DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. – Senior Josh Nichols and junior Casey Komline turned in matching 74s (+2) on the final day of the Southern Conference Championship, but the low scores were not enough to move Appalachian State University men's golf up the leaderboard, as the Mountaineers finished fourth at Ralston Creek.
With their low rounds, the duo both finished in the top 10, as Komline finished his tournament with a 73-75-74=222 (+6), which was good enough for a seventh-place finish. Nichols was one shot behind the junior with a 77-72-74=223 (+7), tying the senior for an eighth-place finish.
Playing in his first conference championship, freshman Lee Mitchell was third in the Mountaineer lineup, as he tallied a 78-77-75=230 (+14), finishing tied for 28th place.
Graduate student Daniel Walsh struggled throughout the final round, as he recorded his highest score of the tournament with an 80. Walsh was slotted tied for 26th, with scores of 77-74-80=231 (+15).
Freshman Caleb Keck, who tried to bounce back from a slow start in his opening round was unable to respond, closing out his first conference tournament with an 85-78-85=248 (+32) and a 51st place finish.
Appalachian closed out the 2013 edition of the SoCon Championship with a 305-298-303=906 (+42), 22 stokes behind tournament champion, Chattanooga (884, +20). The Mocs carried three scores in the top ten and earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
Davidson was slotted second with a combined total of 886 (+22), while College of Charleston, who began the second round behind the Mountaineers, placed third with an 898 (+34). CofC's Josh Lorenzetti took medalist honors, as he was the only player to have a score under-par, closing his tournament with a 1-under, 215.
App State was three shots ahead of fifth place finishers, Georgia Southern and UNCG (909, +45).
After the tournament, the SoCon handed out its annual individual awards, as Komline was awarded his second-straight all-conference award. The freshmen tandem of Mitchell and Keck were each named to the SoCon All-freshman team.
All-SoCon Team
Casey Komline, Appalachian State
Alex Ellis, College of Charleston
Sam Echikson, Davidson
Richard Fountain, Davidson
Scott Wolfes, Georgia Southern
Drew Aimone, Samford
Casey O'Toole, Samford
Steven Fox, Chattanooga
Chris Robb, Chattanooga
J.T. Poston, Western Carolina
All-Freshman Team
Caleb Keck, Appalachian State
Lee Mitchell, Appalachian State
Josh Lorenzetti, College of Charleston
Taylor Coalson, UNCG
Luke Haithcock, UNCG
Player of the Year
Scott Wolfes, Georgia Southern
Freshmen of the Year
Josh Lorenzetti, College of Charleston
Taylor Coalson, UNCG
Coach of the Year
Bill Morningstar, Elon
