HPU Men’s Golf Panthers fall 4-1-1 to Blue Hoes in Bridgestone Match Play

BRASELTON, Ga. – Freshman RJ Bartolomucci picked up a win as the High Point University men’s golf team dropped its match play against Presbyterian, 4-1-1, on Tuesday at the Bridgestone Match Play Invitational.

“We got off to a slow start, but made a run late to keep us in it to the end,” head coach Brady Gregor said. “We are not taking moral victories, but this team showed fight and this first event allowed us to see where we are and where we have to be to win the conference this spring. This is a young team and I look forward to watching them grow on and off the course.”

Bartolomucci never trailed on the par 72, 6,997-yard Chateau Elan Legends Course en route to taking his match by two holes. After starting on the back nine, the Hilton Head, S.C. product pulled ahead with a birdie on the 13th hole and never looked back.

Another freshman, Alec Weary split his match to earn a tie. The Bluffton, S.C. native trailed by two holes after six, but battled back and led by one with two holes to play before finishing in a tie.

Rounding out the freshmen performances for the Purple & White was Brendan MacDougall who was tied through 17 holes. However, Hayden Ploeger won the last hole to give the Blue Hoes a 4-1-1 victory.

All in all it was a solid day for the High Point freshmen.

“Overall, we aren’t satisfied with our finish,” sophomore Christian Casingal continued. “We worked hard to prepare for this tournament like any other and had a lot of positives going into it. However, it was the little things that got to us this week, but that can be corrected with experience. For half of the team, this was their first college event and I’m proud of the way the freshmen performed and, as always, I’m proud of the whole team. This only motivates up to work harder and win the next event.”

Casingal was down three after 10 holes but was able to pull within one with one hole remaining. Likewise, redshirt-junior A.J. Hopkins and sophomore Davis Kiger also battled back three-stroke deficits to pull within one before dropping a shot in the final hole.

The Panthers are right back in action on Sept. 25-26 in the Patriot Intercollegiate in Lorton, Va.