Men's Golf News

Methodist Edges Oglethorpe

A second round shoot out at Smoke Rise Golf Club in Stone Mountain, GA on Monday afternoon found the nation’s top four teams battling each other to win the Emory Spring Invitational.

Methodist College (300) held a one stroke lead over both Oglethorpe and Huntingdon College who fired opening round 301’s and a nine stroke lead over #1 ranked Guildford College at 309.  Emory University (305) and Rhodes College (307) were in 4^th and 5^th place after day one.

A perfect spring day in Atlanta awaited the golfers on Monday morning.  A light wind, along with a clear blue sky and bright sunshine gave every indication that the final round would produce some very low scored and a finish that would not be decided until the final holes.

#1 ranked Guilford College began the day nine back of the lead and placed three golfers under par for day two en route to a closing round four under par 284 to move up the leader board with a two day total of 309-284=593.  That was the early leader in the clubhouse with Oglethorpe, Methodist, and Huntingdon still on the course.  Huntingdon, who was in the middle of the very tight finish, lost some strokes on the closing nine holes and fell back to fifth place with a 301-305=606 total.

The race was now down to three teams.  Guilford in the clubhouse with their 593 already posted with Oglethorpe and Methodist dueling it out on the final few holes.  Methodist, who held a one stroke lead over Oglethorpe after day one, was able to edge the Stormy Petrels by another stroke in the final round giving the Methodist Monarch’s a two stroke win over Oglethorpe.  Methodist carded a two over par 290 to Oglethorpe’s three over par 291 on the final day.  Methodist’s 300-290=590 was the winning total and Oglethorpe’s 301-291=592 edged Guilford College by one stroke for 2^nd place.

Methodist was led by junior Nick Bova’s two under par 70 and Corey Schneider’s one under par 71.  Oglethorpe was led by sophomore Taylor Urbanski’s two under 70 and junior Danny Swanick’s one under 71.  Swanick finished tied for 7^th.  Freshmen Josh Kinsey finished 17^th and Joseph Lyda finished 45^th.

The All Tournament team was led by medalist Nick Bova with his rounds of 72-70=142 followed by Urbanski at 75-70-145 in second.  Urbanski’s second place finish was his fourth top 10 of the y ear.  OU Senior Joe Green finished in a four way tie for third at 75-72=147 with Methodist’s Adam Horton and Cory Schneider and Guilford’s Joseph Poplin.  Green’s third place finish was his fifth top ten in nine tournaments.