Lookout Mountain, GA- Home course advantage proved not to be an advantage for the Covenant men in this year's Reeder Cup as they finished dead last among the five competing teams.
Senior Trevor Potts managed scores of 84 and 83 to place him first among Covenant's competitors and 14th among the field of 30. Junior Dave Wilkinson, with his totals of 84 and 87, finished 4 strokes behind Potts, and the rest of the Covenant team followed in just a few stroke intervals:
Trevor Potts - 84 + 83 = 167
Dave Wilkinson - 84 + 87 = 171
Cameron Boling - 84 + 90 = 174
Anthony Sligh - 86 + 94 = 180
Jon Spencer - 86 + 95 = 181
Michael Bowser - 92 + 90 = 182
The tournament this year was won by the NCAA Division III no. 2 Huntingdon College Hawks, who built an impressive 28 stroke lead through round one and added 11 more to that lead through round two. Jay Unis and Mack Duke's 150 and 151 scores put them in first and second place overall and on the 5-member All-Tournament team alongside teammate Cody Causey.
The Panthers of LaGrange College took second place overall with a team score of 641, and Maryville College claimed third place with 675.
The battle for 4th place was, therefore, between the Covenant Scots and the Young Harris Mountain Lions. Covenant trailed by eight strokes after day one, but a poor second round 359 hindered the Scots from capitalizing on Young Harris' equally dismal 356. Covenant finished last by 11 strokes.
The women's side boasted much more excitement than did the men's, as the top four finishing teams shuffled their order between rounds. Young Harris, who held first place after day one, ended up fourth, and West Georgia ran away with the victory despite being locked in a second place tie through the first 18 holes.
In the field of 41, Covenant's Jordan Agate placed 7th, only 10 strokes out of third place, where she stood after the first round.
Amanda Jane Saunders, who finished 18th overall, shot a meager first round 106 but followed it with a much improved 96 in round two. And Sarah Heintz finished 39th overall with scores of 151 and 156.
According to head coach Tom Schreiner, the course (Lookout Mountain Golf Club) is "really hard for the women. The deep bunkers and steep hills require a lot more club head speed, and when the wind blows like it did today, it takes a lot to get a good score." In addition to LMGC's normally tough playing conditions, the greens Monday and Tuesday were especially firm and fast, making it more difficult for both the men and the women, and the near 90 degree temperature was also sure to have taken its toll.
Coach Schreiner also alluded to LMGC's hospitality. "The Club was wonderful; they believed the tournament was good for the course and helped me out in every way possible. I even had members volunteering to help with the scoreboard!"
Covenant's golf teams are each down to their final event of the season. The men will play at the Emory Spring Invitational in Stone Mountain, GA, while the women will travel to Prattville, AL to play in the Huntingdon College Invite. Both tournaments will be Monday and Tuesday April 12 and 13.
