ANDERSON, S.C. - Freshman Forrest Fowler slashed his opening-round score by nine strokes to finish with a two-day total 3-over-par 147 and led the Anderson men's golf team to seventh place at the AU Invitational, hosted at the Cobb's Glen par-72, 7,005-yard layout on Tuesday.
The Erskine (A) squad moved from a tie for third to the top spot with a two-day total 589, which was 11 shots ahead of second-place Queens (303-297=600). The Royals began the final round two shots behind Milligan (301-311=612), which fell from the top spot to fifth. Fellow South Atlantic Conference-member Catawba (307-299=606) moved up two spots to third, with Spartanburg Methodist (317-294=611) jumping from sixth to fourth after posting the largest improvement of the round. The Erskine (B) team dropped from third to sixth with a two-round 618, with Anderson (319-309=628) improving by 10 strokes and finishing seventh.
Queens' Mike Downy (76-66=142) surged from a three-way tie for
10th to claim individual honors, while Erskine's Ford Blanchard
(77-68=145) and Queens' Jake McLaren (73-72=145) shared the second
spot, three shots further back. Fowler (78-69=147) began the day
five strokes off the pace in a three-way tie for 22nd, but posted
11 pars and six birdies to conclude his collegiate debut in a tie
for fourth with Catawba's Matt Hardman.
Anderson junior David Wachter (75-79=154) carded 11 pars on the day, but slipped from a five-way tie for fifth to 19th, while freshman Ryan Kincaid, playing as an individual, improved by eight strokes to sit alone in 24th. Sophomore Rob Warren posted a two-day 16-over-par 160 and shared the 28th spot, with newcomer Mitch Darley, playing as an individual, carding a 17-over-par 161 to share 31st. Sophomore Payton Whitlock (86-79=165) improved by seven strokes to claim 36th and freshman Alex Merriman (84-82=166) claimed 37th. Freshman Alex Charping (86-83=169) tied for 38th, while senior CJ Messana (82-88=170) dropped from 33rd to 40th on the final day.
The Trojans return to action in two weeks at the Etowah Valley Intercollegiate in Etowah, N.C.
All-Tournament Team
Mike Downy (Queens)
Ford Blanchard (Erskine)
Jake McLaren (Queens)
Forrest Fowler (Anderson)
Matt Hardman (Catawba)
