The Georgia Northwestern Bobcats saw their team score improve in all three rounds of the Chick-fil-A Invitational in Rome, Ga. as they ended the 54-hole event with an eighth-place finish in a 13-team field that included NCAA Division II and Division III schools.
Georgia Northwestern carded a team score of 312 after the first 18 holes on Monday, but improved to a 303 in the second round, which had to be completed on Tuesday morning. The Bobcats finished up their final round on Tuesday afternoon with a 297, their best 18-hole score of the season.
The tournament, hosted by Berry College, was played on the 6,736-yard layout at Stonebridge Golf Club.
Branton Bailey, who earned second team honors at the recent USCAA National Championships, finished 11th overall with a 4-over-par total of 220. He carded a 76 in his opening round, followed by a 75 in the second round. Then in his final 18 holes, he shot a 3-under-par 69, which was the third best overall score of the final round.
Lane Strickland ended up in a tie for 14th place with a 222 (6-over-par). Strickland shot a 77 and a 74 in his first two rounds, but turned in a 1-under-par 71 in his final round.
Cole Roberts (81, 78, 77) finished up at 236, followed by David Manis (87, 76, 80) with a 243. Adrian Clark (78, 90, 80) came home with a 248.
Tanner Tabor of Millsaps College and Jacob Arnett of Oglethorpe tied for low medalist honors at 5-under-par 211. Tabor's final round of 5-under 67 was the lowest of the tournament. Brett Buckingham of Augsburg College was one stroke back at 212.
Oglethorpe University finished with a 2-over-par score of 866, followed by North Carolina Wesleyan at 874, Truett-McConnell at 888, LaGrange College at 895 and Birmingham Southern at 897.
The rest of the field included Augsburg (904), Berry (907), Georgia Northwestern (912), Emory "B" (913), Millsaps (915), Shorter University (921), Covenant College (947) and Oglethorpe "B" (973).
The Bobcats will wrap up the fall season at the Trojan Invitational in Alexander City, Ala., Nov. 12-14, at the Wynlakes Golf and Country Club. The tournament is hosted by Central Alabama Community College.