Sophomore Travis Robertson collected his second-straight top-10 finish with his fourth-place performance last weekend. (Photo courtesy of GoLeopards)
The golf team wrapped up its fall season with a third-place finish at the Fripp Island Invitational hosted by the University of South Carolina Upstate from Saturday to Monday. In the nine-team field, the Leopards shot a 21-over-par 873 to capture a podium finish.
“We all played really well together,” sophomore Travis Robertson said. “We all stepped up at different points, and some of us played well throughout the entire tournament.”
Robertson delivered another standout performance for the Leopards on Monday, carding four birdies and an eagle in the final round of play. Robertson fired a two-under-par 70 in the second and third rounds to close the tournament with an even-par 213, securing a fourth-place individual finish, his second consecutive top-ten placement.
“I made some changes after the first round with my swing, just because I wasn’t hitting it as well as I wanted to the first day,” Robertson said. “I definitely put in a conscious effort warming up before the second round.”
The event, which was contested at the par-71, 6,511-yard Ocean Creek Golf Club, tested players with its coastal winds and tight greens. Senior Harry Dessel turned in steady rounds at even-par across the first two days, but carded 75 on Monday to finish t-18.
Freshman Viktor Kofod-Olsen recorded rounds of 73, 73 and 78 to finish t-28. Freshman Liam Brandt closed his tournament by shooting a final-round 77, good for 42nd overall. Junior Winston Kelenc-Blank rounded out the lineup in 45th overall at 18-over-par.
The Maroon and White entered Monday tied for first overall, but the Leopards shot 300 total to slide down to the top three.
“A three-day golf tournament can definitely be taxing,” Robertson said. “It’s a lot of golf and you definitely feel the effects of it as the days go on.”
Three Leopards also competed as individuals. Freshman Chris Vahey matched Dessel’s t-18th place standing with a six-over-par 219, displaying consistent golf across all three rounds. Sophomore Reed Theiss carded a 220 with rounds of 76, 72 and 72 to snatch t-21st, while junior Hudson Pace finished 50th overall after rounds of 78, 75 and 83.
Gardner-Webb University claimed the team title with a nine-over-par 861, beating out Charleston Southern University by two strokes.
The third-place finish wraps up Lafayette’s fall campaign on a high note, giving the Leopards momentum heading into their spring championship season.
“I think we are ready,” said Robertson. “We were able to put in a strong effort in our last two events to close out the fall season.”
