ANDERSON, S.C. – Led by freshman Reece Coleman's two-day, 3-under-par 141, the Anderson University men's golf team finished second for the second time in three years at the AU Invitational on Tuesday.
The Trojans hosted the 36-hole tourney on a 6,922 yard, par-72 Cobb's Glen Country Club layout.
"I am so excited about our potential for success this year," said Anderson head coach Danny Neal. "The guy's 282 (-6) was a school record for a single round. And freshman Reece Coleman's performance was spectacular for a first collegiate event - tying for the individual medalist before losing in a sudden death playoff. Jake Miller also continues to be a strong, steady contender also making the all-tournament team. All in all a really strong start to our fall season with both programs. And freshman Anthony Sutton also had a great first tournament making the all-tournament team."
Southern Wesleyan, which overcame an 11-shot deficit, vaulted past both defending champion Erskine and Anderson to claim the title by four strokes over runner-up Anderson. The Flying Fleet finished four strokes behind AU, while Belmont Abbey jumped from sixth into fourth place. Catawba claimed the fifth spot, with Southern Wesleyan (B) finishing on sixth place.
Belmont Abbey (B), Erskine (B), Spartanburg Methodist and Bob Jones University finished out the 10-team field.
Coleman and Southern Wesleyan's Eric Shea, who won individual medalist honors a year ago, each posted two-round 141s and finished tied atop the leaderboard. But Shea out-dueled the Trojans' newcomer on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff and took home the first-place hardware. Coleman carded eight birdies and 21 pars over the 36 holes.
Catawba's Tanner Bibey finished third, one shot off the pace set by Coleman and Shea, with SWU's Noah Mullens claiming fourth place.
Senior Jake Miller fired a 2-over-par and shared fifth place, while freshman Anthony Sutton posted a two-day 147 and finished in a tie for seventh place. Another newcomer, Caleb Henson, posted an 8-over-par 152 and finished 19th, while senior Brady Cox (157) finished in 30th place. Junior Cal Brock claimed a share of 31st place, with senior Drake McAlister finishing in a tie for 34th place and junior Colt Martin finishing 50th.
The Trojans are slated to return to the links Monday at the Kiawah Island Invitational, which will be hosted by USC Aiken at the Osprey Island Golf Course.
AU Invitational All-Tournament Team
Eric Shea (Southern Wesleyan)
Reece Coleman (Anderson)
Tanner Bibey (Catawba)
Noah Mullens (Southern Wesleyan)
Jake Miller (Anderson)
Alberto Avila (Erskine)
2 Anderson 282 304 586
T1 Reece Coleman (2) 68 73 141
T5 Jake Miller (1) 72 74 146
T7 Anthony Sutton (3) 69 78 147
19 Caleb Henson (5) 73 79 152
30 Brady Cox (4) 78 79 157
T31 Cal Brock 79 79 158
T34 Drake McAlister 83 78 161
50 Colt Martin 83 90 173
Team Scores
1 Southern Wesleyan 293 289 582 +6
2 Anderson 282 304 586 +10
3 Erskine 286 304 590 +14
4 Belmont Abbey 303 292 595 +19
5 Catawba 296 302 598 +22
6 Southern Wesleyan (B) 302 312 614 +38
7 Belmont Abbey (B) 311 309 620 +44
8 Erskine (B) 311 319 630 +54
9 Spartanburg Methodist 328 321 649 +73
10 Bob Jones University 330 335 665 +89