Panthers endure wind, cold to finish sixth at Guilford tournament
Oct. 28, 2008

It was all about survival. Tuesday¹s final round of the Guilford Invitational golf tournament in Greensboro, N.C. was played on a chilly day, with the wind gusting up to 40 m.p.h. That turned what was an already a difficult golf course into a monster.

The LaGrange College Panthers did well enough in the tough conditions to finish sixth in the 15-team field that included six of the top-10 teams in the NCAA Division III poll. It was the final fall tournament for the Panthers, who will return to the course in February for the start of the spring season. The two-day tournament was played on The Cardinal Golf & Country Club, which was designed by master course designer Pete Dye.

"This course was not meant to be played in these types of conditions," LaGrange College coach Lee Richter said. "It wreaked havoc on everybody. It can drain you pretty quick. Those were some tough conditions."

Richter said he thought the average score on Tuesday was around an 84. "It was just brutal," Richter said.

Only one LaGrange College player, Anthony Yacovazzi, had a round under 80. Yacovazzi, a senior, shot a 79.

"Anything under 80 was excellent today," Richter said.

Bo Tiller added an 82, Alexander Elorriaga shot an 88, and Ryan Willis completed the Panthers¹ scoring with an 89. Troup High graduate Adam Garrett, who led the Panthers in the first round with a 74, shot a 90 on Tuesday.

The sixth-place finish was the Panthers¹ second-best result of the fall season. They took fifth at the Greensboro Invitational in September. The Panthers were also 11th at the Chick-Fil-A Invitational and ninth at the Oglethorpe Invitational.

"We didn¹t play like we were capable of,² Richter said. ³I look for us to rebound in the spring."

Courtesy of LaGrange Daily News