After two days on the course, the Bob Jones University golf team wrapped up their time at the Pioneers Spring Invitational from the Cherokee National Golf Club in Gaffney, South Carolina 12th out of 15 teams. 

Brandon Autry, DJ Waller, Brayden Joyner, Lee Earl Jackson, and Connor Hairgrove represented the Bruins in a field of 86 golfers.

On Monday, the Bruins performed well on the front nine, but they struggled in the back nine as each golfer had multiple bogeys. At the end of Round One, Autry led the Bruins with a score of 80. Waller was four strokes behind at 84, followed by Joyner at 86, Hairgrove at 88, and Jackson with a first day score of 90. The Bruins sat in the middle of the pack in 10th after 18 holes of golf. 

On Tuesday, the Bruins were back on the course. The team shot better in the front nine of the course shooting eight better than Monday. After another 18 rounds, the Bruins finished with a team score of 328. 

Despite scoring better during Round Two than Round One, it wasn't enough to move them up the leaderboard, and at the end of the tournament, the Bruins dropped to 12th place.

Autry led the Bruins as he tied for 21st overall with a two-day total of 159. Waller and Joyner followed each with a total score of 169, Jackson at 171, and Hairgrove at 177. 

At the end of the tournament, Head Coach Denny Scott said, "the weather was a significant factor in our first tournament this Spring. It seemed like the guys spent more energy in trying to keep warm than in being able to hit quality golf shots. In Round One the real feel temperature was just 22 degrees with gusting winds. Our opening round team score of 338 was higher than we had hoped, but we always have a goal of improving our team score in successive rounds and we accomplished that by 10 strokes in Round Two."

Scott continued saying, "there were many positive takeaways in spite of the weather challenges, and we certainly have something to build on toward reclaiming the Competitor's Cup later this Spring. Two freshmen (DJ and Lee Earl) continued to show promise for the future and one sophomore (Brayden Joyner) shot a very strong second nine holes in Round Two with two birdies. Brandon is still quite consistent in leading this team and he will challenge to achieve some top-five individual finishes in tournaments throughout his final season as a Bruins golfer."

"Our schedule this Spring is designed to build toward bringing the Competitor's Cup back home in April. I believe we are on a solid path to get there. Hopefully, we will see scores lower as temperatures rise throughout the Spring season."

Full results from the Pioneers Spring Invitational can be found here. 

Up next, the Bruins will compete at the Golden Tiger Collegiate Invitational in Gainesville, Georgia on March 2-3.