Men's Golf

Phillips finishes with three-under 69, Sewanee places 10th in national tourney

SEWANEE, Tenn. – Freshman Niel Phillips posted a final-round three-under 69, junior Colin Edwards shot one-under and Sewanee men's golf finished 10th as a team Friday at the NCAA Division III Championships at Midvale Country Club in Penfield, N.Y.
 
The Tigers moved up five spots in the final round thanks to an even-par team score of 288, tied for third-best in the fourth round.
 
Phillips collected six birdies in his round, including five over 14 holes Thursday during the continuous play portion of the tournament, which allows all teams to complete the tournament early Friday. The New Orleans, La., native shot even on the back nine (he started on No. 10) with birdies on both par-5's, Nos. 10 and 17, along with bogeys at 11 and 18.
 
He recorded birdies on holes one, three and five and another at No. 7 before a bogey on nine to complete the round with the three-under 69 and a 72-hole total of 300, tied for 76th. Phillips moved up 55 spots in the final round.
 
Edwards was also even on the back nine Thursday with one bogey and a birdie on the par-3 18th hole. The Brookhaven, Ga., native bogeyed No. 1 before registering birdies on holes two and three. Completing his round Friday with four holes, he birdied No. 8 but made a bogey on nine for a one-under 71 and a four-day score of 299, tied for 62nd, moving up 24 spots in the fourth round.
 
Sophomore Logan Johnson, who was injured early Thursday and did not complete the third round, picked up later Thursday with his best stretch of holes in the event. The Dallas, Texas, native recorded eight pars with a birdie on 17 on the back nine. He made five more pars with three bogeys and a birdie on the par-5 third hole for a final-round one-over 73.
 
Junior Elias Becker collected six pars but three bogeys on the back nine. The Mexico City, Mexico, native made the turn with two pars and then an eagle at No. 3 to finish Thursday's play. Unfortunately, he started Friday with three bogeys in a four-hole stretch before a birdie on the par-5 eighth hole and a par for a three-over 75 and a four-day score of 295, tied for 27th.
 
Senior Pearse Lucas birdied No. 10 and netted five pars with three bogeys on the back nine. The Charlotte, N.C., native registered two more bogeys to end Thursday's action but played the final four holes in one-under Friday with three pars and a birdie on the par-4 seventh hole for a final-round three-over 75 and a 72-hole total of 305, tied for 135th.
 
INDIVIDUAL SCORES
t27. Elias Becker – 73-75-72-75=295
t62. Colin Edwards – 74-79-75-71=299
t76. Niel Phillips – 78-77-76-69=300
t135. Pearse Lucas – 74-77-79-75=305
Logan Johnson – 80-84-WD-73
 
TEAM SCORES
1. Methodist University – 303-298-292-282=1175
2. Illinois Wesleyan – 290-305-290-295=1180
3. Emory University – 300-305-285-292=1182
4. Washington and Lee – 298-309-289-287=1183
5. Carnegie Mellon – 298-300-296-291=1185
6. Huntingdon College – 297-300-297-296=1190
7. University of Lynchburg – 301-304-298-288=1191
8. Oglethorpe University – 302-305-290-296=1193
9. Aurora University – 295-305-300-295=1195
10. Sewanee – 299-308-302-288=1197
t11. University of Rochester – 299-304-300-296=1199
t11. Gettysburg College – 305-302-293-295=1199
t13. Carleton College – 294-309-303-296=1202
t13. Kenyon College – 297-300-305-300=1202
15. John Carroll – 294-312-304-293=1203
16. Wittenberg University – 305-302-297-305=1209
17. Willamette University – 298-308-305-309=1220
18. Amherst College – 310-301-304-317=1232