MIDLOTHIAN, Va. – Nearly a half decade of dominance continued on Sunday as the College of Charleston men's golf team played flawless in its last nine holes at the Salisbury Country Club resulting in the program's fourth-straight Colonial Athletic Association Men's Golf Championship title.
 
After inclement weather hampered the final round from being completed on Saturday, the Cougars were able to regroup and refocus after shooting 3-over par in its first nine holes making room for Towson and UNCW to be within striking distance at the top of the team leaderboard.
 
"I'm so proud of this team," CofC Head Coach Mark McEntire said. "Yesterday, at the start of the third round, we were struggling. We had a (weather) delay that allowed us to come out today and regroup. My team played like champions. We had 14 birdies and no bogies in the last nine holes of the championship. That is flat out getting it done."
 
And, did they get it done. The Cougars carded a three-round score of 274-283-284—841 (-23) to finish 13 strokes better than second-place UNCW (-10), third-place Towson (-8), fourth-place James Madison (-4), fifth-place Drexel (+4), sixth-place Delaware (+10), seventh-place Elon (+15), eighth-place William & Mary (+16) and ninth-place Hofstra (+44).
 
Since joining the league in 2013, the College of Charleston has now won a total of nine conference team titles and 10 individual titles – four of the nine and three of the 10 courtesy of the men's golf program.
 
Individually, senior Parker Derby (Columbus, Ga.) led the field wire-to-wire shooting a first-round 66 and later second-round 70 and final-round 72. He shot a combined 8-under for the tournament and made birdie sinking a 16-foot putt on the final hole to clinch the individual title. Derby was tied with Reese McFarlane of UNCW at 7-under par heading into the 18th.
 
"Obviously, it was a great way to go out with the guys and advance to regionals," Derby said. "It was a big accomplishment for the team and we are excited for NCAA Regionals. On 18, after I saw their (opponents) approach shots, I knew 3 would get it done, and a possibility of 4. I was in perfect position in the fairway with 150 yards left, hit my pitching wedge to about 15 feet and gave myself the opportunity and was able to connect. Coming off the birdie on my 17th hole, I was feeling confident and excited for the final hole."
 
Derby becomes the sixth all-time player in school history to win a conference individual title next to William Rainey (2016), John Jonas (2015), Josh Lorenzetti (2013), Bruce McDonald (2003) and Daniel Brunson (2002). He was joined on the CAA All-Tournament Team by senior All-American William Rainey (Charlotte, N.C.) and freshman Michael Sass (Louisville, Ky.), who both tied for fourth at -5 for the tournament.
 
Freshman Hunter Dunagan (Augusta, Ga.) tied for 18th (+2) with birdies in five of his first six holes of his last nine, while senior Philip Oweida (Charlotte, N.C.) tied for 23rd (+3).
 
"Three back-to-back-to-back champions with (John) Jonas, (William) Rainey and (Parker) Derby is incredible," McEntire said. "It was a great finish by Parker Derby with birdies on 17 and 18 to win the individual championship. Hunter (Dunagan) shot 31, Michael (Sass) 34, Derby 33 and William 32 on the back nine. I am just proud of the way the team came back today for the win."
 
The Cougars earn the league's automatic NCAA berth for the fourth-straight year. The 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship Selection Show (81 teams and 45 individuals) will be televised on Thursday, May 4 at noon (ET) on Golf Channel.
 
"We are going to take a few days to enjoy this," McEntire said. "Then, we have to figure a way to get this group to the Big Dance."
 
Last year, the Cougars finished a program-best seventh at the 2016 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional in Tuscaloosa, Ala. They were two places short of advancing to nationals (the Top 5 teams advance out of each regional), but now have another shot at achieving that goal again this year.