ETOWAH VALLEY, N.C. - Led by freshman Alex Merriman's two-day 11-over-par 155, the Anderson men's golf team finished in sixth place at the Etowah Valley Intercollegiate, co-hosted by Brevard and Lincoln Memorial on Monday at the par-72, 6,892-yard Etowah Valley Country Club layout.
North Greenville (290-218=508) claimed the tourney title after leading the event wire-wire, while the host Tornados (299-290=589) finished second. Lincoln Memorial (303-294=597) finished third, while Mars Hill (305-296=601) was four shots further back in fourth.
Milligan (310-308=618) held off the Trojans (309-311=620) for the fifth spot, while Cape Fear Community College (321-332=653) rounded out the seven-team field.
Members of the Belmont Abbey and Brevard teams competed as individuals through the two-day event.
Merriman (79-76=155) improved by three shots over Monday's opening round and finished in a three-way tie for 24th, while fellow freshman Forrest Fowler (77-80=157) tied for the 29th spot after sharing 20th following Monday's first round. Junior David Wachter, who fired an even-par 72 on Monday, slipped to 31st after carding a second-round 86.
Sophomore Rob Warren (81-78=159) also improved by three strokes and placed 32nd, while freshman Ryan Kincaid (83-77=160) posted the squad's largest improvement and moved from 40th following the first round to sharing the 33rd slot.
The Trojans are slated to continue their fall slate, Oct. 13-14, at the Lincoln Memorial Fall Classic in Tazewell, Tenn.
