Gordish Finishes 5th at Koala Classic in Chapin
CHAPIN, S.C. - The Columbia College men's golf team finished 9th in their annual Swinging Koala Classic at Timberlake Country Club on Lake Murray in Chapin Tuesday afternoon.
CC shot a +16-over 300 team score in the first round Monday to trail the leaders SMC and Montreat by 10 strokes. However, Columbia struggled in round two on Tuesday shooting a +50-over 334 to finish just four strokes behind 6th place D-2 UVA-Wise and only 11 shots behind 4th place rival CIU. Montreat went on to win the tournament by one shot over Spartanburg at +37. Div. II Erskine finished third while Milligan was 5th.
Individually, freshman Parker Gordish finished in a tie for 5th place overall as he shot a +7 over 78 in round two after shooting a 1-under 70 in the first round with three birdies and an eagle on a warm Monday to lead the Koala "A" team. He finished at +6 overall to be named to the All-Tournament team while four different Koalas birdied the 18th hole on Monday afternoon.
SMC's Thomas Campbell won the tournament shooting an even-par 142 with rounds of 70 and 72.
Senior Daniel "DJ" Freese then came next for the Koalas leading the "B" team by placing 20th overall at +14 over 156 with consecutive rounds of +7 over 78. The Koala B team finished in 10th place overall out of 19 teams with rounds of 320 and 322 including the 8th-best round on Tuesday's more difficult and chillier day.
Coming in a tie for 25th place were sophomores Christian "Reese" Hadley and Jaxon Mock at +15 over 157. Hadley improved by three shots in round two shooting a +6 over 77 after his first round 80 while J. Mock shot 75 and 82. Jaxon's twin brother, sophomore Zach Mock, then finished tied for 46th with a +21 over 163 after rounds of 76 and 87 while fellow sophomore Gavin Ratliff finished tied for 43rd at +20 over 162 with rounds of 79 and 83.
Sophomore Josh Brown ended up in 58th place at +24 over 166 with rounds of 79 and 87 while freshman Jackson Arseneau and senior Owen Talbot tied for 69th place at +29 over 171. Arseneau shot rounds of 83 and 88 while Talbot improved by three shots in round two shooting an 84 after his 87 Monday.
Freshman Brandon Russ finished in 76th place (+32) after a first round 81 but a second round 93 while fellow freshman Tanner Caldwell (+58) shot consecutive rounds of 100 with sophomore Stevie Swenson (+59) shooting 104 and 97 (+26) to finish 101st.
The Koala golfers will next be in action on April 6-7 at the Northeast Tennessee Milligan Shootout where they will play 36 holes on one day.
Jaxon Mock, courtesy of bob stoner:
