SPARTANBURG, S.C. – App State junior golfer
Alex Burris tied a school record with his second-round score of 65 to highlight the Mountaineers' efforts at the Wofford Invitational that wrapped up Tuesday.
Monday's second round was significant for the entire App State team. Led by Burris' low score, the Apps posted a team score of 276 that ranks second in the school record books. Only the 2011-12 team's second-round score of 273 at the Hummingbird Intercollegiate topped what the squad accomplished Monday.
Head coach
Bo Redman's team did not find the same success in rounds one and two with scores of 297 and 298, respectively. With a final team score of 871 (+7), App State tied for fifth in the team standings with Charleston Southern, behind winner East Tennessee State, Wofford, Austin Peay and Army at the Country Club of Spartanburg's par-72, 6,648-yard course.
"Obviously, Alex had a really fantastic round yesterday," Redman said. "The team in general never got their putters going, but almost everyone had at least one under-par round, so there are a lot of positives to take from this tournament. Hopefully we are starting to gel before going to our biggest tournament of the year so far at the Stitch Intercollegiate."
Burris tied a school record last achieved by Casey Komline during the 2011-12 season. Casey Johnson shot 65 twice during his App State career (2007-08 and 2008-09), while Josh Nichols also achieved a round of 65 in 2010-11.
Freshman
Candler Rice was the Mountaineers' top finisher in a tie for 11th at 2-under-par 214 (74-69-71). Burris and
Walter Brinker tied for 18th at 2-over 218. Brinker fought through some early rains on the course Monday to card the team's best first-round score of 70. Rice was the strongest finisher amid windy conditions Tuesday with a final-round 71.
A look at each App State member's lowest round of the tournament shows the potential that the team possesses:
Burris (7-under 65 – ties school record)
Rice (3-under 69)
Dylan Lukes (3-under 69)
Brinker (2-under 70)
Christian Bailey (even-par 72)
Tripp Summerlin (1-over 73)
App State will have a quick turnaround before taking on the deepest and most talented collection of teams it has faced in 2018 at the Stitch Intercollegiate this Friday-Sunday in Cary, N.C. The 2018 Sun Belt Championship will be held April 22-25 in Sandestin, Fla.
Wofford Invitational Final Team Results
- East Tennessee State – 288-279-276-843 (-21)
- Wofford – 286-276-294-856 (-8)
- Austin Peay – 286-284-288-858 (-6)
- Army – 282-283-301-866 (+2)
- App State – 297-276-298-871 (+7)
- T5. Charleston Southern – 297-280-294-871 (+7)
- Longwood – 292-288-292-872 (+8)
- Francis Marion – 282-297-295-874 (+10)
- Presbyterian – 303-292-305-900 (+36)
