College Men’s Golf Results – Ratner, Guilford Take Titles at Golfweek D3 Invitational

SANDESTIN, Fla. – Guilford College junior Noah Ratner (Asheville, N.C./Asheville) clinched his second medalist honor in two weeks and led the Quakers to the team title Tuesday at the Golfweek Division III Fall Invitational.

Ratner led wire-to-wire in the 54-hole tournament and shot two-under-par 69 Tuesday at the Raven Golf Club at Sandestin. He finished with a nine-under 66-69-69-204, besting the Quakers’ 54-hole school record by three strokes. LaGrange College’s Hudson Keener started the day four strokes behind Ratner in second place, but made up only one shot Tuesday and placed second with a 68-71-68-207.

Guilford, which like Ratner led after all three rounds, shot 288 Tuesday to finish with an 874 and win the 18-team tourney by nine strokes. Defending NCAA Division III runner-up Illinois Wesleyan College (883) and the University of Texas-Tyler (883), which started the tournament ranked first in the latest Golfstat.com Division III Rankings, both shot 288 Tuesday. Oglethorpe carded the tournament’s low round (278) Tuesday to climb into fourth place, three shots out of second place.

Ratner was even par through his first five holes before posting birdies on six and seven. He bogeyed the par-four ninth hole to make the turn at one under for the day. Birdies on 11 and 15 dropped the 2010 PING First Team All-American to three-under, but he bogeyed the 16th hole before concluding his second career title with pars on 17 and 18.

While Ratner led the way, coach Corey Maggard’s club received a solid team effort over the three days. Junior J.T. Thomas (Raleigh, N.C./Broughton) matched his career low Tuesday with a one-under 70 that moved him into 15th place in the 90-man field with a three-day 222. Freshman Mitch Robinette (Charlotte, N.C./Grace Academy) scored all three days for the Quakers and had his best round (74) Tuesday to finish 31st at 227. Classmate Andrew Thompson was one stroke behind Robinette after wrapping up with a 78 Tuesday. Senior Dusty Roberts (Reidsville, N.C./Rockingham County) carded a 75, which helped him share 48th place at 232.

The Golfweek Division III Fall Invitational featured 12 teams ranked among the top 25 in the latest Golfstat.com Division III Rankings and 11 of the top-20 squads in the latest Golf World/Nike Golf Division III Coaches’ Poll.

The Quakers will send a ‘B’ team to the Louisburg Iron Clash this Saturday (10/15). The next varsity match is Oct. 24-25 when Guilford hosts the O’Briant/Jensen Memorial Tournament at the Cardinal Golf and Country Club.