Cougars Usher In Krywulycz Era With Tournament Win at The Ocean Course

Sunday, September 9

Kiawah Island Golf Resort - The Ocean Course - Kiawah Island, S.C.

College of Charleston

The Invitational at The Ocean Course

Cougars Usher In Krywulycz Era With Tournament Win at The Ocean Course

9/10/2018 8:10:00 PM | Men's Golf

Final Team Results Final Individual Results Photo Gallery

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – The College of Charleston men's golf team ushered in the Mitch Krywulycz Era with a tournament win at The Invitational at The Ocean Course in its season-opening tournament at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort's PGA Championship par-72 course.

Due to Hurricane Florence, the 14-team tournament was shortened to 36 holes. The team title was decided in a playoff between CofC and SMU. Both teams tied with a 36-hole total of 577 (+1) leading to the dramatic finish.

All five starters from each team played the par-3, 17th hole with the best four scores determining the total to declare the winner. The Cougars won in a one-hole playoff with the Mustangs, who led after 18.

It marked the team's first win at its home-hosted event since the tournament's inception in 2010. CofC's previous best finish in the history of the tournament was second in 2015.

In the eventual final round, junior Michael Sass (Louisville, Ky.) had a stellar front nine with birdies on holes No. 5 through No. 7 for a 33 on the front and an even-par 72 overall. He finished in a tie for third (-1).

Junior Logan Sowell (Kershaw, S.C.) also had a very clean front nine with three birdies and a bogey, before dropping three shots on the back nine for a 1-over 73. He ended the tournament in a tie for 10th (+2).

Junior Hunter Dunagan (Augusta, Ga.) played a very impressive round with four birdies and two bogeys for a 2-under 70. He turned in a Top-5 finish shooting even par for the tournament with rounds of 74 and 70.

Dunagan was the star of the playoff when he hit his tee shot on the par-3, 17th hole to a couple of feet and made the putt for the team's only birdie of the playoff.

Junior Christian Baliker (Greenville, S.C.) was 5-over through 11 holes, but made two birdies and a bogey down the stretch to finish with a 4-over 76. He finished in a tie for 32nd (+6).

Sophomore Raphael Geissler (Karlsruhe, Germany) had a very steady 2-under 70 with four birdies and two birdies to finish in a tie for 10th (+2). He also contributed to CofC's playoff victory.

The win was also the first career coaching victory for first-year head coach Mitch Krywulycz, who was hired in August from Purdue.

In the final team standings, Maryland (+8) was third, No. 32-ranked Ole Miss fourth (+10) and Georgia Southern and James Madison tied for fifth (+16). Ollis Osborne of SMU was crowned the individual medalist with a 36-hole total of 141 (-3) – a one-stroke victory over No. 26-ranked Jackson Suber of Ole Miss (-2).

The Cougars will return to action at the Trinity Forest Invitational hosted by SMU on Sept. 23-25 at the Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, Texas.

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON RESULTS
T3. Michael Sass 71-72—143
T5. Hunter Dunagan 74-70—144
T10. Logan Sowell 73-73—146
T10. Raphael Geissler 76-70—146
T32. Christian Baliker 74-76—150
T32. Colin Hamilton 75-75—150*
74. Patrick Golden 86-77—163*

*competed as an individual