O’Connor Helps Vault Greensboro College Pride Men To Fourth At NCAA DIII Golf Championship

O’Connor Helps Vault Pride Men To Fourth At NCAA Championship
Courtesy of Wes Gullett, Greensboro College Sports Information Director

HOWIE-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – The Greensboro College men’s golf team moved into fourth place at the NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championship after shooting a second round , 297, on the par-72 Las Colinas Golf Course at the Mission Inn Resort & Club Wednesday.

The Pride entered the day in an eighth-place tie but was able to jump four spots and currently trail the leader, Huntingdon College, by 13 strokes.

“Today was a really good and consistent round for our guys,” Coach Jim Cantamessa said. “The wind was really bad today on the course but our guys powered through the elements and I was very happy with that.

“After our performance in the first two rounds, I am really looking forward to the final two days of competition.”

Sean O’Connor, who entered Wednesday’s second round at three-over-par, birdied the 17th and 18th holes to finish the round at one-over par.

O’Connor bogeyed the opening hole of the day before moving to one-under-par with an eagle on the par-5 fifth. He then played the final 13 holes at two-over-par, including seven pars, four bogeys and two birdies.

“I hit a really good drive off the tee box on five,” O’Connor stated. “After the drive, I hit a gap-wedge that allowed me the opportunity of an eagle and I was able to convert. That eagle was a big boost for me as I missed a couple birdie attempts on the previous couple of holes.

“Consistency is the name of the game when it comes to golf. If you can be consistent each and every hole, you can take a lot of pressure off yourself and the team, while also giving yourself an opportunity to score low.”

Scott Campbell continued his solid performance to open the tournament by firing a two-over-par, 74, and currently sits in a 37th-place tie at seven-over-par.

Campbell found himself at one-over-par through nine holes before falling to three-over-par after 15 holes. Campbell then followed up his bogey on the par-3 15th with a par before closing out his round with a birdie on the par-4 17th and a par on the par-5 18th.

Luke Grogan, who entered the day at two-over-par, carded a three-over-par round that included 10 pars, four bogeys, three birdies and one double-bogey. Grogan’s five-over par score through 36-holes places him in a 19th-place in the 215-player field.

Grant Powell rebounded from a rocky opening round and recorded a three-over-par, 75, while Levi Grogan currently sits at five-over-par after also tallying a three-over-par.

The Pride men will continue their quest for the program’s third national title Thursday when they return to the Mission Inn Resort & Club for the third round of action. The final two rounds will be played on the par-72 El Campeon Golf Course, which the Pride fired a 12-over-par round Tuesday. For more information on the Pride’s run for a national title, continue to follow www.greensborocollegesports.com.