HPU Men’s Golf Finishes 11th at the Wendy’s Kiawah Classic

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – The High Point University men’s golf team shot a combined 300 in the third and final round of the Wendy’s Kiawah Classic to finish 11th out of 26 teams with a total score of 909 on Tuesday in Kiawah Island S.C. Sophomore Sam Stewart had the low round of the day for HPU with a three-over 74.

“I felt that we played pretty well today,” head coach Greg Flesher said. “The course really was tough and played a couple strokes harder than in the previous rounds. Overall, it was a solid team effort out there. Our low score was a 74 and the highest we counted was a 76 so everyone played fairly well. For us to pick up some spots on a couple pretty good teams in the final round is just a testament to how well we performed.”

Sophomore Charles Valluzzo has High Point’s top finisher in the classic, carding a 75 in the final round to end the competition in a tie for 19th with a 54-hole total of 222 (71-76-75). Senior Chase Wilson matched Valluzzo with a 75 in the third round and finished the tournament in a tie for 28th with a three-round score of 224 (72-77-75).

Senior Brian Sullivan tied his career-low round with a 76 on Tuesday and finished his first 54-hole tournament in a tie for 66th with a total score of 232 (79-77-76). Stewart’s 74 gives him a 54-hole total of 233 (79-80-74) and leaves him tied for 70th. Freshman McKay Tye shot a 78 in the third round and finished in a tie for 78th with a total score of 235 (78-79-78).

South Carolina led the team race from start to finish, shooting a combined 284 on Tuesday to claim the team title with a total score of 859. The Gamecocks won by 20 strokes over Winthrop which shot a 290 in the third round to finish in second with a score of 879. Jacksonville State moved into third with a score of 885 while the College of Charleston (890) and Marquette (896) rounded out the top five.

Caleb Sturgeon of South Carolina carded a three-under 68 in the final round to move up from second and claim the individual medal with a 54-hole total of 210. Sturgeon finished two strokes ahead of teammate Will Starke who shot a 69 on Tuesday to move into second with a score of 212.

The Panthers wrap up their fall season at the Hummingbird Intercollegiate beginning on Saturday, Nov. 3. The two-day, 36-hole event will be hosted by Western Carolina at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley in Cashiers, N.C.