Carson-Newman Wins 2017 South Atlantic Conference Men’s Golf Tournament Championship

SALISBURY, N.C. – Carson-Newman won a four-hole playoff with Coker to claim the title at the 2017 South Atlantic Conference Men's Golf Championships.  The rain-shortened event was held at the 6,685-yard, par-71 Country Club of Salisbury and was reduced to 27 holes because of rain over the three days of the tournament.   

After the two teams tied on a four-player score for three playoff holes the Eagles finally prevailed on the fourth which was the par-3 ninth.  Anthony Marcinelli was the first player to play at the ninth green, and his chip from just off the green was the only birdie on the hole.  The other nine players pared and Carson-Newman won the hole and the Championship. 

The first playoff was the par-4 first and both teams finished at one-under.  The teams then played the ninth at two-over before returning to the first where the teams played to even par.

Coker rallied from five down to force the playoff with a 141 score over Tuesday's nine holes.  Both teams finished with a 431 total.

Individual medalist honors went to Wanjoo Lee, of Coker, who finished at two-under-par.  He took the honors by two shots as the only player to finish under par.  Three players finished at even par and joined Lee on the All-Tournament First Team.  Ben Thompson and Carlos Leandro, of Newberry, along with Sam Wimbrow, of Queens.

The final spots on the first team went to those at +1 which were Marcinelli, Dalton Reese, and Tom Forster, of Carson-Newman, and Oskar Lundgren, of Brevard.  Second Team All-Tournament honors went to Brevard's Luis Vega, Tusculum's Cameron Dugger and Sam Broadhurst, of Lincoln Memorial, all finishing at two-over-par.

SAC MEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS

*1. Carson-Newman         285-146=431

2. Coker                 290-141=431

3. Newberry             289-143=432

4. Queens                288-146=434

 5. Tusculum              297-140=437

6t. Lincoln Memorial      296-145=441

6t. Brevard               297-144=441

 8. Mars Hill             308-140=448

 9. Anderson              302-147=449

10. Wingate               301-150=451

11. CATAWBA               315-147=462

12. Lenoir-Rhyne          319-148=467

*Won on fourth playoff hole