Returning champion Remi Chartier, a redshirt sophomore on the ETSU men’s golf team, brings home a win once again after another successful victory in the 96th Annual New Year’s Invitational (NYI).
This amateur golf tournament has been hosted by the Saint Petersburg Country Club since 1927. It has spawned top golfers such as Masters champion Bob Goalby and FedEx champion Brandt Sneadker, along with select PGA Tour winners.
Chartier shot 68-73-65-73—279 to tie Aiden Kramer (69-70-71-69—279) in regulation at 9-under par. He beat out Kramer, a sophomore at Georgia Tech, in a playoff, with Purdue’s Nic Hoffman only one shot back.
Winning this tournament two years running has been an intriguing experience, now making him one of 10 players to defend their title in the tournament’s history.
Being the returning champion allowed for Chartier to approach this year with high gratitude.
“Knowing that I won last year was certainly a little confidence boost, but I was still trying to play my game and do the best I could against myself,” said Chartier.
Chartier started playing golf at a young age, leading into competitive play around the age of 13. He was named to both the SoCon Honor Roll and the SoCon All-Academic Team concluding the 2020-21 season. The Montreal native averaged 75.4 strokes per round in the 21 rounds he played and finished T-19Th at the SoCon Championship last year as well.
Although this tournament was not in relation with the NCAA, it sets up Chartier with prep and a raise of confidence going into ETSU’s coming spring season, beginning in February.
