The Bruins got a boost from Luke Jacobs and Isaac Childrey as both recorded their lowest career competitive round, but it wasn't enough as the Bruins settled for a 9th place finish in the Piedmont College Invitational in Clarkesville, Georgia.
"We had hoped to post our two lowest team scores for the fall season at this tournament, but we definitely fell short of that goal," Bruins Head Coach Denny Scott said. "It takes everyone playing well on the same day to reach those team scoring goals, but we just haven't seen that happen yet this fall. The potential certainly is there, but the competitive pressure makes it more challenging with a less experienced team."
The Bruins played against a tough tournament field with several strong NCAA D3 and NAIA competition. The two-day tournament would be played at the Orchard Golf & Country Club. The weather was near perfect conditions providing a picturesque landscape for the tournament.
In the opening round, the Bruins started on the back nine as Luke Jacobs came out strong with back to back birdies on holes fourteen and fifteen while parring several other holes. While the Bruins had several players scoring low, the team overall struggled with consistency in scoring as they made the turn hoping to get shots back.
Keaton Osteen was able to finish his round strong with a birdie on the 18th hole while freshman Grant Bagwell also birdied down the stretch. Jacobs continued to carry his momentum into the final holes as he birdied on hole six to finish with four birdies on the day and a team-best +2 over par 74. The Bruins team score was a 327 (Jacobs - 74, Osteen - 78, Bagwell - 87, Wiginton - 88, Childrey - 89) placing them 9th overall with some ground to make up.
The Bruins came out looking to climb the leaderboard in the final round of the tournament. Isaac Childrey birdied the first hole of the round to give the team momentum at the start. The team collectively was playing better, although the Bruins left several birdies chances short having to settle for par.
After making the turn, it was more of the same for the Bruins but the team continued to push strong to close out the tournament. The Bruins improved their day-one score by eight strokes as the team finished with a score of 319 (Osteen - 78, Jacobs - 79, Childrey - 80, Bagwell, 82, Wiginton - DQ). The Bruins finished the tournament ninth overall of the eleven programs competing.
"In some ways we are still gaining experience under tournament conditions with a few players, but we had some great rounds from Luke and Keaton who have really stepped up, as upperclassmen, under the pressure to score consistently," Coach Scott said. "We have just one more event this fall and would like to put everything together for a strong finish in that event and for the entire fall season."
Luke Jacobs had a solid tournament for the Bruins as the junior finished 13th overall while Keaton Osteen placed 17th. Next up, the Bruins will wrap up the fall seaosn on October 28 as they compete in the Alice Lloyd Eagle Invitational in Cohutta, Georgia.
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