SALISBURY, N.C. – Powered by three golfers in the top-15, the Georgia College Golf squad got its best team finish of the 2017-18 season Tuesday, taking fourth at the Richard Rendleman Invitational, hosted by Catawba College.
The Bobcats are trending upward, finishing 12th, sixth and now fourth in their past three tournaments. GC Golf shot rounds of 290 and 299 to finish 21-over in fourth place among 17 teams. The tournament was held at the par-71 Country Club of Salisbury.
Senior Justin Connelly (McDonough, Georgia) led the team for the second time this season, finishing fifth overall for All-Tournament Team honors. He made a five-spot jump today, following up yesterday’s 72 with a 71. He was one-over, five strokes off the lead. Connelly did his damage on the par-four holes, averaging even-par for the tournament, good for third in the field.
Second on the squad and sixth overall in the 89-golfer field was senior Thomas Hodges (Monroe, Georgia) posting rounds of 68 and 76 for two-over. The former All-Peach Belt Conference (PBC) selection was second in the field in par three scoring at even par. He tied for tops in the tournament in birdies with nine.
Sophomore Drew Duffie (Evans, Georgia) had his best finish as a Bobcat, taking 15th. A measure of consistency, he carded two 74s for six-over.
Classmate Austin Mancilla (Lawrenceville, Georgia) had a 78 today after yesterday’s 76, positioned 29th at 12-over par. Mancilla had one of the tournament’s two eagles. Seeing his first action as a Bobcat, sophomore Jake Minchew (Waycross, Georgia) jumped six slots to 69th, finishing plus-27 with rounds of 86 and 83.
Wingate University won the team title at seven-over, besting the field by nine strokes. Lenoir-Rhyne University and host Catawba tied for second, five shots ahead of the Bobcats. Individual honors went to LRU’s Jordan Vogler at four-under par.
The Bobcats are back in action at the 2018 Southeastern Collegiate, hosted by Valdosta State University March 11-13.