GREENSBORO, N.C. --- The University of Texas at Tyler (UT Tyler) held off Huntingdon College and Illinois Wesleyan University Monday to win the 2017 Tournament Town Preview at the Grandover Resort. UT Tyler shot 281-289-305-875 (+11) in the 18-team, 54-hole tournament, which concluded under sunny skies on Grandover's par-72, 7,015-yard East Course layout.
The Patriots, ranked first in the current Bushnell/Golfweek NCAA Division III Coaches' Poll, carried a six-shot lead over number-nine Illinois Wesleyan University into Monday's play, but had to withstand fifth-ranked Huntingdon's final-round 288 that lifted the Hawks from ninth place to second at 295-295-288-878 (+14). Illinois Wesleyan finished at 14-over par at 285-292-301-878. Number-18 Concordia University (Texas) (884) and third-ranked Methodist University (887) rounded out the top-five.
Sophomore Zach Evens of tournament co-host Guilford College captured his first collegiate medalist honor. The Washington State resident birdied his final hole, the 18th, and edged a trio of competitors by a single stroke to join Noah Ratner '13 as Guilford winners of the Preview tournament. Evens shot 68-74-73-215 (-1), one stroke better than UT-Tyler's Tyler Uhlig, Huntingdon's Mark Connelly and Illinois Wesleyan's Conner O'Neil, who each finished at 216. All four students joined fifth-place finisher Tommy Oliver (217) of the University of the South on the Tournament Town Preview All-Tournament Team.
UT-Tyler led after each of the three rounds. The second round, suspended Sunday due to darkness, finished Monday morning and saw the Patriots start with a seven-stroke lead over Illinois Wesleyan and Greensboro College. UT-Tyler shot a pedestrian 305 Monday, opening the door for Illinois Wesleyan and Huntingdon. Behind Connelly's three-under 69 and Jon Colten Stanaland's 70, the Hawks made a strong move down the stretch, but couldn't quite close the gap. The Titans also failed to take advantage despite O'Neil's 74 and a one-over-par 73 by Rob Wuetrich. Greensboro slumped to a final-round 317 and finished 11th.
Guilford shot 299 Monday and placed ninth with a 288-310-299-897 (+33). After Evens' winning performance, senior Harrison Frye delivered the Quakers' best showing with a 22nd-place score of 72-75-75-222 (+6). Teammate Josh Hill rebounded from a second-round 81 with Guilford's low Monday score (72) and placed 23rd at 70-81-72-223 (+7). Guilford's Kell Graham shot 78-80-79-242 (+21), good for 73rd place, and rookie Bradley Calloway shared 81st place at 79-81-82-242.
Fellow ODAC competitor Washington and Lee University faired one place better in its first start of the season, finishing eighth overall at 26-over 890 (295-297-298). All five Generals featured in the scoring at one point over the three rounds with just two carded scores reaching 80 or higher. Brian Peccie led the way in a tie for 10th at 4-over 220 (74-74-72), while Sean Puleo tied for 15th at 5-over 221 (73-80-68). Luke Farley finished in a tie for 28th at 8-over 224 (72-73-79), and Eric Wirth opened his season tied for 55th at 15-over 231 (78-74-79). Austin Harrill rounded out the group in a tie for 74th at 22-over 238 (76-76-86).
Co-hosted by Guilford and the Greensboro Sports Commission, the Preview consisted of top finishers from the 2017 NCAA Division III Championships and select regional teams. The event previewed the 2018 Division III Championships, which return to Grandover for the third time in seven years May 15-18. This year's field featured 17 teams ranked among the top-25 in the Bushnell/Golfweek Poll, including eight of the top-nine clubs.
Guilford and many of the same teams in the Tournament Town Preview will compete in the Division III Golfweek Fall Invitational Oct. 15-17 at the Sandestin Resort in Miramar Beach, Florida.
--- This release is courtesy of tournament-host Guilford College. ---
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