Contributed/ETSU Athletics

On the first two days of March, the ETSU Men’s golf team participated in the Colleton River Collegiate tournament in Bluffton, South Carolina. This is a 54-hole event that features 15 programs from all areas of the country. Competitors included Kentucky, Ohio State, Northwestern, Memphis and many more. The Bucs had an important two days that showcased their growth and depth placing T-8 with Cincinnati. The Bucs ended with a +6 total, which is their third best team score of the 2025-26 season thus far.

Many Buccaneers helped to bring ETSU into the finishing position that they did, including Gavin Tiernan who had the best individual finish for ETSU. He placed T-5, with his opening round 66 including 8 birdies. With a strong first round placing him near the top of the leaderboard, he recorded an eagle on hole 2 during his second round, which helped to keep him in contention. Tiernan secured a top five finish, closing with a 71 (-1) in the final round. His performance was key in helping build the Bucs momentum, as his first round was one of the opening day’s lowest.

Another player to mention is Yannick Malik who finished T-19 (216, Even Par). He stayed close to even par the entire event, showcasing consistent scoring and ensuring that the Buccaneers had multiple players finish in the top 20. During the second round he had a highlight with an eagle on hole 16 and his final round , 71,was key in moving him into a tie for 19th in the overall standings. Malik was tied with fellow Buccaneer Richard Saunders, whose ability to make multiple eagles was crucial in keeping his score at even par. He had an eagle during round two on hole 16, as well as in the final round on hole 11, showing his ability to score on longer holes.

While the Bucs may not have been on the podium, their consistent performance and top overall placements on the leaderboard shows that they have what it takes to compete against some of the highest competition that there is to offer. The Bucs will next participate in the 41st Louisiana Classics on March 9 and 10. More information can be found at etsubucs.com.

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