The Georgia Northwestern golf team braved unseasonably harsh conditions to finish 10th overall at the 12-team Wallace State (Ala.) Invitational at the Cross Creek Golf Club in Cullman, Ala., held Sept. 10-12.
It was the first tournament of the year for the all-freshman squad, who beat Cleveland State (Tenn.) Community College by 17 shots (316-333) in an 18-hole match at Chatata Valley Golf Course in Cleveland back on Aug.
29 and tied the Cougars, 311-311, on Sept. 8 at the LaFayette (Ga.) Golf Course.
Lane Strickland paced the Bobcats with a 54-hole total of 238 (22-over par) on the 6,351-yard layout. The former Sonoraville High product shot an 83 on Sunday before improving four shots with a 79 on Monday. He went three shots lower with a 76 on Tuesday.
Adrian Clark (Northwest Whitfield) made the biggest Day 2 improvement as he followed up an opening 86 with a second-round 77. He then matched Strickland with a 76 in the final round to finish at 239 (23-over par).
Branton Bailey (Gordon Central) carded scores of 78, 86 and 78 to finish at 242 (26-over par). Cole Roberts (Northwest Whitfield) shot 79, 88, 84 to end his tournament with a 250 (34-over par), while David Manis (Coahulla Creek) went 84, 86, 83 to finish at 253 (37-over par).
Georgia Northwestern had a team score of 324 on Day 1 and a 328 on Day 2 before closing with their best score of the tournament, 313, on Day 3.
"We played in very tough conditions," said head coach Eddie Jackson, referencing the weather that came into the Cullman area as a result of the remnants of Hurricane Irma. "We had heavy rain and wind and cold temperatures. I’m very proud of the guys and both scores were again way good enough to qualify for nationals. We placed 10th (overall), but there were scholarship schools there and some of the top programs in the nation."
The Bobcats will now turn their attention to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Nationals, which will be held on the Penn State University Blue Course, Oct. 8-10.