BURLINGTON, N.C. – Elon University men’s golf defended its team title and William Harwood claimed the individual championship following the final round of the Fourth Annual Phoenix Invitational Tuesday, Oct. 16, at Alamance Country Club.
Entering the final day of the tournament with an eight-under 560, the Phoenix combined for a 283 to hold onto the poll position at 843 (-9). Ohio was the runner-up with a four-under 848, and Temple rounded out the top three at 849.
“This tournament win is great for the team,” said head coach Don Hill. “As a team, all of the guys work hard every day and push one another to be better. We had a couple team finishes we didn’t care for early in the year, but we also felt that we were a lot better. As a younger team that’s figuring out who we are, we’ve taken something from every event and that has made us better. I’m just so happy for the guys.”
Tied with Temple’s Trey Wren at 135 through day one, Harwood went three-under in the final round to finish with a 10-under 203 for the tournament. It marks his second career tournament win as he placed first at the 2017 Pinehurst Intercollegiate as a freshman. His combined total marks a new 54-hole career low, and his score-to-par of -10 is a new career best. The junior tallied 14 birdies with 36 pars during the course of the three rounds.
“To be in that position to have to compete, to have a lead and maintain it coming down the stretch, [Harwood] just played phenomenal,” added Hill. “He started out the season so strong. He wanted information in terms of where the team was and where he was in the standings on the 17th hole, so we tried to collect information to figure out if he needed to do something extra special. When you have five guys all in contention, you don’t feel like you’re playing four on five. Knowing that William was in the anchor match and was under par all day was very calming.”
HIGHLIGHTS
The Phoenix had four top-25 finishers, including three in the top-10. Graham Hutchinson, who was competing as an individual, turned in his best round with a three-under 68 to jump from a tie for 22nd to a tie for ninth at 211. The effort marks a career-low round for the Dallas, Texas native and is his first career top-10 finish. Philip Loeb was also tied for ninth, his third career top-10 finish, after hitting even through the final 18 holes. Max Ferrari recorded a two-over 73 to tie for 21st at 214.
Quade Lukes (216) and Dustin Blank (217) tied for 30th and 40th, respectively, while Cristian Del Vecchio and Josef Dransfeld each carded a 220. Additionally for the Phoenix were William Frodigh (221), who turned in a career-low round of 69 on the final day, Dawson Daniels (226), as well as Steven Segrist (230).
UP NEXT
Elon will conclude its fall slate on Oct. 22-23 at the Pinetree Intercollegiate, hosted by Kennesaw State at Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw, Ga.
Fourth Annual Elon Phoenix Invitational at Alamance Country Club
Oct. 15-16 | Burlington, N.C.
Team Standings
1. Elon (277-283-283–843) -9
2. Ohio (290-279-279–848) -4
3. Temple (278-291-280–849) -3
T4. Radford (284-286-280–850) -2
T4. Presbyterian (290-279-281–850) -2
6. Gardner-Webb (282-282-288–852) E
7. High Point (290-284-280–854) +2
8. Charleston Southern (280-288-287–855) +3
9. Wofford (279-291-286–856) +4
10. George Washington (291-286-281–858) +6
11. Drexel (287-287-285–859) +7
12. Morehead State (290-284-289–863) +11
13. Delaware (292-290-282–864) +12
14. Longwood (293-294-284–871) +19
15. La Salle (302-296-281–879) +27
16. Towson (302-296-300–898) +46
Elon Individuals
1. William Harwood (67-68-68–203) -10
T9. Graham Hutchinson (70-73-68–211) -2
T9. Philip Loeb (68-72-71–211) -2
T21. Max Ferrari (72-69-73–214) +1
T30. Quade Lukes (71-74-71–216) +3
T40. Dustin Blank (71-76-70–217) +4
T56. Cristian Del Vecchio (70-73-77–220) +7
T56. Josef Dransfeld (71-76-73–220) +7
T63. William Frodigh (74-78-69–221) +8
T80. Dawson Daniels (74-77-75–226) +13
T85. Steven Segrist (78-74-78–230) +17