College Men’s Golf News – Guilford’s Tanner Gross Takes 20th at Prestigious Patriot All-America Invite

LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz. – Guilford College sophomore Tanner Gross (Archdale, N.C./Homeschooled) shot a five-over-par 75 in Wednesday’s final round of the Patriot All-America Golf Invitational on the Wigwam Resort’s Gold Course. Gross finished with a three-day 71-74-75-210 to share 20th place in the all-star field of 84 golfers. He had the best score among 16 NCAA Division III contestants, including 2014 National Player of the Year Bobby Holden (Redlands), who shot 216 and finished in a share of 47th place.

The golfers found cold and wet conditions on the par-70, 6965-yard Gold Course Wednesday. Gross started the day in 19th place and opened with bogeys on two of his first three holes. He settled down to par the next six holes and made the turn with a two-over 37. A bogey on the par-five 10th hole moved him to three-over for the day. Following four consecutive pars, Gross bogeyed on two of the final four holes to finish with a 75. He made 13 pars and five bogeys in Tuesday’s round.

University of Virginia junior Kyle Kochevar won the title in a two-hole playoff with University of Arizona rookie George Cunningham. Cunningham shot the tournament’s low score Wednesday with a four-under 66, thanks to three birdies on his closing nine.

The fifth annual tournament was comprised mostly of returning All-Americans from all levels of college golf. It is hosted by the Wigwam Resort, in conjunction with the Golf Coaches’ Association of America and JDM Partners. The tournament benefits the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides educational support for families of fallen and disabled U.S. soldiers.

Gross, a PING Second Team All-American and the 2014 GCAA Division III Freshman of the Year, returns home to prepare for the Quakers’ spring-season opener Mar. 9-10 at the TaylorMade-adidas Intercollegiate in St. Helena Island, S.C.