SUWANEE, Ga. — The LeMoyne Owen College men's golf team continued its strong fall campaign with a second-place finish at the 41st Annual Thomas W. Dortch Jr. HBCU Collegiate Golf Classic at Bear's Best Atlanta.
The tournament was scheduled to continue beyond the opening round, but inclement weather brought competition to an early end after Round 1. The weather significantly affected course conditions, preventing play from continuing and making the opening 18 holes the tournament's final results.
LeMoyne Owen finished the shortened event with a team score of 296 (+8), tying Winston-Salem State atop the posted leader board. The championship was ultimately decided by the tournament tiebreaker, which went to each team's fifth golfer. Winston-Salem State held a six-stroke advantage in the fifth score, giving the Rams the championship and LOC the runner-up finish.
The Magicians were led by Maximus Knight and Dalton Wilkes, who each carded an even-par 72 to finish tied for fifth individually. Knight overcame a one-over 37 on the front nine by shooting a one-under 35 on the back, finishing his round with five birdies.
Wilkes followed a similar path, making the turn at 37 before firing a one-under 35 over his final nine holes. He recorded four birdies, including birdies on Nos. 15 and 17 down the stretch.
Ryan Darland gave the Magicians another top-10 performance, finishing tied for 10th after shooting a three-over 75. Darland recorded six birdies during his round and closed in impressive fashion with consecutive birdies on Nos. 17 and 18.
Ryan Broderick completed LOC's four counting scores with a 77 (+5), earning a tie for 13th individually. Felipe Guido rounded out the Magicians' five-man lineup with an 84 (+12).
Overall, LeMoyne Owen placed four golfers among the top 13, with three finishing inside the top 10. The Magicians' 296 placed them ahead of a field featuring programs such as Virginia Union, Morehouse, Central State, Johnson C. Smith, Savannah State and Fisk.
Although the weather prevented LOC from having an opportunity to break the tie on the course in another round, the runner-up finish continued an impressive stretch for head coach Dominique Worthen's squad. The Magicians have now recorded back-to-back second-place tournament finishes after also taking runner-up honors at the Magicians on the Green Invitational.
LeMoyne Owen will return to action Sept. 29-30 when the Magicians travel to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for the Battle for the Belt at Hot Springs Country Club.
