It was a great showing all around for the Hillsdale College men's golf team at the Kyle Ryman Memorial Invitational hosted on Monday and Tuesday at the Mohawk Golf and Country Club at Tiffin University.
The Chargers had a strong team performance, shooting 888 to take fourth overall in the 13 team field and beat several G-MAC and Midwest Regional opponents, and also had multiple golfers post strong showings individually as well.
Leading the way for Hillsdale was senior Drew Gandy, who entered the tournament as an individual and wasn't a part of the Chargers' lineup for the team competition. Gandy put together one of the best performances of his career on the golf course, which is saying something given the hot streak the Midland, Michigan native finished last season on. He spent the entire tournament at or near the top of the leaderboard, opening with six birdies and a three-under 69 in round one and shooting a one-under 71 in round two to enter the final round on Tuesday with a one-stroke lead over the field.
While Gandy couldn't hold on to first place as Malone medalist Connor Curry shot a sensational final round score to pull ahead late, Gandy didn't let his opponent get past without a fight, finishing strong with a one-over 73 to shoot a career-best 213 for the invitational and take second place overall, his best-ever finish in a collegiate 54-hole event.
Even though the Chargers didn't have access to Gandy's low score in the team race, Hillsdale still put together a strong showing thanks to consistent play from its lineup. Fellow senior Gerry Jones, Jr. also played an impressive 54 holes, shooting an even-par 216 to tie for fourth place overall and finish as one of just five players at even par or under.
Jones, Jr. was well under par in two of his three rounds, hitting two eagles to finish with a three-under par 69 in round one, and closing out the tournament with a bogey-free final round 70 that included birdies on the Par 3 No. 3 and the Par 4 No. 14.
Senior Darragh Monaghan shot a 76-70-77-223 to finish tied for 21st as well for the Chargers, hitting five birdies and an eagle in his two-under par second round, and freshman Maxwell Burns bounced back well from a rocky first round of 78 with a two-over 74 and an even-par 72 in the final two rounds to finish just behind Monaghan in a tie for 24th at 224.
Junior Will Verduzco shot a 78-78-73-229 and Filippo Reale shot a 76-76-77-229 to each finish tied for 42nd and round out Hillsdale's lineup, as all five of Hillsdale's scoring golfers finished in the top half of the field in the event.
Senior Carson Stohler also participated in the event as an individual for Hillsdale, shooting a 78-77-77-232 to finish tied for 56th for the Chargers.
As a team, Hillsdale had the second most pars of any squad with 156 for the tournament, and the Chargers' four eagles were more than double the next best team in the event. The Chargers particularly feasted on Par 5s on the Mohawk course, shooting a combined -19 under on those holes -- the second best in the tournament.
Individually, Gandy stood out on Par 4s for Hillsdale, shooting even-par for the tournament, tied for the best mark in the event, while Jones Jr. was close behind on those holes at two-over. Three Chargers -- Monaghan (-6), Jones, Jr. (-5) and Gandy (-5) were among the top 10 players in scoring on Par 5s as well.
Hillsdale continues its fall season on Oct. 15 and 16, when the Chargers play their first tournament in Michigan this season, traveling to Stoatin Brae Golf Club in Augusta, Michigan to play in the Panther Invitational.
Photo Courtesy of Findlay Athletics