Senior Brian Sullivan finished in 88th in his first tournament of the season, shooting an 80 in the final round to finish with a score of 242 (83-79-80).

Lynn University claimed the team title with a total score of 854, winning by one stroke over James Madison which finished in second with a score of 855. Wofford ended the tournament in third with a score of 860 while Elon finished just behind High Point in fifth with a score of 874.

High Point is off until Oct.28 when it heads to Kiawah Island, S.C., to play in the Kiawah Island Classic. The three-day tournament will be hosted by fellow Big South member Charleston Southern at the Turtle Point Golf Club.