Uprooted trees, wind gusts ranging from 35 to 60 miles per hour, a competitive field did not stand in the way of the Bucs finishing in the top five this past weekend.
The ETSU men’s golf team is savoring this past weekend’s outing as they head into the final stretch of the season.
Leading all teams after the first round, the Bucs matched their best team finish of the year.
They finished tied for fourth with Minnesota, in the Augusta State Invitational at the Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Ga.
Leading the way was nationally ranked Rhys Davies, who finished the tournament tied for third with a three-round score of 6-over-par ,222.
The weather played a huge role in the strategy of Davies and the other golfers, with winds of 35 miles per hour on the first day of action.
“We knew how to mentally approach the match,” Davies said. “Having so many players from Europe, where windy weather is normal, we had a heads up on the competition. That’s why we led after the first round.”
Davies led all golfers at the end of the first day, fighting through the wind to shoot a two-under-par 70.
Davies got through two and a half holes on his second round before weather forced the tournament to be postponed.
According to Davies, this unfortunate event played a part in his second-round score of 78.
“The first round was pleasing, with the weather the way it was I was happy to hit 14 greens in regulation,” Davies said. “I struggled a bit the second day. The weather left the course firm and in bad shape.”
Other Bucs finished with good scores to help propel the team’s overall standing.
Freshman Cian McNamara, who finished 13th at the Puerto Rico Classic, fired a 15-over-par 231 to finish 23rd overall. After shooting a solid 76 on the first day, McNamara struggled a bit the next round, shooting a 78.
McNamara played tough the next round, ending up with a 77 and giving the Bucs a boost into the top five overall for the tournament.
“I did not play well. I was not as comfortable as I should have been in the weather conditions we were facing all weekend,” McNamara said. “I just made sure I stayed mentally tough so I could contribute to the team.”
The other up-and-coming freshman Gareth Shaw finished tied for 21st, shooting a 14-over-par 230.
Coach Fred Warren praised his team’s efforts for playing so well in such bad weather conditions.
“This was the first time our team finished first at the end of a round. I was real encouraged by our play, we went up against a strong field and we had had a strong finish as well. We are really starting to show progress.” Warren said.
The Bucs head to Raleigh, N.C., this weekend to play in the Intercollegiate hosted by North Carolina State. This will be the final tournament of the season.
They aim to keep this momentum going as they head into the Southern Conference Tournament on April 17th.

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